International Summer School in Kartvelian Studies 

In a broad sense Kartvelian (Georgian) Studies (Kartvelology) embraces Georgian culture, history and all fields of the humanities: linguistics, literary criticism, art, archaeology, folklore, ethnography, source study. Georgia, Sakartvelo, successor to ancient Colchis and Iberia, lies at the boundary of Europe and Asia, east of the Black Sea, in the south-western part of the Caucasus. Today in addition, it continues to serve as a geographical, economic and cultural bridge between East and West.

International Summer School in Kartvelian/Georgian Studies is an educational-scholarly project which has been held since 1995 under the leadership of the Professor Elguja Khintibidze and aims at increasing the interest of foreign students in the field of Kartvelian/Georgian Studies, providing necessary environment for studying modern Georgian language and expanding their knowledge in various fields of Georgian Studies, Georgian culture, modern scholarly, educational, cultural and social achievements. The project integrates Georgian and foreign students and supports to expand their interest in the direction of Georgian culture and Scholarly achievements as well. The 25-year experience of school performance demonstrates its unwavering popularity among educational circles.

The host institution and organizer of the project is theThe Fund for Kartvelian Studies – nongovernmental, non - entrepreneur individual who through private donations is co-financier as well of the abovementioned project. This fund has organized and participated in many successful projects in the recent decade such asThe Winter School in Kartvelian/Georgian Studies, scholarly journalThe Kartvelologist, various international Symposiums etc.

The project is presented and co-funded by theFund for Kartvelian Studies. The program is multifunctional and includes various activities such as: everyday training sessions in Georgian language (4 academic hours) provided by two teachers with different methodological approaches; Daily individual trainings with assistants of the teachers (1 academic hour); Everyday lectures given by famous lecturers of various fields of Kartvelian Studies; Cultural programs such as visiting museums, galleries, exhibition halls and expeditions in various regions of Georgia.

“I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Summer School experience to anyone.  It is a tough, rigorous, yet fun and enjoyable course – very well designed and structured for maximum effectiveness, and is suitable for both beginners and more advanced students.  As well as the wonderful teaching staff at the Centre for Kartvelian Studies, with whom you come into contact on a daily basis, the Summer School allows you to meet very interesting, friendly people, all with their own reasons for learning Georgian and for coming to Georgia; I very much hope that we shall remain in contact for years to come.” (Russell Travenen Jones, Great Britain, 2009)

During the last 3 years, Georgian students have been involved in the program along with foreigners. This innovative step has proved important in terms of providing integration between TSU students and international educational centers as well as young foreign scholars.

Thus, the project ofThe Summer School -2019 ensures the participation of both Georgian and foreign educational and research centers in various activities in the field of Kartvelian studies. The first stage of the participation envisages the spread of the information about the project. Afterwards, in some cases, students and young scholars are recommended for the participation in the project by their universities.

Tbilisi State University and the Faculty of Humanities in particular and Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia are the most prominent organization that has always been organizing and coordinating the implementation of the project. The Summer School is annually fulfilled on the basis ofThe Centre for Kartvelian Studies of TSU and utilizes its material and technical facilities (TSU, Building VIII, I. Chavchavadze Ave. 13, Rooms 107-108).

The involvement of the Faculty of Humanities (TSU) is greatly important as some students from the faculty, interested in the field of Kartvelian studies are selected for the participation in the project. They will actively be involved in training foreign students during Georgian language sessions as well as lectures and will become the participants of all cultural event s organized within the framework of the project. Thus, the administration of the Faculty of Humanities (TSU), institutes and The Center for Kartvelian Studies will closely cooperate with the personnel ofThe International Summer School in Kartvelian/Georgian Studies - 2019.

