This is how the Ilia State University in Georgia looks like.
Event
Sustaining Academic Freedom
Experts from Georgia and the University Alliance Ruhr will discuss this topic at a conference in early July.
Together with its long-standing partner institution, Ilia State University in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the University Alliance Ruhr is hosting a conference: “Sustaining Academic Freedom: Ilia State University and its Academic Partnerships with Germany” will take place on July 7 and 8, 2026, at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities in Essen. The event is dedicated to current challenges facing academic freedom and university autonomy and is organized by the University Alliance Ruhr Liaison Office for Eastern Europe/Central Asia.
This meeting holds special significance for the University Alliance Ruhr. It not only highlights the long-standing and diverse relationships between the three universities and their Georgian partners but also provides a forum for discussion on the role that international university cooperation can play in times of political and societal challenges.
The event brings together representatives from academia, university administration, research policy, funding organizations, and civil society in Germany and Georgia. Against the backdrop of recent political developments affecting higher education and academic freedom in Georgia, the conference aims to create a space for dialogue, international solidarity, and the development of concrete prospects for future cooperation.
The program includes:
- Keynote speeches and a panel discussion on academic freedom and university autonomy
- A discussion on current developments in the Georgian higher education system
- Presentations on existing German-Georgian academic partnerships
- As well as interactive workshops on future collaboration, support mechanisms, and institutional cooperation
