SDSU Georgia

                                                                                             

President Adela de la Torre meets with Georgia delegates.
President Adela de la Torre meets with Georgia delegates.

San Diego State University Georgia was initiated by the Georgian Government and implemented through the Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia, with funding from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation. It was established to offer students an exciting educational opportunity to receive a U.S. degree in Tbilisi, Georgia. Students are able to earn a professionally accredited, internationally recognized U.S. bachelor’s degree in the heart of the Caucasus. San Diego State University (SDSU), along with three top Georgian universities, Tbilisi State University (TSU), Ilia State University (ISU), and Georgian Technical University (GTU) offers courses leading to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) internationally accredited bachelor’s degrees. Programs offered by the university support the development of construction, science and technology fields, as well as Georgia’s human capital capacity for economic growth.

San Diego State University, Georgia (SDSU-G) is Georgia’s flagship U.S. university program and the only US STEM degree program in the region.

 

San Diego State University Georgia offers 6 bachelor's degree programs:

Chemistry/Biochemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering,

 

SDSU Georgia Highlights

  • Increase awareness of the importance of STEM education in Georgia and prepare highly qualified STEM professionals as SDSU Georgia program graduates.
  • Initiate reforms in STEM subjects in Georgia and introduce international accreditation concepts to the state universities in Georgia.
  • Build capacity through renovation/construction activities and faculty development.
  • New construction of a 50,000+ sq foot building housing Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil and Construction Engineering labs, classrooms, library/lounge spaces, office and other required common spaces, plus renovation and addition of smart classrooms, lecture halls, Computer, Physics, and Chemistry laboratories, a Library Building, Chemistry lab renovations, laboratory storerooms, technician and program offices, and common spaces. Digital systems, Circuits, Senior Design and Computer labs were equipped with lab hardware and smart podiums, following the SDSU standards.
  • 12 cohorts since 2014, training 101 SDSU Georgia faculty
  • American Chemical Society (ACS) awards Georgia International Chapter and ACS Georgian Student Chapter as both organizations received ACS Community Recognition Awards: “ChemLuminary Award for Outstanding Global Partnership” - ACS Georgia International Chapter and “Outstanding Award” for ACS Georgian Student Chapter.
  • The Millennium Foundation hosted the sixth annual Millennium Innovation Awards (MIA). MIA is a nationwide competition for Georgian students between the ages of 13-18 that promotes STEM education and innovations among the Georgian youth. SDSU Georgia Dean Halil Güven joined the virtual event to award two special prizes to the finalist teams Iokos and Inventas. The student participants from these teams were awarded a cash prize from SDSU Georgia to purchase technological equipment that will further their STEM education.
  • Additional new grants
  • FLP groups
  • Enrolled up to 800 students in the programs, 160 graduated in 2022
  • Many student groups such as “Empower Women” a student organization invested in breaking the stereotypes of women, particularly in STEM fields in Georgia.

Faculty Development activities are conducted as a part of the capacity building strategy for SDSU Georgia project. The program to bring faculty from the partner universities to San Diego is a part of the capacity building strategy for this project. The objectives of the visit are to:

  • Build general familiarity with SDSU, and SDSU curricula, both overall and within specific courses
  • Develop teaching skills within specific courses that the visitor might later assist or teach in Georgia and undergo teaching-related training including both academic content and pedagogy.
  • Develop laboratory skills in cases with laboratory courses
  • Develop an understanding of SDSU’s assessment practices
  • Build collaborations with SDSU faculty, both in terms of teaching and research
  • Build awareness and familiarity with SDSU culture and function
  • Training Faculty to coach the Capstone Projects
  • Pair faculty members in their discipline who they work closely with on delivery of courses needed in the SDSU-Georgia program
  • Mentor SDSU Georgia faculty and support the teaching and research interests of the visitor and to guide the overall experience of the visitor.
  • Advising observation and student-teacher interactions
  • Training on accreditation-related assessment instruments and access to online tools, such as Canvas (course management system) and WEAVE (assessment archiving system)
  • Training in ABET accreditation standards for engineering faculty.
  • Meet with important SDSU Department Chairs, Deans the Provost and other administrators about administrative structure and shared governance involving administrators, faculty, staff, and students.

A New Chapter for SDSU Georgia

With one year ahead with the Millennium Corporation funding grant, SDSU is looking at transitioning to a smaller program, and looking at other opportunities in K to 12, while still continuing to work with Georgian partner institutions which now have the infrastructure in order to move forward. This will not be not at the same magnitude, largely because the funding mechanism doesn’t exist, and the funding program in Georgia has to come with external dollars because of the need to support these students.