“I was so happy to be able to return to the International Summer School for Kartvelian Studies for a second time. My first time through the program, I was a beginner and this time I was more of an advanced student.  It’s always wonderful to visit Georgia and to see again the teachers and professors who were so patient, kind and helpful to me was really delightful.  I’m even more prepared now to continue my studies of Georgia and its language, culture and history.  One of my favourite aspects of the summer school was meeting and learning from some of Georgia’s most notable and internationally respected academics and scholars. I made some great friends at the summer school and I look forward to visiting again.  It was also really great to be interviewed about our experiences and to be on the evening news!“ (Thomas Dunning, Ireland, 2011)

This year "International Summer School for Kartvelian Studies – 2019” operated for 4 weeks on the basis of the Center for Kartvelian Studies in Tbilisi State University (July 7 - August 7). The organizing committee of the “Summer School” received correspondences about participation in the program from the students of various counties: Germany, USA, Italy and Japan, USA, Great Britain, Russia, Czech Republic, Turkey. But the Number of participants is limited (not more than 10 persons).

The curriculum of the Summer School embraces the following activities:

a) an intensive Georgian language teaching course - theoretical and practical workshops with teachers (4 hours per day);

b) propedevtical lectures on Georgian Studies (history of Georgia, literature, language, art…, with account of the interests of the participants).

c) field trips and excursions to different regions of Georgia with the aim of acquainting them with cultural heritage and monuments of art (South Georgia: Vardzia… Caucasus Mountains: Stepantsminda… the Black Sea region: Batumi…; as well as to Mtskheta, Kakheti)

 From Monday of each week to Friday inclusive, from 9.00 a.m. to 13.00 p.m. and 16.00 -17.30, practical studies and individual training in Modern Georgian is carried on at the Centre for Kartvelian Studies.

 As the number of students in the Summer School is limited (about 10 students), the Board of the school is in a position to select for each students a teacher and curriculum according to his or her level of knowledge of the Georgian language. Mainly two or three groups function for beginners, for those having some knowledge of the language, and for advanced students. Two different teachers will be assigned to each student. The respective teachers will teach students by different methods: a) with emphasis on spoken Georgian, and b) teaching the basic grammatical structure of the Georgian language. The method of teaching the language and the classes are targeted at the activity of the students - at their developing skills of practical use of the vocabulary and grammatical material learned by them. An additional course - that of analysis of the Georgian text - is offered to the students whose knowledge of the language is high.

Within the intense lectures/seminars The School integrates invited lecturers and relatively the organizations they belong to. Professors to give lectures for the foreign students are invited from TSU, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Ilia Cavchavadze State University and The Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University as well as the scholars from foreign institutions such as Universities of Jerusalem and Naples, Institute of Foreign Studies of Tokyo. Within the cultural framework of the project, the Museums for Georgian Folk Songs and instruments, Georgian national museum and the national gallery, Open Air Museum of Ethnography, Emigration Museum as well as museums located in various regions of Georgia are actively involved in the project. The project participants have a chance to visit the archeological expeditions of Pichvnari (Kobuleti) and burial site of Grakliani Hill.   

The prospective outcome of The International Summer School in Kartvelian/Georgian Studies will reflect itself in the progress of the Georgian culture and science. It is important since it promotes Georgian national science - Kartvelology abroad as well as promotes the integration of Georgian students with foreign scholarly circles interested in the field of Georgian Studies.

Apart from attracting Georgian and foreign lecturers and encouraging cooperative participation of students in the program, which will enhance the exchange of information, the project intends to develop students’ scholarly skills, advance their knowledge, introduce students to recent scientific research and adapt them to high-rank scholarly circles. All this will promote cooperation and create the necessary background for further scientific activities.

The Summer School is a unique opportunity for the participants to establish close links with the leading Georgian specialists as well as foreign research centers for Kartvelian Studies. The interdisciplinary character of the pro ject will encourage students to study scientific issues in a systematic and complex manner, broaden their viewpoints, and define their roles and interests in the context to the processes taking place in the modern scientific circles around the globe. 

All in all, I found the summer school to be an incredible opportunity for anyone interested in Georgian language and culture. It's a very worthwhile project and I hope it will expand and develop further, offering this opportunity to a wider range of people, both foreigners and returning emigrant like myself. (Lela Sisauri, Great Britain, 2019)

Thus, the aim ofThe International Summer School is not limited to the development of the scientific skills of future scholars, enhancement of their knowledge and creation of the background necessary for their future success. The long-term goal of the project is to direct the interest of young scholars towards Kartvelian Studies. This will be an intellectual investment of nation-wide significance.