ESD Links
The
ESD has close links with the Embassies of Great Britain and the USA in
Georgia. It receives honourable guests from many countries of the world _
the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, the
Netherlands, etc. More than 267 foreign guests have attended meetings of the
ESC in the last ten years Among them were the Ambassadors of the UK and the
USA, politicians, professors, experts in education and culture, journalists,
businessmen, etc. The guests were greatly impressed by the activities of the
club, its democratic style of work and by the students' fluent English. The
club is planning to collaborate with universities of the UK and the USA.
The
ESD has long-standing close links with the Universities of Great Britain
(Newport, South Wales) and the USA (Columbia, Missouri). The collaboration
with these universities which greatly contributes to raising teaching
standards is one of the Department�s priorities.
The Department attaches a special importance
to its collaboration with the Kutaisi-Newport International Association (KNIA).
The twinning between the two cities is considered a model of international
friendship and has greatly contributed to the promotion of cultural and
educational links. The unprecedented success of the Association has greatly
enhanced the work of the Department as the Department members are the main
facilitators of the KNIA activities.
In
1996 a cooperation agreement between Kutaisi and Newport Universities was
signed. Under this agreement, gifted young people from Kutaisi are provided
with an opportunity to study and to do degree seeking programmes in
University of Wales, Newport (UWN) without paying tuition fees.
It
is worthy to especially note that TEMPUS-TACIS Programme 1998-2000 worked
out by UWCN granted to Kutaisi State University. The module system of
teaching English and the ALUMNI Association set up by the Department became
parts of this project. The ALUMNI Association equipped the Department with
modern office furniture, technical facilities and made it possible to pay
tuition fees for several bright students.
Students
and graduates majoring in English actively participate in international
exchange programmes such as IREX, ACELS, MUSKIF, CEU, etc. Many of them have
successfully completed these programmes. Some are currently continuing their
study at overseas universities.
The
Department receives a gift subscription to the newspaper THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY
and the journals FORUM, the LANGUAGE ISSUES, THE READING, THE RESEARCH IN
READING, THE PAST TIMES, THE TRANSITIONS, etc. from London. They are widely
used fro teaching purposes.
In
1996-1999 the Department issued the English language newspaper KUTAISI -
NEWPORT TWINNING ASSOCIATION. Since 2000 the work of the Department has been
widely covered in ARIEL, the journal published by the NKTA and in THE LAND
OF THE COLCHI, the journal of the KNIA. Both journals popularize the unique
friendship between the two cities and deserve great praise. This friendship
is so significant that representatives of Newport and Kutaisi are
traditionally invited to Georgian Study Day in London.
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