While Georgia has successfully attracted international students and turned education into a profitable business, Armenia lags behind in developing this promising economic sector. These observations were shared by Haykaz Fanyan, president of the ACSES analytical center and economist, following his visit to a private university in Tbilisi.
According to the data presented by the expert, during the 2022/23 academic year, the share of international students in Georgia reached 50.1% of the total student population, reflecting a 43% increase compared to the previous year. In Armenia, this figure stands at just 7.8%. Despite a comparable number of universities (54 in Armenia and 62 in Georgia), the private sector's share in education differs significantly: 41.3% of students in Georgia are enrolled in private universities, compared to only 17.5% in Armenia.
"Georgians have turned the provision of educational services into a major business, actively attracting foreign investments and students from developing countries, ranging from Africa to the Philippines," Fanyan noted. He attributed Georgia’s success largely to the establishment of institutions such as the Free University of Georgia, the University of Georgia, and ISET, which were founded with private capital.
The economist criticized Armenia's approach to developing its educational sector, particularly the inefficient allocation of funds. He pointed out that $3 billion is being directed toward creating an Academic City, while existing private universities face excessive regulatory hurdles. "Even the American University of Armenia is not being granted permission to construct a new campus in the city center," Fanyan cited as an example.
He also emphasized the need to change the perception of education in Armenia: "We still view education predominantly as a social sector rather than a business, which is extremely risky and comes with a host of negative consequences."
