On 5-8 July, 2017,  Prof. Zurab Vadachkoria Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University and Prof. Rima Beriashvili Vice Rector  participated in the work of IAUP XVIII Triennial Conference of  International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), where participated  about 400 universities from 75 countries of the world, including the representatives from approximately 30 Georgian state and private higher education institutions. The Conference was held in  the Palace of Hofburg (Vienna, Austria). Theme of the Conference: “Innovation in Education”.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Austrian and Georgian government – Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Education and Science - Aleksandre Jejelava, the Chair of the Education, Science and Culture Committee, Mariam Jashi, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Ketevan Natriashvili, Director of National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement Tamar Sanikidze. It should be also emphasized that the Conference was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Austria Konstantine Zaldastanishvili. 

On July 7, a ceremonial event – “Georgian Evening” was held at Hofburg Palace, where participants of the conference and the representatives of the Georgian and Austrian governments were invited. The attendees were addressed by Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Education and Science - Aleksandre Jejelava, the Chair of the Education, Science and Culture Committee, Mariam Jashi and Rector of Caucasus University Kakha Shengelia.

The Georgian National University Ensemble presented Georgian dances in order to demonstrate Georgian culture.
On July 8, Kakha Shengelia, Rector of Caucasus University was elected  the IAUP President for a three-year term.  The leadership of the “International Association of University Presidents” in the world academic space is a recognition of Georgia's success and  the  greatest opportunity to strengthen the higher education system of our country and become more famous in the international arena.