On March 23–24, Caucasus University hosted a delegation from the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance of Armenia and the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, led by Professor Ruben Topchyan.

The official visit began with a meeting with the University President, which was also attended on behalf of Caucasus University by Vice President for Internationalization Irena Melua, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design Mariam Menabde, and Director of the International Relations Department Ketevan Karbaia. During the meeting, the parties discussed directions for institutional development, prospects for international cooperation, and the importance of quality assurance in higher education.

As part of the visit, cooperation agreements were signed with both the National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance of Armenia and the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, further strengthening international academic ties with Armenia.

One of the key objectives of the visit was to share the best practices developed by the Caucasus School of Architecture and Design. Caucasus University is the only higher education institution in Georgia that has obtained RIBA validation for its architecture programs. In addition, the School’s Dean, Mariam Menabde, serves as the Black Sea Region representative of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Accordingly, the meetings focused on this direction, as the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia plans to obtain this accreditation.

Within the framework of the working meetings, program heads Gvantsa Kheladze and Nino Pitskhelauri discussed the structure of academic programs, modern approaches to teaching and assessment, and the requirements and standards related to RIBA validation and candidate status.

The visit continued with a meeting with Maia Gelashvili, Head of the International Accreditation Office, where discussions focused on international accreditation processes and the university’s experience in this area.

The delegation also met with students, listened to their perspectives on teaching and learning methods, and attended an exhibition of student work showcasing projects developed within the architecture program.

At the conclusion of the visit, a meeting was held with academic staff members Ali Rachid and Sopho Begashvili, during which the parties exchanged teaching methodologies and pedagogical approaches.

The delegation members also toured the university’s infrastructure, including classrooms, studios, and other key learning spaces.

This visit represents an important step toward strengthening international cooperation, enhancing academic quality, and sharing best practices.