Education Elevator: Georgia’s Education Services Make The Global Move

Fifteen of Georgia’s education and training organisations, representing around 30 participants, participated in The Georgia Education Services Export Program: “Education Elevator”, organised and delivered by Visionest Institute.

The programme began on 11 March with an online session, followed by two onsite days on 16-17 March at the UG School, Tbilisi. The initiative was supported and financed by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNDP Georgia and the Estonia Centre of International Development (ESTDEV). The programme aimed to equip Georgian education providers with the tools, strategies, and networks required to deliver their learning solutions and programmes to international markets.

Participants represented a diverse cross-section of the education sector, including universities, vocational colleges, and private training providers. Attendees included institutional leaders, academic and programme managers, curriculum developers, marketing and communications specialists, as well as EdTech and project management professionals responsible for developing and delivering education services. This diversity ensured that participating organisations were able to address both strategic and operational aspects of internationalisation throughout the programme.

Anu-Mall Naarits, CEO of Visionest Institute and mentor for the programme, reflected on the progress and potential of Georgia’s education sector:

“I believe this initiative is a great success, and I am very thankful to Europe for focusing on services, especially for countries somewhat remote from European markets. It is important to not only consider physical goods but also how we can collaborate in providing creative and knowledge-based services. The companies we met during the training are technologically up to date, results-oriented, and ready to operate internationally. Supporting them through targeted training is a logical step, and any international exposure will strengthen their capacity, resilience, and long-term sustainability. This first experience lays a strong foundation for deeper collaboration between European and Georgian service sectors.”

Over three days of online and onsite sessions, participants explored a wide range of topics essential for successful education export. The first day focused on export readiness and international partnerships, where organisations analysed their current offerings, assessed priority EU education markets, and developed competitive, scalable value propositions. Trainer Anu-Mall Naarits guided participants in exercises to define their international positioning and map out opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

The onsite sessions on the second and third days emphasised practical skills and credibility-building. Participants refined their websites, learning materials, and service descriptions for international audiences, learning how accreditations, pilot programmes, case studies, and testimonials can demonstrate reliability and quality to European clients. Practical exercises included identifying potential EU partners or clients, rewriting key service descriptions, and designing remote delivery workflows using LMS platforms, video tools, and AI for learner and partner communication.

The programme also covered digital strategies for international outreach, including LinkedIn optimisation, AI-supported research, and building international lead pipelines. Participants applied these tools directly to identify partners, develop proposals, and structure scalable remote delivery models, bridging theory with hands-on implementation.

Training on export business planning and sustainable growth helped organisations design pricing strategies, revenue models, and ROI measurement approaches tailored for international operations. Participants left with actionable insights for long-term planning, impact measurement, and scaling their education services across borders.

Artem Daniliants, growth marketing and education export expert, commented on the practical approach of the programme:

“I was impressed by how clearly the education group understood their own offering. They knew what they had, they just hadn’t mapped out how to bring it to international partners. We went through the same practical toolkit, but the conversations went in a different direction, more about positioning and adapting programmes for foreign audiences. Georgia has real potential in education export, and these participants are taking concrete steps to get there.”

At the end of the programme, a graduation ceremony recognised participants’ commitment and achievements. Certificates awarded by Visionest Institute reflected the practical competencies, international readiness, and applied skills participants developed throughout the training. Certificates were presented by Anu-Mall Naarits, CEO of Visionest Institute; Nino (Nika) Kochishvili from the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia; and Giorgi Tsimintia of UNDP Georgia. The ceremony highlighted the collaborative effort behind the programme and marked the formal completion of the training phase for participating institutions.

Following the programme, seven standout institutions were selected for in-depth mentorship at the end of March, supported by Visionest Institute and international experts, including Sigrid Laineveer, a specialist in higher education and university export; Agu Remmelg, expert in innovation, leadership, and digital transformation; and Artem Daniliants. Mentors will guide organisations in refining their international positioning, preparing service offerings for EU markets, and building sustainable international partnerships.

The mentorship phase will also include a fully funded study visit to Estonia and Finland in Q4 2026, where participants will gain hands-on exposure to European education systems, partnership practices, and operational models for international growth.

By combining strategic insight, practical exercises, targeted mentoring, and international exposure, the “Education Elevator” programme equips Georgian education organisations with the knowledge, confidence, and tools necessary to expand successfully beyond local markets and deliver their educational services globally.