History of the Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities has changed its name and structure over the years, and at different times it has merged traditional faculties and directions of the university (philology, Western European languages and literature, pedagogy, history, etc.). The Faculty of Philology was formed at the Batumi Pedagogical Institute in 1935. At first, it was headed by Grigol Giorgadze. Later, in 1945, when the Batumi Shota Rustaveli Pedagogical Institute was formed on the basis of the Batumi Pedagogical Institute, the Faculty of Philology joined the Faculty of History. The Faculty of History-Philology united the following specialties: Georgian language, literature and history, Georgian language and literature, history, Russian language and literature, foreign languages and foreign literature. The following departments were united in the faculty: Georgian Language and Literature, Russian Language and Literature, Georgian History, World History, Foreign Languages and Foreign Literature.

By the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Georgia No. 453 of September 3, 1990, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University was established on the basis of Batumi State Pedagogical Institute.

In 1991, the Faculty of Russian Language and Foreign Languages was separated from the Faculty of History and Philology. In August 2000, the Faculty was given the specialties of Journalism-Foreign Language and Journalism and was renamed the Faculty of Western European Languages and Literature. Assoc. Prof. Bichiko Diasamidze was appointed Acting Dean. In 1992-1996, the Faculty was headed by Assoc. Prof. Nodar Varshanidze. In 1996-2002, the Dean of the Faculty was Assoc. Prof. Malkhaz Chokharadze, in 2002-2004, Assoc. Prof. Maia Kikvadze. Since 2004, the Dean of the Faculty has been Assoc. Prof. Marina Giorgadze.

In the 1998-1999 academic year, structural changes were made at the University, and two Faculties of History and Philology were created on the basis of the Faculty of History and Philology. Since this period, the Faculty of Philology has been headed by the Dean Assoc. Prof. Meri Tsintsadze (1998-2004) and M/K Temur Avaliani (2004-2005 academic year).

The Faculty of Humanities has existed at Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University since September 2005. The faculty was created by merging the faculties of Philology and Western European Languages and Literature. Associate Professor Marina Giorgadze was appointed as the acting dean.

9 departments were merged into the Faculty of Humanities: Georgian Language, Georgian Literature, General Philology, Russian Language, Russian Literature, General Linguistics, English Language and Foreign Literature, German Language and Literature, French Language and Literature.

Later, in connection with the ongoing reorganization of the university, the 9 departments at the faculty were abolished and the departments of Georgian Philology, Slavic Studies, and European Studies were formed on their basis.

In September 2006, the Department of Pedagogy-Psychology (Head: Prof. N. Baramidze) joined the faculty and was renamed the Faculty of Humanities and Pedagogy, with Prof. Marina Giorgadze elected as its Dean in December 2006.

In September 2007, the Department of Pedagogy-Psychology was separated from the faculty and the departments of History, Philosophy and Art History were added. The faculty was renamed the Faculty of Humanities and included 6 departments:

- