Protests in Georgia over plans to merge two large universities

Georgia is facing one of the most significant and controversial changes in its modern educational history after the government announced plans to merge the country’s two largest public universities - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the Georgian Technical University.

Authorities presented the proposal as a long-term reform to improve academic quality and global competitiveness, the decision has instead sparked protests, deep concern within the academic community, and a broader debate over governance, autonomy, and political influence in higher education.

Georgia’s Minister of Education, Science and Youth, Givi Mikanadze, announced on 29 January that the two institutions would be merged into a single university operating under the name Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

The process will be overseen by a temporary governing council appointed by the ministry, along with acting rectors and deputy rectors tasked with managing the reorganisation.

What immediately alarmed university staff and students was how abruptly the decision was made public. According to academic representatives, the idea of merging the two universities had never been openly discussed before by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The rector of the Georgian Technical University, Davit Gurgenidze, confirmed that he learned about the plan only one day before it was officially announced.

Faculty members say they still lack basic information about how the merger will work in practice - including how academic programmes will be reorganised, how staff positions will be affected, and what safeguards will exist to protect institutional independence.

Government’s rationale: Quality and international standing

Defending the initiative, Minister Mikanadze said the merger is based on in-depth analysis, international practice, and the country’s long-term development needs. According to the government, consolidating research infrastructure and academic programmes will raise educational standards, improve efficiency, and help position the unified university as a leading academic and scientific centre in the region with stronger international rankings.

Government officials have strongly rejected allegations that the reform is linked to privatization or the sale of university buildings - a concern widely voiced by critics and on social media. Parliamentary Speaker Shalva Papuashvili dismissed such claims as speculative, insisting that “the main goal is quality education, not selling property.”

Papuashvili also framed the merger as a historical correction, arguing that Georgia’s first national university was originally conceived as a unified institution combining technical and humanitarian disciplines, and that its later division during the Soviet era was politically motivated.

Academic community pushes back

For many academics, these arguments have failed to ease concerns. The Georgian Technical University traces its roots to the Tbilisi Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1917, and has long been regarded as a central pillar of Georgia’s engineering, scientific, and technological education.

The announcement has prompted emotional reactions from long-serving faculty members, who fear the loss of an institution with a distinct academic identity and historical legacy. Critics argue that dissolving the university as a separate entity risks weakening specialised education and undermining decades of institutional development.

Beyond symbolism, opponents warn that the creation of a temporary governing body appointed by the ministry could set a troubling precedent for political interference in higher education, eroding university self-governance and academic freedom.

Protests signal broader public concern

The backlash has extended beyond academic circles. Students, professors, civil society representatives, and opposition figures gathered in front of university buildings on Thursday (29 January) to protest against the decision, and further demonstrations are planned on Friday (30 January).

Protesters say the merger affects not only education policy, but also Georgia’s cultural heritage and democratic norms.

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Many demonstrators stress that the issue is not reform itself, but the lack of transparency, consultation, and public trust surrounding such a far-reaching change.

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