The San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF) organized the third annual Early Childhood Education (ECE) Quality Improvement Conference in Tbilisi on November 11, 2025. The event highlighted the results of extensive efforts in early childhood education supported by the World Bank through the Innovation, Inclusion, and Quality (I2Q) Project.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister Ms. Baya Kvitsiani presented the Ministry’s ongoing initiatives—developed in partnership with international organizations—to expand access to high-quality, inclusive, and child-friendly services. Additional speakers included Ms. Anna Berdzenadze, World Bank Education Specialist; Dr. Tamar Sanikidze, Executive Director of the I2Q Project; Ms. Mariam Lashkhi, Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs; and SDSU Professor Douglas Fisher.
Professor Nancy Frey, lead of the international expert team, together with Professor James Marshall, shared their research findings. They highlighted the key achievements made through collaboration with national stakeholders aimed at improving early childhood and preschool education quality.
Conference sessions explored essential topics such as professional development for educators, mentoring models, continuous support for teaching personnel, the national framework for ECE quality assurance, curriculum enhancements, and the child development assessment system.
Panel discussions brought together representatives from municipalities, preschool institutions, the National Center for Teacher Professional Development, and other partners, who shared successful experiences and addressed ongoing challenges within the sector.