On Wednesday, June 22, the fifth and penultimate peer visit was held as part of the ENE SISI initiative. The host for the day has been LEPL college Akhali Talga - New wave (Kobuleti, Georgia), with a rich agenda to illustrate the innovative inclusion activities and practices carried out at the centre.
A complete overview of the centre’s activities has been given by both project coordinator Teona Menaphire and acting principal Kakha Bolkavadze. The college is one of the most relevant education structures in the Adjara region, with a long tradition (it has been active since 1964) and a strong international vocation, both in the training of learners and trainers. The structure is well-equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and recreational areas, as well as with inclusive architecture for different needs.
At the moment the school offers 33 different educational programmes, including 9 dual system programmes and 3 integrated, spanning from healthcare, agriculture, art, to IT, tourism, construction, business, and services to the person. In these programmes over 1,000 students are currently taking part. It also offers short term training courses.
Ms. Anna Bezhanishvili, Head of the Analysis Division of the Vocational Education Department, Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, enriched the visit with her speech on the strategic vision of vocational training and its future prospects.
There have then been the interventions of the school personnel on various aspects of the centre’s daily life: public relations (by PR and marketing manager Nino Mzhavanadze), work-based learning and dual system (by practice manager Tamar Tedoradze), orientation, career planning, and partnership with public and private entities (by Sopho Romanadze), quality standards (Irma Megrelidze, quality manager), and professional training/retrain programmes (Rusudan Gugeshashvili and Tamar Tedoradze).
A particularly valuable intervention in light of the initiative’s focus on inclusion has been the one by inclusion specialist Lia Dolidze, illustrating in detail the inclusion practices carried out in the school. The dedicated office for inclusive education has been established in the school in 2013: ever since, a precise methodology for inclusion has been carried out in all of the centre’s performance areas, starting from the aforementioned inclusive infrastructures, to the active research and informative campaigns for people with disabilities. It is then conducted an interview with the candidates, to get a clearer perspective as to what their specific needs are, followed by a practical test and tailoring of the special support needed. These supports can come in the form of: student hostel, transport, special assistance, sign language translator, vouchers.The process is constantly revised, also on the profile of certifications and international exchange programmes (specifically Erasmus+ projects), as well as other extracurricular activities such as competitions, festivals, and exhibitions.
Inclusion is a cross-cutting issue also in other areas of activity: such is the case of awareness raising events about disabilities and other sensitive issues, organised by the public relations office; and of a dedicated project to provide professional training in Hotel reception and accommodation.
It was, lastly, the turn for the success stories by the partner private companies hosting the school’s students (Georgia Palace Hotel & Spa Kobuleti (Georgia Five Star Luxury, Family Holiday Hotel & Beach Summer Resort (gph.ge) , Radisson Blu Hotel Batumi(Waterfront Hotel in Batumi, Georgia | Radisson Blu Hotel, Batumi (radissonhotels.com), LTD “Road”, Hotel “Chateau Kvirike”( Hotel Chateau Kvirike, 4* Luxury, Kobuleti |).
The visit was closed by the intervention of two students, with their precious views on the importance of the formation and the opportunities they received in LEPL Akhali Talga.
Ministry of Education And Science of Georgia (mes.gov.ge) jointly with its public and private partners have launched many reforms in education and training for employment and inclusion. There are many public and private colleagues that contribute to the Georgia’s government strategic goals: State Community/Vocational Colleges, Colleges founded with Government Participation and Private Vocational/Community Colleges).
It has been both thrilling and motivating to see how much these reforms can achieve. The interventions outlined a clear strategic planning, with a marked ability in using the opportunities from international projects and the collaboration with the employers to achieve the centre’s objectives. The focus on social inclusion is part of a strategic perspective: this fact has been confirmed not only by Ms. Bezhanishvili’s words, but also by the presence of dedicated professional figures in this sense and of a “scientific” approach to career guidance and assistance tailoring.
Another rich and inspiring contribution to be added to the brilliant cycle of peer visits performed in this first phase of the SISI initiative.
For further information, please see the attached agenda.
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