On May 8-12, 2022, within the framework of Erasmus + Capacity Building in Higher Education project “Establishment of Psychological Counseling Centers for Students at Georgian Higher Education Institutions", a working visit of representatives of the project partner universities took place at the University of Transylvania in Brasov (Romania). The Georgian delegation was represented by eight universities (Sokhumi State University - Project Coordinator; Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Caucasus University, Gori State Teaching University, Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, Shota Rustaveli Batumi State University, Samtskhe-Javakheti State University, Shota Meskhia Zugdidi State Teaching University, Kutaisi University and Tbilisi Mental Health Crisis Intervention Service (Tbilisi CIS)). On behalf of Sokhumi State University, Assoc. Prof. Nanuli Tskhvedadze (Doctor of Psychology), Prof. Khatuna Amaglobeli (Doctor of Philosophy), Invited Lecturer, Irma Shomakhia (Psychologist) participated in the visit. The Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Ms. Guguli Maghradze and Ms. Nino Tsereteli attended the meeting together with foreign and Georgian partners.

The purpose of the visit was to share the work experience of the Student Psychological Counseling Center at UTBV and to exchange knowledge by means of workshops.

On the first day of the visit, UTBV psychologists introduced the representatives of the Georgian delegation to the specifics of the center's work at the university, services and activities for students.

On the second day of the workshop, the representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Ms. Guguli Maghradze and Ms. Nino Tsereteli, Prof. Khatuna Amaglobeli, and Natia Chochua, Psychologist of Tbilisi CIS, were received by the Vice Rector of UTBV, Dr. Mikaela Gheorghe. The meeting was interesting and productive. Ms. Mikaela was briefed on the SSU, its achievements and expectations.

On the same day, Prof. Oana Alina Bota from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, spoke to the participants about the activities of the Center for Counseling and Career Planning.

Associate Professor Anna Maria Kazan introduced the participants to the Center for Counseling and Career Planning, its research, implemented projects, psychological tests, assessment tools used for psychological and educational assessment of students to assist students’ professional and career growth and help them overcome the difficulties arising in the teaching/learning process.

Prof. Daniela Porumbu shared her experience with the Georgian delegation on the peculiarities of student counseling, talked about the mechanisms of coping with academic stress and various psychological peculiarities that are important in the teaching process.

It was very interesting for the graduate semester students at the University of Transylvania in Brasov to learn about the specifics of their own organizations from different successful companies and to offer students employment in different positions with a view to their professional and career growth, given their knowledge and skills.

On the third day of the workshop, participants visited the research centers of the University of Transylvania in Brasov, where they got acquainted with their infrastructure, work specifics, projects and activities implemented by students.

In the afternoon, the Georgian delegation met with the psychologists working in schools in Brasov, received information about the specifics of their work, which includes counseling students, assessing their skills and, consequently, assistance, risk prevention, career planning, training and other services.

All the meetings coordinated by the project coordinator at the University of Transylvania in Brasov, Assoc. Prof. Daniela Popa, took place in a mode of dialogue and discussion.

The working visit to the University of Transylvania in Brasov was informative, fruitful and result-oriented.