On May 23, 2025, within the framework of the project "Enhancing the Implementation of the National Qualifications Framework of Georgia through the Processes of Referencing and Self-Certification" (GEOREF), the Legal Entity of Public Law – National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement hosted the first online webinar on the topic of referencing and self-certification of the National Qualifications Framework to the European meta-frameworks. 

The webinar was opened with a welcoming speech by Lasha Margishvili, Acting Director of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement. In his remarks, he emphasized the significance of the GEOREF project for the internationalization of Georgia’s education system and expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Training Foundation, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), international experts, and the Center’s staff for their participation in the webinar. 

Ketevan Panchulidze, Head of the Qualifications Development Department at the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, presented the work carried out under the GEOREF project in relation to the referencing and self-certification of Georgia’s National Qualifications Framework. As part of the project, the national qualifications analysis document was revised, and an analytical report was developed based on international examples of referencing and self-certification reports. 

The webinar featured presentations by the following speakers: Koen Nomden, Team Leader at EQF Advisory Group , European Commission; Michael Graham, Senior Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF); Zelda Azzara, Qualifications and Credentials Experts at Department of VET and Qualifications ,at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP); Sjur Bergan, independent Education Expert, former Head of the Education Department at the Council of Europe; and Jean-Philippe Restoueix, representative of the European Council. 

Baiba Ramina, international expert of the GEOREF project and director of the Latvian Academic Information Centre (AIC), together with Khatia Tsiramua, national expert of the GEOREF project, presented to the webinar participants the self-certification report guideline developed within the framework of the Bologna Process Thematic Peer Group A on Qualifications Frameworks (TPG A on QF). The document provides detailed recommendations for Bologna Process participating countries on preparing national self-certification reports in alignment with each  self-certification criteria. 

Each speaker emphasized the progress Georgia has made in the process of referencing and self-certification of Georgian NQF. They also emphasized that referencing and self-certification of NQF are essential processes for enhancing transparency, recognizing national qualifications, and supporting the implementation of the lifelong learning. At the webinar, valuable insights into national experiences were shared by Professor Aleksander Xhuvani, Vice-Rector of Barleti University in Albania, and Orla Berry, Head of the Qualifications, Information and Learning Opportunities Department at Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

The project “Enhancing the Implementation of the National Qualifications Framework of Georgia through the Processes of Referencing and Self-Certification” (GEOREF) is funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission. Its primary objective is to harmonize Georgia’s National Qualifications Framework with the European qualifications meta-frameworks. The successful implementation of the program will support Georgia in fulfilling its commitments under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement and the Bologna Process. As part of the project, a self-assessment report on the referencing and self-certification of Georgia’s National Qualifications Framework will be developed in the spring of 2026 with the active involvement of national and international experts and the participation of all relevant stakeholders. 

The successful implementation of the project will also enhance public awareness of Georgia’s education system through seminars and public consultations, and will further support the implementation of the Georgian National Qualifications Framework.