The international study visit of the partners of the Erasmus+ project ERASMUS-EDU-2022-CBHE-STRAND-2 ‘PROMENT’ in the field of ‘Higher Education Capacity Building’ took place in Batumi (Georgia) at the Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University. From 20 to 23 April 2024, a Steering Committee was held at the Georgian Technical University. The meeting was attended by representatives of 7 partner universities from 3 countries: Italy, Georgia and Ukraine.

Partner universities considered the experience of project participants in building university T&M systems. The possibility of forming a common platform based on an integrated set of methods, algorithms and procedures, reinforced by their own IT platform, university structures, trained staff and active senior students was considered. During the visit, we learnt more about the peculiarities of the T&M Centres at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University and Georgian Technical University.

The visit involved team tasks, lectures, assignments and solving issues in the further cooperation. Considerable attention was paid to the practice of mentoring senior students who provide support and advice on learning to first-year students. 

The third day of the Spring School was devoted to the organisation of tutoring systems of other universities, their techniques and strategies for mentoring students, namely, creating an inclusive and favourable environment. Practical sessions with group work and case studies led by experts developed the participants' skills and facilitated the exchange of ideas. 

On the final day of the Spring School, participants worked on creating an inclusive environment for engaging mentors and mentees, identified specific forms of interaction, and explored how to understand the needs of not only mentees but also mentors and tutors.

The study visit ended with a the PROMENT Steering Committee at Georgian Technical University. During the meeting, partners reported on the work packages and planned the project implementation for the next year. The participants discussed project management and overall coordination, development of a comprehensive methodology for the training system and establishment of training centres, development of new tools and materials for the training system of higher education institutions, implementation of training courses, piloting the T&M programme at the regional level, quality assurance and project evaluation, dissemination and use of project results. Methods of ensuring the quality of project implementation and developing a system for evaluating its results to ensure compliance with established standards were discussed. Strategies for disseminating the project results to the academic community and a wider audience, including publications, seminars, and other events, have been developed.

As part of the PROMENT project, the T&M Centre was opened at Georgian Technical University. This centre is a place where students can find not only knowledge, but also answers to their questions, support in their studies and personal development. This expands the new opportunities available to students and the academic community.

During the International Study Visit, a number of important meetings, presentations and discussions were held, which significantly contributed to the development of the PROMENT project. These events also strengthened cooperation between the partner universities in areas such as the creation of core curricula and mentoring, the establishment of T&M centres, the development of teaching materials and tools, and the training of teachers, students and business mentors.