Staff at UCS hosted a visit on 28 June by Professor Rima Beriashvili, Vice-Rector of Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) in Georgia. Prof Beriashvili’s time at UCS follows visits by TSMU’s Medical Academy’s International Relationship Manager and university representatives from China, America and Moldova.

During the visit, Prof Beriashvili was given a tour of UCS sites, including the laboratories at Guildhall, UCS’s teaching and learning base, and the town.

She met people from across the institution including Provost, Professor Anna Sutton; Deputy Provost, Paul Kirkbright; Chair of the University for Shropshire Advisory Board, Sir David Lees DL, and Professor Ben Green from the Institute of Medicine.

They discussed ways that UCS can learn from TSMU in the development of its Institute of Medicine and how the two institutions can work together.

TSMU is the leading medical Higher Education Institution in Georgia. The University has five faculties: Medicine; Stomatology (Oral Medicine); Pharmacy; Public Health; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Prof Beriashvili said:

 “This partnership with University Centre Shrewsbury will give TSMU a wide range of opportunities for development of medical education and research, further professional growth of academic personnel and capacity building in the country.”

Prof Anna Sutton added:

“It was an honour to welcome Prof Beriashvili to University Centre Shrewsbury, showcase our facilities and courses, hear about Tbilisi State Medical University’s history, and discuss the ways we can work in partnership.”

TSMU already works closely with the University of Chester, which has established UCS with Shropshire Council.

More information about University Centre Shrewsbury is available at www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk, by emailing enquiries@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or calling 01743 297185.

For further details about TSMU go to: http://tsmu.edu/tsmu12/tsmu/index_eng.php.