management
Lasha Kandelakishvili
Founder-President
Lasha Kandelakishvili successfully graduated from the Faculty of Mining and Geology of the Technical University of Georgia in 2007. In 2017, he earned a Master’s Degree at the Legnica University of Management in Poland.
In 2007, he was the Director-General of Tbilisi Secular University, and in 2008 he was a director of Tbilisi International University. In 2009, he held the position of the Rector of the International University of Eurasia. From 31 December 2012 till 31 October 2020, he has been the Rector of European University.
Lasha Kandelakishvili had been lecturing for years and had worked for various NGOs. He is the author of 5 manuals, scientific papers, and publications.
Contacts: rector@esu.edu.ge
Tamar Zarginava
Vice – President
Tamar Zarginava successfully graduated from the Eastern European University of Economics and Management Bachelor program in law, in 2013, and in 2015 she received a Master's degree in law at the same university.
In 2007-2011 she was the head of the administration of the Tbilisi Secular University, in 2011-2012 she was a performer of duties of Rector of International Teaching University of Georgia, and in 2012-2014 she was the head of the Rector's Office of the same university. In 2015-2017, she served as the Head of Administration at European University and in 2017-2023 she was a Vice-Rector for International Relations.
Since 2023 Tamar Zarginava is a vice-president of European University.
Contact:
Nino Taliashvili
Rector
In 2009, Nino Taliashvili successfully graduated from LEPL - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and was awarded a Master’s academic degree in Law. Currently, she is Ph.D. Student at Tbilisi State University.
From 2010 to 2015, Nino Taliashvili was the head of the Legal Division at National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, while in 2015-2019 she led the legal office at Saint Andrew the First-Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia.
Since 2017 Nino Taliashvili is an authorization expert of higher education institutions. In October 2019, she was appointed by the Prime Minister of Georgia as a member of the Board entitled to carry out the vocational training/retraining program.
From 2019 to 2020 she was Vice-Rector for Academic Process Administration at European University. In 2021 Nino Taliashvili was appointed as a Rector at the same University. From 2020 she also holds the position of Vice-Rector for Academic Process Administration at Kutaisi University, which is owned by European University.
Since 2016 Nino Taliashvili has collaborated with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the World Bank, and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) as an education law expert.
Nino Taliashvili also has teaching experience, From 2014 till 2019 she was invited Lecturer at Tbilisi State University, Caucasus International University, and Saint Andrew the First-Called Georgian University of the Patriarchate of Georgia.
Contact: nino.taliashvili@eu.edu.ge
Sophio Khundadze
Vice-rector for Quality Enhancement
Sophio Khundadze completed Doctoral Program at International Black Sea University in 2010 and was awarded an academic degree of Doctor of Business Administration. She owns an ACCA Diploma in Accounting and Business.
Sophio Khundadze is an Associate Professor in Finances. She is an author of scholarly works, including monograph (published by VDM Verlag Dr. Muller, Germany), and research articles. She is a reviewer for referred, scholarly, professional journals (Pinnacle Business Management (ISSN: 2360-946X), Pinnacle Economics and Finance (ISSN: 2360-9486), Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing (ISSN: 1548-6583). Sophio Khundadze also delivers lectures in business and finances. She has participated in Erasmus + project through which she was a visiting lecturer at Insubria University (Italy).
Sophio Khundadze is an accreditation expert for National Center for Quality Enhancement (Georgia), and an accreditation and authorization expert for Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (Kazakhstan).
Sophio Khundadze is a member of the Educational Committee and a member of the Lifelong Learning Supervisory Board at the Georgian Federation of Professional Accountants and Auditors. She is a participant of the World Bank CFRR (Center for Financial Reporting Reforms) project “Strengthening Auditing and Financial Reporting Education in the Countries of Eastern Partnership”.
