In 2021, the second academic year of the Educational Certification Program in Fighting Corruption has finished. The Program was implemented as part of the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Ilia State University. Within the scopes of the Certification Program two academic courses were offered on the Bachelor’s Degree, and two academic courses were offered on the Master’s Degree for students and the program participants who were selected via competition from other universities, different public, non-governmental and private sectors.

The first year of the Program was more focused on the professional modules, particularly, eight professional modules were offered to the program participants. During the second academic year, the professional modules of the Educational Certification Program were transformed into four academic courses which became part of the academic curriculum of Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Ilia State University. Upon successful completion of the academic courses, students of Ilia State University can receive certificates together with credits (ECTS). The updated format of the Certification Program in Fighting Corruption consists of two Bachelor’s and two Master’s degree academic courses. In particular, the Bachelor’s degree courses- Good Governance and Corruption, and Politics and Corruption - are offered as the part of the Political Science direction, and the Master’s degree courses - Anti-Corruption Policy Management in Public and Private Institutions, and Fight Against Corruption - International Actors, Anti-corruption Platforms - are part of the Public Administration direction.

In the beginning of the second academic year, 20 participants were selected for the Bachelor’s degree courses via competition. Bachelor’s degree students of Ilia State University also selected the courses offered within the scopes of the Program. Particularly, 42 students selected the Bachelor’s degree courses of the Program. Out of the 42 students, 33 students completed at least one academic course of the Educational Certification Program. Two students of Ilia State University completed both academic courses. Seven out of 20 participants selected via competition successfully passed both academic courses.

24 participants were selected via competition for the Master’s degree academic courses of the Program.  Master’s degree students of Ilia State University also selected the courses offered within the scopes of the Program. Particularly, 16 students selected the Master’s degree courses of the Educational Certification Program. Out of 16 students, 14 students completed at least one academic course of the Program. Nine out of 24 participants successfully completed both academic courses.

Therefore, considering the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, 19 participants (including the individuals selected via competition, and Ilia State University students) fully completed the Educational Certification Program in Fighting Corruption. Out of 19 participants, 13 are female. The program participants will be awarded with graduation certificates.

Additionally, it should be highlighted that 102 participants were involved in Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree courses of the Program (including the individuals selected via competition, and Ilia State University students), and 46 participants completed at least one academic course of the Program.

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in cooperation with Ilia State University will resume accepting participants for the Educational Certification Program in Fighting Corruption from the fall semester of 2021. The program is financially supported by the Open Society Foundations which promotes the development of sustainable human resources for fighting against corruption.