News

Georgian Technical University hosts international mountain conference

29.12.2023

On 26-27 October 2023, the Georgian Technical University hosted the international scientific conference "Natural Resources and Resorts as Sustainable Development Factors" in Tbilisi, Georgia. The conference focused on three areas of sustainable mountain development: the environment, natural resources, and mountains and sustainability. Approximately 50 reports were presented by Georgian and international researchers at the conference.

The conference was organized jointly by the Georgian Technical University, Grigol Robakidze University and the Regional Center for Consulting and New Professions, in partnership with the LEPL "Resorts Development Agency" of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

Within the framework of the conference, memorandums of cooperation were signed between the organizers. "We hope that the document on mutual cooperation between our university and the resort agency will become a guarantee of a sustainable partnership, which will allow us to jointly take care of the training of young, competitive professional staff. Within the framework of the memorandum, cooperation is planned between the newly created Faculty of Sustainable Mountain Development and the Resorts Agency on the university space, which implies the possibility of jointly holding a scientific event, supporting students' educational activities and professional development, and creating a research platform," said Davit Gurgenidze, Rector of the Georgian Technical University.

"We share the importance of interdisciplinary research in the development of both health and wellness tourism, which can give new life to our country's resorts. In partnership with academia, we will gather scientific information that will be a prerequisite for the effective development of the industry. Our initiative is to jointly organize research activities, involve the scientific community in the effective management of natural resources, and take care of the training of young specialists, thus contributing to sustainable development resorts in Georgia," stated Alexander Onofrishvili, Director of the Resort Development Agency.

At the end of the conference, participants visited the Bioli Health Complex, an example of a mountain resort.

The Georgian Technical University has been running a Faculty of Sustainable Mountain Development with four undergraduate programmes since 2021, financed entirely by the national government. Furthermore, the Georgian Technical University intends to become a member of the Mountain Partnership in the near future.

News by Tamar Koblianidze, Deputy Dean, Georgian Technical University