ABOUT Project
The Junior Tech project was implemented by the Business and Technology University in partnership with the UNICEF.
Within the framework of the project, 81 beneficiaries living in Georgia received training in the field of technology over a period of 9 months.
Training modules:
- Basic Digital Literacy Course
- Cyber Hygiene and Internet Safety
- Principles of Digital Technologies
- Graphic Design
- Social Media Marketing
- Tech English
As part of the initiative, the target audience included socially vulnerable children, children with disabilities, children under state care and children involved in diversion and mediation programmes.
Training locations:
- Business and Technology University
- Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University
The programme aimed to strengthen digital and communication skills, especially among vulnerable children and young people, so that, based on their newly acquired knowledge and experience, they would be able to overcome barriers related to further education and employment. The programme supported participants in reaching their full potential through the use of newly acquired digital skills and career-readiness competencies.
To improve access to the programme, UNICEF, Business and Technology University and dozens of business organisations joined forces. As a result, participation in the programme was fully funded for 81 children and young people aged 15-21 from vulnerable groups.
Project Partners
The project was implemented with the involvement of local and international companies, which fully financed the beneficiaries’ participation in the programme.
Trainers
Mariam Keburia
Training Course: Tech English
Mariam Keburia holds a PhD in English Philology and has 12 years of experience teaching various aspects of the English language. Since 2009, she has been a lecturer at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, where she teaches students of English Philology at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels.
Courses and seminars delivered:
- Practical Course in English Phonetics
- Introduction to English Lexicography
- Varieties of the English Language
- Creative Writing and Communication
- History of Georgian and English Lexicography (Master’s course)
- Principles of Dictionaries and Lexicography (Master’s course)
Mariam has published several academic papers and has successfully completed all three modules of the international teacher qualification exam TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test). She is a graduate of Tbilisi State University and Malmö University
Andro Gotsiridze
Training Course: Cyber Hygiene and Internet Safety
Andro Gotsiridze is a Professor at the Business and Technology University. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Director of the Cyber Security Bureau of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia and from 2012 to 2014 as Inspector General. Over the years, he has held senior positions in the fields of internal security, intelligence services and banking sector security.
He played a direct role in the development of several major institutional reforms in Georgia, including the establishment of the Inspector General institution (2000-2002), the reform of the Ministry of State Security of Georgia (2001-2004) and the concept for the establishment of the Patrol Police as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reform (2004).
Andro Gotsiridze is the author of numerous articles and publications on security-related issues, as well as the books Cyber Defence and Anatomy of Hybrid Wars. He is also a co-author of the NATO PFPC Cyber Security Generic Reference Curriculum.
He has delivered lectures at the University of Georgia (UG) and Caucasus University and has also participated as a trainer in various projects organised by GFSIS (Rondeli Foundation), the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Media Development Foundation.
Nino Lortkipanidze
Training Courses:
- MS Word, Excel, Use of Google Applications (Google Calendar, Google Forms), Presentation Design (PPT, Canva)
- Principles of Digital Technologies
Nino Lortkipanidze is a PhD candidate in Informatics and Management Systems at Georgian Technical University. She is an invited lecturer in the field of Information Technologies at the Business and Technology University as well as at several other universities. With 20 years of experience as a trainer, Nino has also built extensive professional experience in the private sector. For the past 11 years, she has worked as a Sales and IT Project Manager at ITDC/Myvideo.ge. She has contributed to the implementation of electronic learning management systems at several universities. In addition, she has experience as an expert/facilitator within the Vocational Qualifications System Support Programme at the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, where she has developed numerous vocational education standards and programmes in the field of IT. Nino is also a co-author of a handbook for technical designers in publishing and has experience in supervising Master’s theses. She holds an international ICDL certification.
Tina makashvili
Training Course: Graphic Design
Tina Makashvili is an Art Director at the digital communications agency “Kraken” and also works as a Graphic Designer at the Business and Technology University. She received her education at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, specialising in Media Arts.
Besik Beridze
Training Course: Graphic Design
Besik Beridze is an Assistant at the Department of Computer Science at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and is a PhD candidate in the Informatics and Management Systems programme at Georgian Technical University. He delivers lectures as an invited specialist in the fields of mobile application development, Python programming, web programming technologies, databases and graphic design. Besik is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications and has presented research papers in various technology-related fields at both international and local scientific conferences.
Giorgi Kenchuashvili
Training Course: Social Media Marketing
Giorgi Kenchuashvili is an Associate Professor at the Business and Technology University and also teaches at various universities in the fields of Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing. Giorgi is the founder of the digital communications agency “Maverik”.
Kakhi Kakhidze
Training Courses:
- MS Word, Excel, Use of Google Applications (Google Calendar, Google Forms), Presentation Design (PPT, Canva)
- Principles of Digital Technologies
Kakhi Kakhidze graduated from Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University in the field of Computer Science and Web Development. He has more than 3 years of experience in teaching technology-related subjects. He works as an invited trainer at various educational academies, delivering courses in office software, WordPress development, Python programming, CSS, HTML, JavaScript and React development.
Demid Fasieshvili
Training Course: Cyber Hygiene and Internet Safety
Demid Fasieshvili holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science and is a certified cybersecurity specialist with 8 years of professional experience. He has worked for various Georgian and international companies, contributing to the development of network, server, IT infrastructure and information security systems. Since 2019, he has been the Director of IT company “Cyber Solutions”, where he is responsible for managing and overseeing various IT projects and organisational operations. Since 2018, he has also been a lecturer in Computer Science at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University. He has 3 years of experience working in the fields of cyber security and occupational safety.