The
Homeland
Georgia’s wine tradition dates back 8,000 years making it home to some of the world’s best wines.
of Wine
Tsinandali Estate: The Tsinandali Estate serves as a cultural and intellectual center of the country featuring a landscape garden, a historical winery, wine cellar, hotel and a café.
Tbilisi – A
Picturesque
Capital City
Tbilisi, Georgia’s vibrant capital city with architecture that spans the ages, serves as the economic, political and cultural center of Georgia. This sprawling city of 1.1 million features a cobblestoned old town characterized by pastel houses with wooden balconies, a medieval fortress, cathedrals resting on scenic hillsides and a bohemian art scene. Plenty of cafes and restaurants serve some of Georgia’s finest cuisine with warm and friendly hospitality.
Signagi: A quaint and small town atop a hill in Kakheti, Signagi overlooks the Alazani Valley and is a popular tourist destination at the heart of Georgia’s wine-growing region.
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi
Georgia
Kvareli Tsinandali Signagi
Clock Tower of Rezo Gabriadze Theater
Khareba Winery: Khareba Winery is nestled in the town of Kvareli overlooking the Alazani River Valley known for its winemaking history. The winery focuses on preserving ancient Georgian wine traditions while integrating newest technologies to produce the finest quality natural wine.
Telavi: Large clay vessels, known as Qvevri, are lined up at a wine factory in the town of Telavi. Varying cultures of Georgia have maintained the Qvevri technique of making wine. Old Tbilisi, Colorful Hillside
SDSU
Georgia
A Special Invitation On behalf of our global San Diego State University family, I personally invite you to attend the May 31, 2022 commencement ceremony at SDSU Georgia. This year, we are celebrating the achievements of nearly 200 new engineers and chemists – our largest graduating class from our campus in Tbilisi. Through funding from the U.S. government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation, our students have the opportunity to earn an incredibly high-demand degree from SDSU without leaving home. We are deeply proud of the accomplishments of our graduates, and thank you for your many contributions to the teaching, research and educational diplomacy efforts of our great institution. The partnership we share supports our entire university, and notably our students, no matter where they are from. Our graduates will join our distinctive, worldwide network of half a million SDSU alumni. As SDSU expands both access to its degree programs, so too does it expand its global reach and impact. Our SDSU Georgia graduates are committed to supporting the sustainable development of their home region in Georgia, and are already serving as leaders who will help transform lives and communities.
A
Partnership With the
Nation of Georgia In July 2014, marking the first-of-its kind endeavor, San Diego State University entered into a partnership with three prominent universities in the Eastern European nation of Georgia to open SDSU campuses in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The campuses offer SDSU curricula in several science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and confer undergraduate degrees to graduates of the programs. In 2012, U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) put out a call for American English-language universities to present plans to develop educational partnerships with Georgia in order to ensure capacity enhancement of georgian partner Universities, and shore up higher-education infrastructure, especially in the areas of science and engineering. SDSU was one of 28 universities that competed for funding from MCC to create a joint higher education program in Georgia. SDSU was awarded a $30-million contract financed by MCC. The award marked MCC’s first foray into effecting change through higher Rustaveli National Theatre education.
to new discoveries that improve the world, promoting economic development, and significantly increasing students’ opportunities for advanced careers. SDSU Georgia Accomplishments Student Success SDSU Georgia admits top scorers of the Georgian National Exam.
SDSU Georgia admitted its first cohort of students in 2015 in six-degree programs and has graduated 250 students. There are currently 288 students enrolled in the program. With campuses at Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University and Georgian Technical University, SDSU Georgia offers degree-granting programs in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science and chemistry/biochemistry, civil engineering, and construction engineering.
Engagement of Business Sector An advisory board with representatives of the Georgian business and public sector helps develop the program.
This partnership is continuing the SDSU tradition of excellence and building on diverse expertise, leading
Study Abroad Experience Students can visit the SDSU home campus for an exchange semester.
Capacity Enhancements Constructed a STEM building to house laboratories. Imported an (NMR) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to be used in the chemistry and biochemistry programs. Career Development A career development center works with students to identify jobs.
“I have fallen in love with our students, their passion for this program and the naturally beautiful country of Georgia. Georgians are proud of their nation and their warm, welcoming and friendly spirit makes them a fabulous host. Join me for a trip to remember,” — President Adela de la Torre
About Georgia LOCATION: Europe and Asia CAPITAL: Tbilisi POPULATION: 3,977,033 LANGUAGE: Georgian CURRENCY: Georgian Lari GEL AVG. MONTHLY SALARY: $443 KNOWN FOR: Winemaking, Polyphonic folk music
The
Homeland
Georgia’s wine tradition dates back 8,000 years making it home to some of the world’s best wines.
of Wine
Tsinandali Estate: The Tsinandali Estate serves as a cultural and intellectual center of the country featuring a landscape garden, a historical winery, wine cellar, hotel and a café.
