Kelly Degnan opened the American Studies International Research Conference at IBSU

The 13^th Annual International Research Conference was opened by the United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan.

As Madam Ambassador remarked, for years the United States Embassy in Georgia and the International Black Sea University have been partners to promote the American Studies program in Georgia even further.

“It’s much more, than simply mastering English. The students are learning critical thinking, they enter the program not only from the whole region, but from abroad, and the United States as well. They together talk and analyze multidisciplinary topics that are of paramount importance not only for America, but Georgia as well”, mentioned the Ambassador.

According the Rector of the University Saffet Bayraktutan, the high level of the American Studies B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. programs is confirmed by the high-level expertise of the graduates and permanent support of the university and programs by the U.S. Embassy.

As the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education Prof. Dr. Tamar Shioshvili remarked, four workshops were functioning at the conference, where the issues of politics, History, Culture, Literature, Women’s rights, Education, Art and Economics were discussed.

“Together with scholars the progressed students of the American Studies three level program are taking part in the conference, they can introduce their articles and get involved in discussions” – mentioned Prof. Dr. Tamar Shioshvili in cooperation with the American Embassy in Georgia.

The opening part of the conference ended with the performance of the Tbilisi City Hall Big Band.

The American Studies Annual International Research Conference was organized by the faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education.

Forty-two Georgian and foreign scholars participated in the conference. The 13^th annual conference of 2022 was dedicated to the 30^th Anniversary of the United States- Georgia Diplomatic Relation.