Warm Welcome for Student from Newport’s Twin City

Stronger cultural links have been forged between Wales and former Soviet state Georgia as the University of Wales, Newport welcomed another student through its doors from Newport's twin city of Kutaisi.

David Megrelishvili who recently began studying at UWN’s School of Business and Management, was greeted by Geoff Edge, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional Development).

David is pictured being welcomed to the University by Geoff Edge, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Regional Development).

David, who gained a law degree from Tbilisi State University, works for the National Bank of Georgia and hopes that studying for the MBA here will enable him to gain promotion when he returns to his homeland.

“I decided to come to Newport because of the strong, friendly links between the two cities,” said David. “I have many friends here through the Newport-Kutaisi Twinning Association, and when visitors from Newport go to Kutaisi I am part of the welcoming committee and act as a guide, showing them around".

“I have always thought there's a very friendly atmosphere in Newport and the people are very welcoming,” added 23-year-old David who first came to Newport ten years ago, when he accompanied a group of traditional Georgian dancers IMEDI to a folk festival.

“I am really enjoying studying at the university here. The tutors are very good, they always take the time to explain everything properly so that the students fully understand it".

David particularly likes the weather in Wales. “It’s very similar to the weather in Georgia,” he said, “except that we don’t get quite as much rain.”

Notes to editors:

Newport is twinned with Kutaisi, the second city of Georgia, which is situated at the far end of the Black Sea, between the north and south ranges of the Caucasus mountains. It is reknown in legend as the land of the Golden Fleece and was the first country in the world to produce wine.

The Twinning Association was founded in 1989 to promote links with Kutaisi, a thriving and ancient university town of 250,000 people. There have been exchanges of information and individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.

Web-site: www.newport.ac.uk