Tbilisi – A
Picturesque
Capital City
Tbilisi, Georgia’s vibrant capital city with architecture that spans the ages, serves as the economic, political and cultural center of Georgia. This sprawling city of 1.1 million features a cobblestoned old town characterized by pastel houses with wooden balconies, a medieval fortress, cathedrals resting on scenic hillsides and a bohemian art scene. Plenty of cafes and restaurants serve some of Georgia’s finest cuisine with warm and friendly hospitality.
Signagi: A quaint and small town atop a hill in Kakheti, Signagi overlooks the Alazani Valley and is a popular tourist destination at the heart of Georgia’s wine-growing region.
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi
Georgia
Kvareli Tsinandali Signagi
Clock Tower of Rezo Gabriadze Theater
Khareba Winery: Khareba Winery is nestled in the town of Kvareli overlooking the Alazani River Valley known for its winemaking history. The winery focuses on preserving ancient Georgian wine traditions while integrating newest technologies to produce the finest quality natural wine.
Telavi: Large clay vessels, known as Qvevri, are lined up at a wine factory in the town of Telavi. Varying cultures of Georgia have maintained the Qvevri technique of making wine. Old Tbilisi, Colorful Hillside
SDSU
Georgia
An Inspiring Itinerary SATURDAY, May 28: • Depart for Georgia, 11 hour time change (clocks forward) SUNDAY, May 29: • Arrive Tbilisi, the capital city • Overnight stay at Tbilisi Marriott MONDAY, May 30: • Georgian National Museum tour, Host: Magda Magradze • Old Tbilisi city tour Host: SDSU Georgia Dean Guven and Dr. Lado Kiknadze • SDSU President’s Welcome Reception Marriott lobby • Overnight stay at Tbilisi Marriott TUESDAY, May 31: • STEM building tour; Hosts: SDSU Georgia Dean Guven; SDSU Deans, Dr. Jeff Roberts and Dr. Eugene Olevsky • SDSU Georgia Commencement 2022 Ceremony at Rustaveli National Theatre, Tbilisi • Dinner at Funicular, Tbilisi’s legendary restaurant • Overnight stay at Tbilisi Marriott WEDNESDAY, June 1: • Check out of Tbilisi Marriott • Visit the town of Signagi • Tour Signagi Museum of History and Ethnography • Lunch at Pheasant’s Tears, authentic Georgian cuisine • Dinner at one of hotel restaurants • Overnight stay at Radisson Collection, Tsinandali THURSDAY, June 2: • Tour Private Vineyard and Boutique Winery, Gulgula village • BBQ lunch and wine tasting • Tour the Tsinandali Estate Garden • Reception in Tsinandali • Overnight stay at Radisson Collection, Tsinandali FRIDAY, June 3: • Tour the Khabera wine caves in Kvareli • Lunch at Khareba restaurant • President’s Goodbye Reception, Tbilisi Marriott Hotel lobby • Overnight stay at Tbilisi Marriott SATURDAY, June 4: Depart Georgia
Questions about the trip? Email Anita Nottingham, anottingham@sdsu.edu
• PRICING • AIRLINES OPTIONS: Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines Responsible for airfare SUNDAY, May 29: Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, $188 per night Responsible for lunch and dinner MONDAY, May 30: Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, $188 Optional balloon ride, $20 per person Responsible for lunch and dinner Welcome reception, hosted TUESDAY, May 31: Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, $188 Responsible for lunch Commencement, hosted Dinner, hosted by SDSU Georgia WEDNESDAY, June 1: Radisson Collection, $207 per night Transportation, $54, $196, $460 options* Tour and lunch, $55 per person Responsible for dinner THURSDAY, June 2: Radisson Collection, $207 Transportation, $54, $196, $460 options* Lunch $50 per person Wine country reception, hosted Responsible for dinner FRIDAY, June 3: Tbilisi Marriott Hotel, $188 Transportation, $54, $196, $460 options* Tour of wine caves $15 Lunch $50 per person Goodbye reception, hosted Responsible for dinner City transportation and airport transfers provided by SDSU Georgia ___________________________________________ *Transportation for wine country tour June 1 – June 3: $54 luxury mini bus (group) $196 Toyota Camry with driver (2 people) $460 Mercedes with driver (2 people)