Visit of Representatives from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute to GTU

“International partnership is one of the cornerstones of our faculty’s development. These connections are vital for giving students practical experience, strengthening research activities, and ensuring our educational programs align with the field’s modern demands. In this regard, we collaborate with the UNIMONT HUB research center at the University of Milan (Italy), the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) in Scotland, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). It is precisely this type of cooperation that lays the groundwork for sharing expertise, implementing joint scientific and educational initiatives, and exploring modern approaches to the sustainable development of mountainous regions,” stated Professor Noe Khozrevanidze, Dean of the Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Development of Mountainous Regions at the Georgian Technical University, during a working meeting with representatives of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.

The Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Mountain Development at Georgian Technical University hosted representatives from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI). During the visit, Dr. Rajinder Bhasin, NGI’s Regional Manager for Asia and a technical expert, familiarized himself with the faculty’s activities and its technical infrastructure. The guest toured museums dedicated to mining and geology, as well as research and training facilities for underground structures. The parties discussed potential collaboration in engineering geology, underground construction, and sustainable mountain development. They focused on exchanging expertise, implementing joint technical and scientific initiatives, and exploring prospects for future cooperation.

According to the Dean of the Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Development, one significant outcome of the visit is both parties’ agreement and readiness to continue working toward signing a memorandum of cooperation. As Professor Noe Khozrevanidze states, this collaboration will deepen professional and scientific ties between the Georgian Technical University and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, share knowledge and experience, and develop new collaborative opportunities in relevant fields.

“For the Faculty of Mining Geology and Sustainable Mountain Development at Georgian Technical University, deepening international academic and scientific cooperation is a strategic priority. Our faculty encompasses mining, applied geology, oil and gas technologies, engineering geodesy and geoinformatics, occupational safety, and sustainable mountain development. Consequently, our responsibility extends beyond training highly qualified specialists. We must foster an educational and scientific environment where academic knowledge is closely integrated with practical application, innovative research, and the resolution of modern engineering challenges. In this sense, hosting Dr. Rajinder Bhasin, a representative of the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, is an important opportunity for the faculty. NGI works internationally in geotechnical engineering, rock mechanics, soil engineering, underground structures, and infrastructure project safety.

We believe collaboration with NGI could create new opportunities for joint scientific activities, sharing professional knowledge, and enhancing specialists’ qualifications. Within the framework of future cooperation, we see potential in organizing thematic scientific seminars and workshops, discussing modern research methods, supporting academic staff professional development, and preparing joint projects. Furthermore, we should define the specific forms of cooperation based on both parties’ agreed priorities, existing capabilities, and subsequent working meetings.

Although NGI is a research institute rather than a university, its specialized expertise could be a significant resource for our faculty’s academic and research activities. Developing this collaboration does not rule out the possibility of establishing broader academic ties with Norwegian universities in the future. Our goal is for this cooperation to evolve gradually and translate into concrete outcomes. We prioritize the exchange of knowledge in engineering geology and underground construction, the identification of joint research topics, participation in scientific events, and—where feasible—supporting the professional development of students and young specialists”.

– Professor Noe Khozrevanidze