GTU Delegation Participates in International Academic and Professional Forum in the USA – ABET Symposium 2026

A delegation of the Georgian Technical University paid an official visit to Raleigh, USA, where participated in the ABET Symposium 2026, an international academic and professional forum dedicated to modern standards in quality assurance, accreditation, and continuous improvement in engineering and computer education.

Organized by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the symposium serves as a global platform that brings together leaders of higher education institutions, accreditation experts, and industry representatives to discuss innovative approaches to Outcome-Based Education (OBE), program evaluation, and continuous quality improvement in STEM disciplines.

The GTU delegation included the university’s academic and administrative leaders: Professor Irine Gotsiridze, Director of the University Center for International Accreditation and Head of the English-Language Biomedical Engineering Program; Vice-Rector Professor Tamar Tsereteli; Professor Tamar Lominadze, Vice-Rector and Co-Head of the English-Language Computer Engineering Program; Class A Associate Professor Manuchar Shishinashvili, Head of the English Language Civil Engineering Program; and Associate Professor Giorgi Chubinidze.

According to GTU Vice-Rector, the university’s participation in the ABET Symposium 2026 was aimed at deepening its integration into the global educational space, strengthening institutional quality management systems, and aligning with international accreditation practices.

As Professor Lominadze noted, participation in the symposium provided the university not only with the opportunity to familiarize itself with the latest ABET requirements and assessment criteria, but also to actively engage in professional dialogue shaping modern trends in engineering and computer education. She emphasized that this experience is particularly important as the university prepares for the upcoming visit of ABET experts from the Computing Accreditation Commission and the Engineering Accreditation Commission. This preparation requires both the enhancement of academic program content and the systematic strengthening of quality assurance mechanisms.

Professor Lominadze further stated that participation in the international forum contributes to the growth of the professional capacity of the university’s academic and administrative teams, directly influencing program development, the creation of a student-centered learning environment, and the enhancement of the university’s global competitiveness.

“The ABET International Symposium is an important platform for sharing experiences and learning about the best practices that define the quality standards of modern engineering and computer education. Direct communication with ABET experts and peer institutions enables us to further improve educational programs and implement learning models focused on measurable outcomes.

Today, as the university prepares for the visit of experts from the ABET Computing and Engineering Accreditation Commissions, such international engagement is especially important. Our goal is for Georgian Technical University to become a fully integrated member of both the regional and international educational space, where students have access to globally recognized engineering education.”

  – Professor Tamar Lominadze

Rector of Georgian Technical University, Academician David Gurgenidze, stated that the delegation’s participation in the ABET Symposium 2026 was strategically focused on sharing international practices and expert experience, particularly in the effective planning and coordination of multi-program accreditation visits. According to him, this is particularly significant as the university prepares to host a group of ABET experts, a process that demands a high level of organization of academic and administrative procedures, optimization of internal mechanisms, and effective coordination among various structural units.

“It is critically important for the university to approach the multi-program accreditation process in an organized manner and in full compliance with international standards. The experience gained at the ABET Symposium 2026 helps us improve both academic program content and administrative management processes, which are essential for successful accreditation. It is especially valuable to share practical approaches related to managing the evaluation of several programs simultaneously, effectively mobilizing internal university resources, and ensuring productive communication with visiting experts. This experience also enables us to systematically strengthen our quality assurance mechanisms so that the educational programs of Georgian Technical University fully meet modern ABET requirements.”

  – Academician David Gurgenidze

According to Professor Irine Gotsiridze, Director of the University Center for International Accreditation and Head of GTU’s English-Language Biomedical Engineering Program, participation in the ABET Symposium helps the university strengthen its alignment with ABET standards and further develop its quality assurance culture. She noted that the symposium topics—including outcome-based education models, learning outcome assessment mechanisms, and continuous improvement tools related to the core requirements critically important in the accreditation process.

“The ABET Symposium provides an opportunity to refine assessment methodologies, improve tools for measuring learning outcomes, and ensure that educational programs fully comply with international standards. It is noteworthy that the English-language Bachelor’s Program in Biomedical Engineering has already received ABET accreditation, which serves as an important indicator of quality while also placing the responsibility on us to maintain and further develop the results achieved. The reaccreditation process is not merely a formal assessment, it involves systematic program analysis, refinement of internal mechanisms, and continuous progress. In addition, the university prioritizes the successful inclusion of other engineering and computer programs in the accreditation process, ultimately contributing to the establishment of a unified institutional quality standard and strengthening Georgian Technical University’s position in the international academic arena.”

  – Professor Irine Gotsiridze