Erasmus+ KA2 project final conference "Connecting Knowledge and Society: The Changing Role of Universities,"

On September 29, 2026, the final conference of the Erasmus+ KA2 project "Enhancing Capacities for Sustainable Community Engagement: Cases of Georgia and Sierra Leone – Enhance GSL" was held under the title "Connecting Knowledge and Society: The Changing Role of Universities," bringing together Georgian speakers alongside the project's international partner colleagues. The first part of the conference, as set out in the agenda, was devoted to discussion of the role of universities in promoting community engagement. Prof. Nicolas Standaert, President of the European Association for Service-Learning in Higher Education, welcomed attendees in a specially recorded video message. Professor Bojana Ćulum Ilić spoke on the importance of universities' role in fostering community engagement and a spirit of volunteerism among young people.

In a panel-discussion format, professors from Matej Bel University spoke about their own experience of integrating community-engagement activities into curricula. The panel discussion was moderated by Tsitsia Okropiridze, Associate Professor and Head of SabaUni's Anti-Discrimination Center.

Representatives of the Georgian universities involved presented the activities carried out under the project in a poster session, during which participants had the opportunity to hear from the professors and students involved in delivering these activities. Four projects were presented on behalf of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University: "Raising Awareness of Mental Health through Student Initiatives," "A Community Engagement Learning Initiative for Schoolchildren and University Students," "Children's Rights and the Many Forms of Violence against Children," and "Behind the Screen: Gadgets and the Challenges Facing Mothers."

Mindia Tavkhelidze, Manager of Communications and Volunteer Development Projects at Caritas Georgia, spoke on the importance of volunteerism and volunteer-led projects, and expressed his readiness to pursue joint projects with the universities involved.

This conference marked the conclusion of the Enhance GSL project, which began in autumn 2024. Over the course of the project, a guide titled "Community Engagement in Higher Education" and a project website were produced, and trainings were held for administrative and academic staff as well as for students. Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University was a partner university in the project, with the involvement of Vice rector, prof. Dimitry Gegenava, head of anti-discrimination law center, associate Professor Tsisia Okropiridze and international relations manager, Shorena Parunashvili. The conference was hosted by the University of Georgia, which served as the project's coordinating institution.