In 2013-2018 Sophio Khundadze worked at International Black Sea University as a Coordinator of BA Program in Accounting and Audit; she also worked as a Quality Assurance Manager at the faculty of Business Management. In 2019 she worked at Caucasus University as a Director of Bachelor Educational Programs at the School of Business. She worked at European University as a Head of Educational Program Quality Development Office. Since 2020 Sophio Khundadze is a Vice-Rector for Quality Enhancement.
Contact:
Raul Kiria
Vice-rector for Strategic Communication and Student Services
Raul Kiria graduated from the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In 2006, he received a bachelor's degree in international relations from the Tbilisi Institute of Ecology and Economics. In 2018, he studied at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in the field of Political Science, where he was awarded a master's degree.
On December 20, 2023, he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Georgian Technical University on the topic - "Georgian Ukrainian Relations and the Prospects of Their Integration into Euro-Atlantic Structures".
Raul Kiria has many years of experience working in television, print and online media as a reporter, editor and media consultant.
In 2012, he founded the news agency "Front News" and has been the agency's editor-in-chief since the same year.
At various times, he was employed as an advisor: on strategic communications issues to Ukrainian politician Ina Bogoslovskaya, as well as to the Chairman of the Government and the State Trustee of Imereti.
Since 2014, he has been a media consultant and project manager for the “Desire Tree” charity foundation.
Since 2020, he has been lecturing at the “European University” and held the position of Head of Public Relations and Marketing Office at the same university.
On October 4, 2024, the Universal Peace Federation awarded Raul Kiria the title of Ambassador of Peace for his contribution to the cause of peace.
From 2025 to the present, he has been the Vice-Rector of the "European University" for Strategic Communications and Student Services.
Contact:
raul.kiria@eu.edu.ge
Nikoloz Parjanadze
Vice-rector for Educational Process Administration / Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations
Nikoloz Parjanadze completed his Bachelor's program in English Philology at Akaki Tsereteli State University in 2000. In 2002, he received his Master's degree in English Philology from the same university, and in 2007, he earned a Master's degree in Business Administration. After completing his postgraduate and doctoral programmes from 2003-2010, he defended his doctoral dissertation in Anglo-American Linguistics in 2010 and was awarded a PhD in Philology.
In 2007, Nikoloz Parjanadze won the British Government Scholarship (Chevening) and completed a Master's program at the Institute of Education, University of London (now UCL Institute of Education), and in 2008 was awarded a Master's degree in Educational Leadership (Leadership and Management).
Since 2000, Nikoloz Parjanadze has teaching experience at universities both in Georgia and abroad, leading various courses at Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral levels: Introduction to Linguistics, Educational Leadership, Management and Administration, Education Policy, and Sociology of Education. Throughout his professional career, he has worked in various academic and administrative positions.
While working at the university, from 2005-2019, Nikoloz was an English language examiner at the LEPL - National Assessment and Examinations Center.
From 2018-2021, Nikoloz was an expert in Higher Education Institution Authorization and Educational Program Accreditation at the LEPL - National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, and from 2021-2024, he held the position of Head of Higher Education Quality Assurance Department at the same center.
Since 2003, Nikoloz has been an author or co-author of scientific articles, books, and book chapters, and these publications reflect his academic interests in Anglo-American linguistics, educational leadership, and management research and practice. In 2019, he participated in the Fulbright Visiting Scholars Program and visited the University of Arkansas (USA), where he researched higher education internationalization issues.
From 2021 to present, Nikoloz Parjanadze is an Associate Professor at European University, and in 2025 he became the Vice-Rector for Educational Process Administration and Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations at the same university.
Contact:
nikoloz.parjanadze@eu.edu.ge
About the Governing Board of European University
The Governing Board of European University is the governing body of the University, which aims to:
- To make decisions on issues related to the educational, scientific, and administrative activities of the strategic importance of the University and to develop a recommendation (s);
- Promoting the effective operation of the University by ensuring the involvement of the university community and other stakeholders in the decision-making process.
- The Rector of the University is the Chairman of the Board of Governors. The board consists of vice-rectors, deans, heads of structural units, affiliated academic staff, students, alumni, and employers.