MCC Compact in Georgia as a real role model
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), an independent US government foreign aid agency, has deemed its cooperation with the Georgian government ‘excellent’ and welcomed the successful implementation of the second compact.
As Georgia aims to increase the human capital needed for quick economic growth, Millennium Challenge Account-Georgia (MCA-Georgia established to implement Georgia’s second Compact), with 140 million funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is implementing projects in general, vocational, and higher education focusing on the increasing the quality of education and developing Georgia’s human capital in the fields of engineering, technology and the natural sciences.
During his latest visit in September, the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze met Acting Chief Executive Officer of the MCC Brock Bierman and thanked MCC for the “consistent support” of Georgia and stated that it is a huge investment with the power to transform.
This August, Tbilisi for the first time hosted Girls’ International Camp “Women in Science” (WiSci Georgia) within the joint initiative of the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnership and UN Foundation program “Girl Up.” The project has been funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Georgia as well as representatives from private sector companies such as Intel, Google, Microsoft and American Society for Microbiology.
Up to 100 girls from Georgia, the United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan participated in the summer camp focused on developing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and leadership skills, as well as establishing the practice of cultural exchange and peer education among youth. The participants took part in various educational programs and scientific projects alongside with their mentors and the representatives of the world-leading private sector companies.
“70 trainers from Intel, Google, Microsoft and American Society for Microbiology, conducted a two week educational program. The camp serves a truly outstanding cause since this is the first time when the representatives of such large scale companies visited Georgia and assisted girls from four countries to deepen their knowledge in technologies,” stated CEO of the MCA-Georgia Magda Magradze.
Another important project aimed at human capacity building in Georgia, executed by MCA-Georgia with MCC funding is “San Diego State University-Georgia 2020.” San Diego State University (SDSU) is one of the leading American Universities in California with 100 years of history, which opened its programs in Tbilisi, Georgia, offering its students internationally accredited American high quality bachelor programs in engineering and technological fields.
“With the help of San Diego State University (SDSU), the base of STEM education is being strengthened even more in Georgia.” New students have an opportunity to help their country prosper in the future. Millennium Challenge Corporation is proud of the progress that was reached with the close cooperation of San Diego State University, the Georgian Government and partner universities,” noted Chief Operations Officer of MCC Jonathan Nash.
This September, San Diego State University-Georgia welcomed 230 freshmen students for the new academic year. The 4th cohort, like the previous one, is diverse: students from Tbilisi and all regions of Georgia are represented. 38% of the new cohort is female. SDSU Georgia continues attracting the top scorers from the National Exams (NAEC).
“The Compact here in Georgia is just a real role model for all of our other Compacts. We have put in 140 million USD to do a number of things, but it all has to do with education. And that really follows the Prime Minister’s goal of making education the priority for Georgia. We have done a lot of that — training teachers, training principals, training young women through the WiSci camp,” noted MCC’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Huger on her latest visit in Tbilisi this September.
Georgia began implementing its first $395 million US MCC compact in 2007 and this finished in 2011. The first compact was mainly focused on infrastructural development.
Georgia was given a second compact worth $140 million in 2013 for education. From these funds, $76 million was spent on general education, $16 million on vocational education and $30 million on higher education over five years.
See More: MCC Partnership Brings ‘2018 Women in Science’ Camp to Tbilisi, Georgia