European Integration and Labor Relations  EIGER conference, November 25, 2016   Prof. Iago Kachkachishvili Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work Tbilisi State University, Georgia

With financial support of European Commission TEMPUS/TACIS programme, three years (2014-16) project has been implemented. The goal of the project was establishing master programme: ‘European Integration and Labor Relations’.   Beneficiary institutions of the project are: ► Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) ► Georgian-American University (GAU) ► Caucasian University (CU) Institutional partners in the project are: ►Free University of Brussels(Belgium) ►Otto-von-Guericke- University Magdeburg (Germany) ► European Higher School of Economics and Management (Bulgaria)

The novelty (hence, advantages) of the master programme: It is joint (interuniversity) master programme, administered and implemented by three universities in Georgia (TSU, GAU, CU); It is interdisciplinary master programme bringing together qualifications acquired in economics, sociology, law, political sciences, etc.; Programme provides a degree in social policy, whis has not provided by any other study programme in the country; Programme unifies academic staff, i.e. human resources of three successful universities in the country; Each study course is provided with basic study literature (readers, textbooks) on Georgian language; Practical application of the programme implies preparation of qualified specialists for those practices which are intended to be institutionalized in the country, such as labor inspection, social mediation, social dialogue, etc.

Completed activities within 3 years: ► ‘Polished’ masters’ curriculum has been developed. ► Academic staff of the progamme has been prepared and retrained in partner universities. ►Resource centers, namely, libraries, computer labs, etc. have been established in all three beneficiary universities. ► Relevant European and American basic textbooks and readers have been translated in Georgian and publication is either completed or in progress. ► The connection has been established with state and other non-governmental or public agencies in the framework of practical collaboration.

So far masters’ curriculum provides the degree of Master of Social Sciences, which will be converted in Master of Social Policy (MSP) degree.   Master curriculum is so called “post-qualifying” study programme developed for those people who have not got basic education in the field of social policy. Master curriculum includes 28 special courses, which requires attainment of ECTS 90 credits. 30 credits are allocated to the Master’s Thesis. 1/3 part of the master curriculum courses is obligatory, 2/3 - optional. Master curriculum is carried our by 18 teachers. 5 of them are the members of TSU staff, 7 are affiliated to GAU and 6 to CU.

MSP curriculum Obligatory Courses ECTS Optional Courses The functioning of the EU: institutions and processes 5 Human rights in the EU Employment policy and informal economy in the EU and Georgia EU's eastward enlargement, neighbourhood and partnership policy European and international labour law Political economy Industrial relations systems in the EU and Georgia Globalisation and its social consequences Welfare systems in the EU Negotiation and conflict resolution Labour law in Georgia in comparative perspective The economics of transition in Georgia in comparative perspective Social dialogue in the EU Psychology of work and organisations Organisational behaviour and human resources management Sociology of work and organisations Occupational health and safety The socio-economic transition of Eastern Europe Social research methods History of work Contemporary problems of social sciences Academic writing (preparation of master’s thesis) MA Dissertation 30 Professional English 1,2 10

Social economic aspects EU institutions Employment Welfare systems Legal aspects Social economic aspects Industrial relations Work and organisation The functioning of the EU: institutions and processes Employment policy and informal economy in the EU and Georgia Welfare systems in the EU and Georgia Human rights in the EU Political economy Industrial relations systems in the EU and Georgia Sociology of work and organisations EU's eastward enlargement, neighbourhood and partnership policy Occupational health and safety Globalisation and its social consequences European and international labour law The economics of transition in Georgia in comparative perspective Social dialogue in the EU Psychology of work and organisations Contemporary problems of social sciences Negotiation and conflict resolution The socio-economic transition of Eastern Europe Organisational behaviour and human resources management History of work Labour law in Georgia in comparative perspective Common courses for all modules: Social research methods; Professional English; Academic writing

Main challenges of the future functioning of the programme: ► Sustainability of study programme; ► Peaceful and productive cooperation of the secretariats of three partner universities; ► Stability of the enrolments costs ► Motivating stakeholders to employ the graduates of master programmes  

Thank you for attention!