Ilia State University is a leading research and educational institution in Georgia and the region. Through its innovative approaches and by providing students with diverse individual experiences, it creates solid foundations for scientific-technological advancement, high-quality learning and educational processes, and societal well-being.

The university was founded in 2006 as a merger of 6 independent institutions, each with a distinctly unique history and background. The university has distinguished itself with its exceptional adaptability to changes. Collaborating closely with international partners in the areas of technology development, digital transformation, sustainable development as well as climate change programs and research, ILIAUNI has established itself as an impactful multi-profile research institution that combines diverse teaching and research directions and with its significant research, educational and public influence successfully positions itself both at the national level and globally.

Over the past 17 years since its founding, the university has experienced significant growth and development. With its high index of research citations and referencing, it stands unparalleled among all universities in the area. According to global institutional (THE Times Higher Education, Scimago, U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities) and individual scholar rankings, (Stanford University and Elsevier’s Annual Ranking of Top 2% of the World’s Scientists) Ilia State University is rated to be the best, due to its unmatched position as the top research university nationwide (in a range of scientific fields) and across the region. 

Ilia State University defines its role in the context of the country, the region, and the global community by realizing the special mission assigned to higher education at the historic moment of Georgia’s integration into Europe. Within this role, Ilia State University:

1. conducts research utilizing the latest approaches and disseminates research findings across academic/entrepreneurial communities locally and internationally;
2. conducts academic activities maintaining a level of excellence in compliance with modern Western standards;
3. seeks to effectively respond to the requirements of the labor market, being well aware of the fierce competition therein;
4. responds to local, regional and global challenges, guided by the university’s societal mission to achieve sustainable development goals and raise the level of public well-being; 
5. strives to the establishment of democratic values both within the university doors and by efforts initiated beyond its boundaries

As an institution loyal to the principles of European academic and scientific space and the Bologna process, Ilia State University is founded on three primary tenets of unity:

1. Academic Freedom;
2. Freedom of Conscience;
3. Freedom of Choice

These are interdependent and mutually reinforcing principles, deriving from each other and conditioning each other: students, academics, lecturers, researchers, and professors have the freedom to choose their directions, areas of research and study, their colleagues and supervisors while also emphasizing high academic quality; No one has the right or authority, on the grounds of political or moral considerations, to prohibit students, professors, teachers, and researchers from researching a subject or making scientific findings accessible to a wider audience. Students and professors are free to choose any form of transparent and accountable self-governance that they believe best suits the goals and objectives of their union – the university.