Tbilisi State University

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Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი
Latin: Universitas Tphilisensis[1]
Type	Public
Established	1918
Founder	Ivane Javakhishvili Co-founders Kote Abkhazi, Giorgi Akhvlediani, Shalva Nutsubidze, Dimitri Uznadze, Grigol Tsereteli, Akaki Shanidze, Andrea Razmadze, Korneli Kekelidze, Ioseb Kipshidze, Petre Melikishvili and Ekvtime Takaishvili.
Budget	₾109.2 million[2]
Rector	Jaba Samushia
Academic staff	768
Students	23 500[3]
Postgraduates	1,415
Doctoral students	280
Location	Tbilisi , Georgia 41°42′36″N 44°46′42″E / 41.71000°N 44.77833°E / 41.71000; 44.77833
Campus	Urban
Colours	Blue, white
Nickname	თესეუ (TSU)
Affiliations	EUA, EAEC, AUF, IAU, Magna Charta Universitatum, BSUN
Website	www.tsu.ge

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (Georgian: ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი, romanized: ivane javakhishvilis sakhelobis tbilisis sakhelmts'ipo universit'et'i; often shortened to its historical name, Tbilisi State University or TSU) is a public research university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Excluding academies and theological seminaries, which have intermittently functioned in Georgia for centuries, TSU is the oldest university in Georgia and the Caucasus region. The total enrollment is over 23,500 students, and there are 5,000 faculty and staff members (collaborators) overall.

The main founder of the university was a Georgian historian and academician, Ivane Javakhishvili. Among the co-founders were also several scientists, including Giorgi Akhvlediani, Shalva Nutsubidze, Dimitri Uznadze, Grigol Tsereteli, Akaki Shanidze, Andrea Razmadze, Korneli Kekelidze, Ioseb Kipshidze, Petre Melikishvili and Ekvtime Takaishvili. Professor Petre Melikishvili, a Georgian chemist, became the first rector of TSU. Elizabeth Orbeliani, who was also among the co-founders, became the first woman to teach in the university's history.^[4]