About University
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, a significant educational, scientific, and cultural center in our country, has a rich 85-year history.
The establishment and growth of the educational system in Adjara was a long-term endeavor of the Georgian community. In 1893, the idea of opening a Boys’ Gymnasium in Batumi was raised, and the Municipality of the city allocated a land area of 2,623.95 square meters for this purpose. The Boys’ Gymnasium, designed by military engineer Sedelnikov, consisted of a gym, a church, classrooms, laboratories, and a library. It started operating in July 1897, and in 1900, a Women’s Gymnasium was also opened. Over time, the Women’s Gymnasium transformed into a Pedagogical Institute, which later became a Pedagogical College, focusing on preparing primary school teachers.
In 1935, a 2-year Teacher’s Institute was established in the building of the Boys’ Gymnasium. It initially had four faculties and eventually expanded to include faculties of Physical Education and Russian Language and Literature. In 1938, the institute was named after Shota Rustaveli.
The early years of the institute saw the involvement of renowned Georgian academics and intellectuals, such as Giorgi Akhvlediani, Giorgi Tsereteli, and Razhden Khutsishvili, who contributed to the institute’s reputation and the development of teaching and research activities. By 1943, the institute had five candidates of sciences (equivalent to Ph.D.) among its staff.
In 1945, a Pedagogical Institute was established based on Batumi Teachers’ Institute, which led to the reconstruction and improvement of facilities. A new building was constructed in 1982 to accommodate the institute’s growth.
Following Georgia’s fight for independence, Batumi State University was established in 1990 by transforming Batumi Pedagogical Institute. The university expanded its faculties to include law, economics, and medicine. It adopted a two-cycle teaching system, offering Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and also provided post-graduate studies in certain fields.
In 2006, the university underwent reorganization and unification, resulting in the formation of the “Legal Entity of Public Law – Shota Rustaveli State University.” Several institutes and research centers, including the Batumi Botanical Garden and Niko Berdzenishvili Research Institute, were incorporated into the university.
Currently, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University consists of seven faculties, offering vocational, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs to approximately 6,000 students. The university has a dedicated faculty, including professors, researchers, and visiting professors, who contribute to the teaching and research processes.
The university is authorized by the National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement and offers a wide range of accredited programs. It emphasizes both traditional and emerging fields of study, while employing modern teaching methods, including electronic learning.
Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University actively engages in scientific research activities, focusing on various disciplines such as Natural Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Mathematics, Engineering, Technologies, Business, Public Health, and Agriculture. It maintains strong partnerships with leading higher educational institutions both within and outside the country, and frequently hosts international scientific conferences and symposia.
With the project “Batumi – A University City,” Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University envisions further development and expansion of its academic and professional education and research endeavors.
