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Main providers
Georgia

Georgia

8. Adult education and training

8.3Main providers

Last update: 19 March 2025

Public and private VET colleges play a significant role in adult education, offering both vocational educational programs and vocational training and retraining programs to individuals of all ages. As of December 2024, the country has a network of 45 private and 55 public VET institutions (encompassing state, public-private, and private VET institutions, as well as general and higher educational institutions), though 38% of them are concentrated in Tbilisi. Additionally, legal entities are eligible to provide vocational training and retraining programs upon gaining rights from the NCEQE. This authorization guarantees a minimum quality standard and signifies state recognition of the provider. Providers of vocational training and retraining programs, along with the aforementioned institutions, include private companies, associations, and NGOs.

It’s noteworthy that higher education institutions can offer any kind (basic, secondary, higher vocational educational programs and vocational training and retraining programs. Meanwhile, general education institutions are authorized to implement basic and secondary vocational education programs, as well as vocational training and retraining programs. Higher and general education institutions can provide vocational educational programs without institutional authorization.

Companies can either collaborate with VET colleges or independently implement vocational training and retraining programs and issue state-recognized certificates upon completion. Here are some notable examples of private companies:

  • Natali Academy[1], specializes in certification courses for salon services. Having successfully undergone authorization, it now operates as a vocational educational institution. The institution has also obtained[2] the right to recognize non-formal education for Vocational education purposes. 

  • Goodwill Training Centre, affiliated with the Goodwill supermarket chain, in collaboration with VET providers, delivers vocational training and retraining programs that aim at the development of existing staff and/or training of potential employees.

  • Tegeta Academy[3], founded by Tegeta Motors, a major automotive company in the South Caucasus, having successfully undergone authorization, it now operates as a vocational educational institution and is dedicated to training professionals for its 26 subsidiary companies. It delivers certified automotive programs, crash-re-training courses, student seminars, and international training sessions.

  • Gorgia, a hypermarket chain and the largest corporation in the construction and renovation sector in the Caucasus offers several vocational training and retraining programs. These include drywall construction, door and window installation, plumbing system installation, roofing, various types of flooring installation, and tile cladding.

  • Skillwill, which is the first and largest digital education hub in Georgia, provides vocational training and retraining programs.

In addition, several companies have established joint vocational educational institutions in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia. These include Adventure Tourism School (Mountain Tourism Development Company), Railway Transport College (Georgian Railway Company), and College "Construct2" (in collaboration with construction company "BK Construction"). 

One of the largest NGOs engaged in non-formal education is the Georgian Adult Education Network (GAEN)[4], established with the support of the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association DVV International Georgian Office. The organization operates through 14 adult and community education centres spread across nine regions of Georgia: Achara, Guria, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and Imereti. The majority of beneficiaries belong to vulnerable groups, including unemployed individuals, ethnic minorities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

State Institutions at both national and local levels, including government ministries, agencies, and local authorities, are responsible for developing adult education initiatives. They create their non-formal programs and often collaborate with public and private providers. In some instances, these institutions also provide training directly through their facilities. 

  • Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA)[5] offers IT and digital skills training to the public. Its programs cover areas such as innovation management, IT project management, and programming languages including Android, Java, iOS, PHP, and Python. 

  • Academy of the Ministry of Finance (MoF)[6] offers courses in finance, management, legislation, and soft skills development. The academy provides training in areas such as emotional intelligence, gender equality, and IT tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

  • Training Centre of the Ministry of Justice[7] is responsible for training ministry staff and newly recruited personnel. The centre delivers training in social, legal, IT, and financial topics, along with specialized courses tailored for municipal employees—covering 29 different subjects related to local governance.

  • National Centre for Teacher Professional Development (TPDC)[8] operates under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth. TPDC provides structured and flexible training programs for teachers in both public and private educational institutions, contributing to the continuous improvement of the education sector.

  • The Department of Labor and Employment Policy and State Employment Support Agency (SESA)[9], finances vocational training and retraining programs for job seekers, which are delivered by authorized VET providers. SESA provides its services to job seekers and employers under the law on employment promotion. It supports vocational training, internships, career guidance, intermediary services and public works.

  • Environmental Education Centre (Ministry of Agriculture)[10], promotes sustainable development through encouraging education related to environmental components and by accessing comprehensive information. The "VET Excellence Award" has been awarded to the Environmental Information and Education Centre (EIEC). The winning program, "Environmental and Agricultural Education at School," was identified because of public voting during the "European Vocational Skills Week 2022," organized by the European Commission. 

  • Enterprise Georgia[11] (Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia), implements a non-formal certificate program for export managers, lasting approximately 1.5 to 2 months. The program aims to enhance the qualifications of export managers, train professionals for exporting and export-oriented companies, strengthen the export potential and competitiveness of the private sector, and support industrial development by covering fundamental export-related topics. Additionally, it seeks to improve the qualifications of representatives from state export-supporting organizations and business/sectoral associations to contribute to their institutional strengthening.

Among municipalities, Tbilisi City Hall stands out for its ‘Learn and Get Employed’ program[12], which aims at providing training and retraining programs for citizens registered in Tbilisi through vocational training and retraining programs tailored to professions that are highly sought after in the labor market while also promoting employment in cooperation with the private sector. These courses are fully funded and are conducted in partnership with VET institutions. 

The program covers more than 65 specialties, including construction, engineering, information technology, food services, tourism, customer service, design, transportation, veterinary services, healthcare, and finance.

In 2024, new courses were introduced, including cybersecurity, digital marketing, puppet animation creation, professional training for blasting technicians needed in mining enterprises, transport tunnels, hydraulic structures, and underground construction, as well as courses on food safety and quality inspection in food establishments, light vehicle chassis technician training, and interior design.

The main selection criteria for beneficiaries are being a citizen of Georgia, being a resident of Tbilisi, and being at least 18 years old. The duration of the courses ranges from 1 to 7 months, combining both theoretical and practical training that can be conducted online or on-site.

As of April 2024, approximately 9,000 people have undergone retraining under the program, with an employment rate of around 70% immediately after completing the courses[13].

Notably, for citizens who require a suitable space to attend online lectures, the municipal government provides free access to newly renovated multifunctional library workspaces for the entire duration of the training program.