Official Working Visit of Professor Zaza Tsotnishvili to Aristotle University

Professor Zaza Tsotnishvili, Head of the Bachelor’s Educational Program in Journalism and the Master’s Educational Program in Media at Caucasus International University, and a member of the Management Committee of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), paid an official working visit to Greece. As part of the visit, Professor Tsotnishvili participated in an international workshop titled “Building Bridges in a Polarized Europe,” held at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki within the framework of the COST Action “DepolarisingEU.”

The two-day workshop brought together leading European scholars and experts to discuss key challenges, strategic priorities, and future initiatives. The workshop agenda covered a wide range of topics, including the organization of an international training school for early-career researchers, the expansion of academic mobility opportunities, preparations for the project final conference, discussions contributing to the forthcoming scholarly publication Observing (De)Polarisation: Empirical Lessons from a New Generation of European Research, strengthening communication with stakeholders and policymakers, and developing mentoring programs to support early-career researchers.

During the working session, Professor Zaza Tsotnishvili co-led a special group whose main focus was the regional engagement of the South Caucasus, Western Balkans and Mediterranean countries, collaboratig with the media and implementation of strategic depolarization initiatives. In his speech, the professor analyzed in detail the contemporary problems of depolarization in Europe and the Caucasus and shared with the audience his vision of the prospects of using innovative tools of generative artificial intelligence in academic research in this direction.

During the visit, Professor Zaza Tsotnishvili formally extended a personal invitation from CIU Vice-Chancellor Nino Chalaganidze and Rector Kakhaber Kordzaia to his European colleagues to convene a high-level COST roundtable at Caucasus International University. The proposed international meeting will focus on in-depth discussions of key challenges facing Europe and the Caucasus. The initiative aims to foster scientific research, promote the integration of Georgian science into the international academic community, facilitate the development of new collaborative research projects, and further strengthen the internationalization of Caucasus International University.