Georgia’s young people are the future citizens of the EU. The European Union helps young people across the country access quality education and to thrive personally and professionally. Through one of the EU’s most successful programme, Erasmus+, the EU is forging strong connections between students and teachers in Georgia with universities in Europe. Over 11,000 students and academic staff exchanges have taken place between Georgia and the EU within Erasmus+ since 2014, making Georgia one of the top ten countries benefiting from Erasmus+ in the last ten years.
Georgia hosts the the School of Europe-Tbilisi in Georgia, a secondary school programme offering high quality education to pupils from all six Eastern Partnership countries, increasing their employment opportunities and promoting a better understanding of the EU and its engagement in the region by providing access to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme with a European focus.
The EU also provides technical assistance to state institutions to enhance formal and non-formal education and increase opportunities for the youth in developing adequate professional competences for integration in the labour market. The EU’s close collaboration with the Government of Georgia on employment services and skills development over the last 10 years has already resulted in 30,000 jobseekers finding suitable employment. For those young people who don’t have the same access to opportunities, the EU reaches out to disadvantaged communities to help all young people develop their skills, become economically active, and work with their communities.
In addition, the EU supported the development of a Youth Strategy and Action Plan, which serves as the guiding document to build a youth-friendly Georgia. The Youth Agency is leading the development, implementation, and coordination of Youth Policy, as well as the reform of the overall youth sector in Georgia.