February 15 2024
jopscip4

Launch of the “Joint MA Program in Political Science” Project

Posted by editor Uncategorized

The successful launch of the “Curriculum Development – Joint MA Program in Political Science” (JoPScip) Project, funded by the EU through the Erasmus+ Program was marked by a kick-off meeting held on February 8-10, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Project Overview

The primary objective of the JoPScip Project is to advance good governance, peace, security, and human development while promoting active citizenship. This will be achieved by implementing a modernized, internationalized, and digitized joint MA degree program in Political Science tailored for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The project aims to design an innovative curriculum and management mechanism for the Joint MA Program in alignment with the European Approach for Accreditation of Joint Programs, as outlined in the Bologna Declaration adopted in Yerevan in 2015.

Consortium Partners

The international consortium implementing this project comprises several esteemed higher education institutions:  jopscip3

  • Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA, Georgia), Project Coordinator
  • Yerevan State University (YSU, Armenia)
  • Eurasia International University (EIU, Armenia)
  • Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg (PLUS, Austria)
  • Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (North Macedonia)
  • Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU, Georgia)

Opening Event Highlights

The official opening event was held on February 8, 2024, in Tbilisi, where Dr. Maka Ioseliani, Rector of GIPA, welcomed the participants. Key representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the National Quality Assurance Center, and the Georgian National Erasmus+ Office also addressed the attendees.

Franz Kok, Professor of Political Science from Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg, and Anano Gorgodze, Project Coordinator from GIPA, presented the project’s progress, main objectives, future activities, and anticipated outcomes.

Moving Forward

The kick-off meeting laid a solid foundation for the project’s effective implementation. A Quality Management Board was established to oversee the project, addressing key issues such as Joint Program Management, External Quality Assurance (EU accreditation), and upcoming Innovation Labs in Georgia and Armenia. Additionally, meetings with professors from TSU, GIPA, and associated partners were conducted to ensure collaborative progress.

Eurasia International University is excited to be a part of this transformative initiative and looks forward to its positive impact on the Political Science field. Eurasia International University was represented by Dr. Ruben Markosyan, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. Dr. Markosyan highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “We are confident that the international consortium will significantly advance MA programs in Political Science. By incorporating regional and European perspectives, we will enrich curricula and foster greater interdisciplinarity. Eurasia International University places high importance on integrating the broader disciplinary areas of Political Science and Public Administration with a specialized focus on Development Studies. This approach is expected to greatly enhance both academic and practical understanding in these fields.”