On November 20, 2017, International Research Conference was opened at Sokhumi State University, initiated by Erasmus + Grant Project DARE with the active involvement of the Ministry of Education and Science. Conference topic - "Inclusive Education: Research, Learning / Teaching, Student Support" – was specially selected by project executives. In order to organize the conference, in summer of 2017, the International Board of Education was established in which the representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, representatives of Georgian, European and Israel universities have entered.

In the work of the conference, universities of Israel, Czech Republic, Romania, England, Lithuania and Georgia have enrolled, as well as Belgian, Swedish, Azerbaijan and Moldovan universities and various institutions interested in the topic. On November 20, the Rector of Sokhumi State University Zurab Khonelidze opened the conference and organized a special audition for European and Israeli universities and emphasized the importance of development of inclusive education and establishment of support for students requiring special needs and socially vulnerable students. The Rector talked about the difficult situation in Abkhazia and emphasized in front of foreign guests that Abkhazia is an integral part of Georgia.

-        It is impossible to speak about Abkhazian side bypassing Sokhumi State University. Universities in exile are rare and unfortunately this university has this fate. This is a reality, but it is a huge responsibility and a burden to the country and the civilized world in general. This is an additional motivation for us to become a full-fledge hearth and acquire a historic mission and role. We must return to Sokhumi, in the historic city and in this direction we made concrete steps. Several days ago we managed to do something unimaginable – we established relations with the Abkhazian university. Without any policy and intervention, we brought thirteen Abkhazian students from Abkhazia University. They lived in united space with our students for four days. This started the process that will continue and some Abkhazian students will become our students.  Our approach is: none of the young people of Abkhazian and Georgian nationalities should be left in the conflict region, in the area where the perspective of tomorrow's day is under question. I want to restore relations and show Abkhazian students Tbilisi as a bridge connecting the civilized world. This will serve for their interest and will develop different skills and opinions in them along with knowledge.

-        Today, we declare trust to the representatives of the International Scientific Forum and declare before you that we will not be a watcher of the process that will destroy and disappear Abkhazian ethnos, so we declare that the only survival way for Abkhazians is to reintegrate into Georgian space. For this we need international support, internationalization and inclusive education, which besides the persons with disabilities means the issues of education of national minorities and improvement their support services.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science presented a wide report on socially vulnerable groups and inclusive education in Georgia: Mr. Valerian Gobronidze, head of  Higher Education and Science Development Department, and Ms. Eka Dgebuadze, head of Inclusive Education Development Department. Michal Shany (University of Haifa, Israel), Natia Gorgadze (United Nations Children's Fund), Eka Dgebuadze (Ministry of Education and Science) and Natia Gorgadze (Center for Civil Integration and Inter-ethnic Relations) presented interesting speeches at the plenary session. All the reports of the plenary session were assessed at a high level. Sectional work was also distinguished: three parallel sections in English and Georgian languages were working on inclusive education research, teaching, student support services and multicultural and intercultural relationships. We should note reports of representatives from Masaryk university, Czech Republic (Martin Vrubel, Philip Abrham, Dana Guala), Ilia State University (Tinatin Chincharauli, Davit Malazonia, Nino Chiabrishvili), Kaunasi Technilogical University (Palmira Yutsvevitzen and Jurgita Vizigidae), Ioan Cuza  University of Iasi, Romania (Ovidiu Gavrilovici), Artevelde University College, Belgium (Lobke Debrie, Nele Pirlet), Swedish Higher Education Council (Peter Bark-Holster and Alessandra Szostrand), Haifa University (Hanana Alexander and Michal Shany), Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Bela Petriashvili, Rozata Gujejiani), Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (Tamar Aslanishvili, Sopho Arsenishvili, Mariam Zakarashvili, Ana Gigauri, Shorena Dzamukashvili), Samtskhe-Javakheti State University (Irma Kurdadze), Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts (Irina Gogonaia), Akaki Tsereteli State University (Maia Akhvlediani, Nato Kobuladze, Jagor Balanchivadze), Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and Zakatala Universities (Jemal Arykhov, Nural Zarbal Oghli Chalabaev), Gori State University (Eka Gigashvili), Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Lela Tavdgiridze) and Alliance of Moldavian NGOs (Lyudmila malkoki). Sukhumi State University was widely presented at the conference with reports (Lia Akhaladze, Tamar Shinjiashvili, Tamar Jojua, Levan Jinjikhadze, Omar Ardeshelia, Iso Bukhuleishvili, Gulnaz Khukhua, Lela Rekhviashvili, Tamar Javakhishvili, Rusudan Pipia, Brolia Tsulaia, Inga Morgoshia and Nino Tsulaia). Unfortunately, three reporters could not attend the conference but they presented presentations. The administration of the University, Public Relations Office, and most importantly the student support group were actively involved in the preparation of the conference reports book.

On November 21, the Conference was summarized by Hanan Alexander, Professor of the University of Haifa and Coordinator of Erasmus + Project DARE and Lia Akhaladze, Dean of the Faculty of Educational of Sokhumi State University.  Reports collection of International forum will be created based on conference reports in which special recommendations to universities will be presented. Creation of the collection will support the sustainability of DARE project in the future.

    In the common opinion of the experts, the international forum initiated by DARE will facilitate the process of mutual sharing of the European and Georgian experiences, improvement of issues of inclusive education research, development and student support services. It will also help in the process of implementing  university curriculum of the inclusive education.