Visit of the Faculty of Social Sciences Professor to Sofia University

Ivane Okromchedlishvili, an affiliated Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University (Sabauni) and head of the Master's program "Foreign Policy and Security of Eastern Europe", visited St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University as part of the Erasmus+ KA171 academic staff mobility program.

During the visit, Professor Ivane delivered lectures to undergraduate and graduate students at Sofia University on the topics: "Joining NATO: A National end of a Strategy Means for Georgia?” and "Linking Defense Policy and Strategy to the Defense Budget." Both lectures were well received by the students, which was reflected in their active engagement and the questions they raised.

In addition to the lectures, the Sabauni professor met with Bulgarian colleagues. Beyond sharing experiences, they also discussed future plans for joint projects, public lectures, and research collaborations.

"I believe the mobility was extremely important both for personal development and for the advancement of the university and faculty. Delivering lectures at Sofia University significantly contributed to strengthening international academic ties. Particularly noteworthy was the active communication with Associate Professor Boris Popivanov from the Department of Political Science. We discussed potential forms of cooperation—including joint research projects and student exchange programs. The experience gained through this mobility allows us to better understand and implement the educational and academic practices of European universities, which will significantly enhance Sabauni’s international integration. What was especially valuable for me was the students’ active participation in the discussions, which once again highlights the relevance and necessity of thematic areas such as foreign policy, security, defense policy, and management," – said Ivane Okromchedlishvili.

The academic staff mobility took place from April 22 to 28 of this year.