MONDAY 13 – THURSDAY 16 MAY 2024
ATSU Rector Professor Shalva Kirtadze, his wife Lali Makaridze, Professor Maia Alavidze (a senior member of the ATSU academic staff and Secretary of the Kutaisi Newport International Association) and Head of ATSU Alumni Nanuli Kirtadze arrived from London by coach on the evening of Monday 13 May. They were warmly greeted by Association Vice Chair Colin Mason, Sylvia Mason and Treasurer Dr Nigel Hallett and taken to the home of Chair Dr Shirley Egley.. Shirley, together with Peter Landers, Rosemary and Derek Butler, Dr Lyn and Graham Foulston and the ATSU students presently studying in Newport Kristine Dzagnidze, Nino Tortladze and Levan Kvinikadze, gave the visitors another hearty welcome.
The evening soon developed into a lively party as everyone reminisced on memories of past meetings. They also looked forward, happily, to the strengthening of both the twinning and the partnership between USW and ATSU they were sure would result from the visit.
The second day of the visit was devoted to discussions between the visitors and senior USW academic and administrative staff with much of the day’s programme organised by Associate Dean Jamie James, who also serves as USW nominee to the NKTA Executive. Shirley and Peter attended the meetings, as did Kristine, Nino and Levan who served as translators when neccessary.. The morning consisted of a general introduction to the University, a meeting with the Hospitality Management Department (a highly relevant event as there appears to be potential for future students exchanges in the field of Tourism and Hospitality Management) and a meeting with staff from the Education Department where Kristine, Nino and Levan are based.
After lunch, the group toured the University’s Cyber Security Department to discuss the high-level courses it offers and were then taken by coach to The Atrium, the USW’s Cardiff based centre for its Creative Industry Faculty. Here the visitors were greeted by and USW Vice Chancellor Dr Ben Calvert and Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Louise Bright. The leaders of both Universities shared their hopes that the present firm partnership between USW and ATSU would continue to develop, to the mutual benefit of both.
The delegates, together with Shirley and Peter, Kristine, Nino and Levan, then returned to Newport and the highly successful day concluded with a convivial meal in a restaurant close to the USW’S Newport Campus.
On Wednesday, the third day of the visit, Colin and Nino drove Maia to Llanwern High School, the local school that has formed a close friendship and developed joint study programmes with Kutaisi’s School no 23. They were welcomed by Deputy Head Mrs J Evans, Mrs Jess Newell, who has been deeply involved in the inter-school link, and the Group 9 students who have taken part in the pen-pal project. After a tour of the school, Maia met the Year 7 students involved in the art projects and they showed her the videos they had sent to their friends in Kutaisi. Discussions then took place between Maia and the students on what they had gained from the various projects and the value of learning about, and gaining an understanding of, different lifestyles. The visit undoubtably strengthened the bond between Llanwern High School and Kutaisi’s School No 23.
Meanwhile, Nigel, Rosemary and Derek, together with Kristine and Levan, took Rector Shalva and Lali to Tredegar House, a visit that was enjoyed by all.
Later that day, after a light lunch and a brief rest, Steve Cocks, a local councillor, took the visitors on a guided tour of Caerleon.
The final event of our visitors’ busy programme was a meal on Wednesday evening with numerous members of the Twinning Association at the Bell, Caerleon. Acting Tamada (Georgian for toastmaster) Peter started the toasts with a welcome to our guests and other toasts were presented by Rector Shalva, Maia, Levan, Pat Wright and Nigel. All spoke of the importance of the Twinning , the many benefits and personal friendships that had resulted from it and the numerous visits undertaken to each other’s cities over the past thirty years.
Food and wine arrived as guests told of their memories in conversation and laughter. A Welsh band played traditional tunes as the evening grew to a close. Goodbyes were said amidst kissing, hugging and handshaking and this immensely useful and highly enjoyable visit ended when the visitors were waved off back to London the following morning.
NKTA
May 2024