Tbilisi: 32 students of environmental protection were awarded 1500 GEL ‘Green scholarships’ from 8 Georgian universities. The award ceremony was held by Maia Bitadze, Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of the Parliament of Georgia,
Deputy Ministers of Environment and Agriculture Solomon Pavliashvili and Nino Tandilashvili,Â
Education and Science Deputy Minister Nunu Mickiewicz, Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation Program (SIDA) Khatuna Zaldastanishvili,Â
Director of Environmental Information and Education Center Tamar Aladashvili, representatives of universities.
“It is important to support young people to receive adequate environmental knowledge and education, to acquire important professions such as geology, hydrology, ecology.” We are actively cooperating with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, implementing joint projects within which we encourage young people to be interested in these professions and then serve the country,”said Minister of Environment and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia about the initiative to grant green scholarships to environmental students.
As the permanent representative of the United Nations Development Program in Georgia (UNDP), Nick Beresford noted at the event: “Given today’s reality, the scientific direction in the field of environmental protection is highly relevant and the government’s side and this kind of support is highly appreciated.”
 It is noteworthy that scholarships from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University, Georgian Technical University, Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, Akaki Tsereteli State University Students of Jacob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Sokhumi State University received it.
Scholarships are available for the following master’s programs: Physical Geography and Environmental Sustainable Development, Integrated Water Resources Management (Hydrology), Geology, Energy and Mineral Resource Management and Sustainable Development, Environmental Protection A. Engineering ecology, ecology, structural (applied) geography and environmental protection, environmental management and policy.
 The “Green Scholarships” program is carried out by the Center for Environmental Information and Education of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Large-scale initiative “climate change” Reducing the risk of disasters in Georgia”, with the support of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the governments of Georgia, Sweden and Switzerland.
