Approval in the Georgian System — Accreditation
In higher education, the „approval“ of a study programme legally means the accreditation procedure. Under paragraph 4 of Article 63 of the Law on Higher Education, a higher education programme — apart from Orthodox theological programmes — and a preparation-in-Georgian programme may be carried out only after passing accreditation.
The purpose of accreditation, under the same article, is to establish systematic self-assessment through the determination of compliance with standards and to promote the development of quality assurance mechanisms — not a one-off formality but a permanent quality system.
The Accreditation Standards
Paragraph 2 of Article 63 sets the accreditation standards: the goal of the programme, learning outcomes and the programme's conformity with them; teaching methodology and organisation, the adequacy of assessment; student achievements and individual work; provision of teaching resources; and opportunities for quality development.
Preparation of the application rests precisely on documenting these five standards — each is the subject of the expert group's assessment.
Who Takes the Decision
Accreditation is ensured by the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, and the decision is taken by the accreditation council — under Article 66, in accordance with the accreditation statute, including on the basis of the expert group's conclusion. The council consists of permanent and invited members.
The programme's fate is thus decided at two levels — expert assessment and the council's decision — and each level has its own documentary preparatory stage.
The 7-Year Cycle and Conditional Accreditation
Under Article 66 the decision is of four types: on accreditation, conditional accreditation, refusal and cancellation. The term of a programme's accreditation is 7 years; conditional accreditation runs for no more than 4 years and may not be awarded twice in a row. A conditional decision is taken where the programme partially satisfies the standard; full accreditation — where fully or mostly.
On refusal or cancellation the institution's right to admit students to that programme is restricted — the loss of status is directly reflected in enrolment.
The Credit Structure
The structural foundation of a programme is determined by Article 46: academic higher education is three-tier; a bachelor's programme comprises no less than 180 credits; a master's — no less than 60 or no less than 120 credits; a doctoral programme lasts no less than 3 years; and one academic year comprises on average 60 credits.
These parameters are the frame within which the programme substantiated under the accreditation standards must fit.
The same article provides exceptions: the accreditation rules established by the law do not apply to Orthodox theological programmes or to programmes carried out by the International University of Kutaisi — exceptions built on the special status of those educational services.
The center also monitors the fulfilment of the conditions of accreditation — accreditation is thus not a one-off decision: the conditions must be ensured throughout the term, and the quality system functions permanently.
The step after refusal or cancellation is a renewed application: the law does not prohibit resubmitting the programme, and success depends on properly correcting the defects of the previous assessment — which is why a detailed analysis of the expert conclusion is the first step.
The composition of the accreditation council is likewise determined by law: it consists of permanent and invited members, and the invited members participate where the application concerns a regulated academic programme — a detail that determines who assesses a particular application.
The accreditation standards are enumerated in the law itself: the aim of the educational programme, its learning outcomes and the programme’s conformity with them; the methodology and organization of teaching and the adequacy of the assessment of assimilation; the students’ achievements and individual work with them; the provision of teaching resources; and the possibilities for developing the quality of teaching. And a Georgian-language programme may be carried out only after passing accreditation — precisely therefore the planning of a curriculum is assembled around these very standards from the first draft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently raised about curriculum approval.
What is programme approval in Georgia?
Accreditation — a preparation-in-Georgian programme may be carried out only after passing it.
Who decides on accreditation?
The accreditation council, on the basis of the expert group's conclusion; the process is ensured by the center.
For what term is accreditation granted?
7 years; conditional — no more than 4 years, not twice in a row.
What happens on refusal?
The institution's right to admit students to that programme is restricted.
How many credits does a bachelor's have?
No less than 180; a master's — 60 or 120; a year comprises on average 60 credits.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will help you prepare the accreditation application with substantiation of all five standards and, after a refusal or cancellation, build the position for a renewed application and appeal.
Contact us on Legal.ge — a properly substantiated programme is the foundation of the whole cycle.