Successful Graduates of the Georgian Technical University Viticulture-Enology Department Met with Students

Organized by the Department of Viticulture-Enology of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Biosystem Engineering of the Georgian Technical University, successful graduates of the same faculty met with students of Georgian and English-language programs to share their experiences and learn about international projects.

Successful graduates of the university bachelor’s and master’s programs in Viticulture and Enology attended the meeting, who work in the state or private sector, as well as graduate viticulturists-enologists from the Universities of Milan, Geisenheim and Palermo, and a teacher at the Georgian Technical University, a researcher at the University of Palermo, Dr. Nino Adamashvili, attended the meeting.

The Head of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at GTU Professor, Nino Chkhartishvili opened the event and drew attention to the local and international projects and activities implemented by the faculty and department, which are oriented towards the demands of international markets and aim to form future highly qualified viticulturists and winemakers.

“On the initiative of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the National Center for Viticulture and Enology was established on May 13th, 2014. One of the Center’s founders is the Georgian Technical University. In November 2017, the Department of Viticulture and Enology was established at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Biosystem Engineering, which combines research and educational directions in Viticulture and Enology. Today, our graduates occupy leading positions in such enterprises as “Khareba Winery”, “Chateau Mukhrani”, “The Dugladze Wine Company”, “Bolero”, “Mgaloblishvili Wine” and others. The faculty also operates a dual-degree bachelor’s program in Viticulture and Enology with the University of Milan. Students must complete 60 credits in Italy to receive two diplomas. Knowledge of the Italian language is required to participate in this program. Since 2021, the GTU Master’s Program in Viticulture and Enology became a member of the EMAVE consortium, a similar European master’s program. The consortium includes universities from France, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Students of the program have a unique opportunity to obtain two Georgian-French diplomas. Students go to any member country of the consortium for one year, which allows them to receive European education in Viticulture and Enology and prepare a master’s thesis. Our event goals are for students and graduates who have taken advantage of the ERASMUS+ exchange program to share their experience with first- and second-year students. I wish our students and graduates success,” Nino Chkhartishvili noted in her speech.

At the meeting, the graduates spoke about the opportunities and offers that the Georgian Technical University offers to future winegrowers and winemakers.

Nikoloz Kirvalidze, a graduate of the double degree master’s program, shared his experience with the students, who a few days ago successfully defended his master’s thesis at the Geisenheim University, a partner of the Georgian Technical University in Germany. Merab Dvalishvili, a student continuing his studies in France as part of the double degree master’s program, spoke about his experience.

Nino Adamashvili, a teacher at Georgian Technical University and a researcher at the University of Palermo, spoke to students of the Bachelor Program in Viticulture and Enology about the importance of learning Italian in mastering the profession.

“It is gratifying that such meetings are organized at the university because students are provided with information from their peers about how valuable the experience of participating in ERASMUS+ programs is, spending a study or research period abroad, and how much it affects professional and personal growth. I want to emphasize that the Faculty of Agriculture of the Georgian Technical University has two double degree programs in Italy and France. Also, during the study process, students can choose and study the Italian language, which makes it easier for them to participate in exchange programs in the future,” said Nino Adamashvili.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Biosystem Engineering has been for 11 years. It offers 26 educational bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in Georgian and English, and eight bachelor programs are fully funded by the state.