Ilia University professors call quota decision ‘discriminatory’

Professors from the business, technology, and education faculties of Ilias State University have criticized a recent government decision setting student quotas, calling it discriminatory against their faculty.

“In particular, our English-language MBA program has no equivalent in any other state university in Georgia. It offers diverse, innovative, and unique courses, developed in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in Austria,” the professors said in a statement.

The program is entirely in English, allowing both local students to participate in the Erasmus+ program in Europe and foreign students to enroll. It also offers a dual-degree option: currently, 26 Georgian students have earned a degree from the University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in international business, while 24 Austrian students have obtained Ilia University’s MBA, the professors said.

“Following the February 12 decree, admission quotas were reduced across all schools of the faculty, and the business school’s quota was completely eliminated. Given the program’s high quality and growing demand, we consider this decision discriminatory. We urge the authorities to revise the quotas set by the decree,” the statement read.

Under the Education Minister’s decision, Ilias State University will have a total enrollment cap of 300 students across all its programs.