RMG and Georgian Technical University Strengthen Academic Ties in Austria
Representatives of RMG and the Georgian Technical University (GTU) visited Austria’s Leoben Mining University as part of a three-day working visit aimed at expanding collaboration in education, research, and industry.
The Georgian delegation also toured the Erzberg open-pit mine and its ore enrichment plant to observe Austria’s modern mining practices and sustainability initiatives.
The RMG delegation included Giorgi Chkheidze, Deputy General Director for Human Resources Management; Archil Jakeli and Revaz Lobjanidze, Deputy Production Directors; and Giorgi Khetsuriani, Professor at the Faculty of Mining and Geology at GTU.
According to Chkheidze, the partnership between RMG and Leoben Mining University began in 2020, and this second visit yielded significant outcomes. “We agreed to open a Georgian-Austrian Engineering and Technology Center and student space at GTU’s Faculty of Mining and Geology, with RMG’s support. Starting next semester, the University of Leoben is ready to accept up to 20 GTU students through an exchange program and fully cover their tuition,” said Chkheidze.
He also noted that discussions are underway for RMG employees to receive retraining at Leoben, which would allow current specialists to enhance their qualifications. The team’s visit to the Erzberg deposit was equally important, offering insights into operational efficiency, ecological planning, sustainable development, and even tourism infrastructure that has inspired RMG’s own efforts in industrial tourism.
During their time at the university, the Georgian guests met with department heads from four core disciplines—mining engineering and mineral economics, mineral resources engineering, mineralogy and petrology, and energy geosciences. Discussions centered around current research projects, innovative curriculum approaches, and integration of these practices into Georgia’s academic system.
Additionally, both parties explored the possibility of launching joint scientific initiatives, particularly in the areas of sustainable energy and geotechnics.
The second day of the visit was dedicated to exploring Austria’s largest open-pit mine, Erzberg, where the Georgian delegation toured production infrastructure, visited quality control laboratories, and observed operational processes firsthand. A concluding Q&A session addressed collaboration prospects and ways to transfer international expertise into Georgia’s mining and geological education.
