The internship program"s main goal is to ease entry into professional life for graduates, and this will help them in furthering career growth, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated at today’s meeting with the students of the region’s universities held at Akaki Tsereteli State University in Kutaisi.

The Head of Government underlined that, under the program, the Government will cooperate with both local self-governing bodies and private sector.

“We have already discussed the main outline of the internship program. A pilot version of this program is expected to be launched this year, and over 3,000 graduates should be admitted to internship courses. Under the program, which is expected to span 4 months, graduates will be allowed to enroll in internship programs at various state institutions. We will also maintain cooperation with local self-governing bodies, which may turn out to be especially interesting to the students of regional universities, and we will cooperate with the private sector in order to ensure admission into private structures for graduates. The internship program"s main goal is to ease entry into professional for life for graduates, and this will help them in furthering career growth. This is the main goal. The Parliament adopted the relevant law on this issue as early as one year ago, and based on this law, this year, the Government announced this new program in question”, - said the Prime Minister.

According to Irakli Kobakhidze, the program, based on consultations with students, will be launched while taking into account their recommendations.

“Much will depend on details. We do not want to develop this program unilaterally. The main beneficiaries of this program are graduates, students. And, unless we hear from you about the best way of shaping this program, the ‘start," the beginning may not be as successful, explaining why we want to hold consultations and hear your advice. We will continue consultations, and we want to finalize the paid internship program-expected to be launched this coming September-based on these consultations. I am confident that our today"s discussions will be fruitful in relation to every matter. The previous meeting with students was very productive. Of course, we expect equally exciting discussions with you”, - added the Head of Government.

At the meeting with students, he also congratulated the young people on the recent football success and emphasized that emotions are still intense.

“I avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate you on the recent football success. Emotions are still intense, and they will remain such for quite some time. Our boys, the national team members, have given us a historic victory, indeed, and this victory shows that, where there is love of one’s country, zeal to fight, and faith in victory, everything is possible. Also, I would like to wish you major success and victories in your professional lives”, - concluded Irakli Kobakhidze.

The Prime Minister, together with Minister Education, Science and Youth Giorgi Amilakhvari, presented the details of the graduate internship program to the students of regional universities, followed by a Q/A session as part of their meeting.

The participants of the meeting included the students of Kutaisi International University, Akaki Tsereteli State University, Zugdidi Shota Meskhia State Teaching University, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, the Gori State University, the Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, and the Telavi State University.