On May 19, 2026, a research delegation from Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia, visited the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) in Hannover, Germany. The purpose of the visit was to exchange ideas and research perspectives on education–labor market fit, overqualification, skills requirements, and skills mismatch.

During the day-long meeting, participants discussed current challenges related to labor market mismatch in Georgia, Germany, and Europe more broadly. The discussions provided an opportunity to share national experiences, compare research approaches, and identify areas of common interest for future academic cooperation.

The Georgian delegation included Ilia State University professors Dimitri Japaridze, Shorena Maglakelidze, Ekaterine Shaverdashvili, and Davit Tutberidze. They presented their research agenda under the project “Overeducation and Labor Market Mismatch in Georgia: Challenges and Ways to Mitigate Them,” financed through a Fundamental Research Grant from the Rustaveli Foundation.

The visit highlighted the importance of international scientific cooperation in addressing the challenges of education–labor market alignment and skills mismatch.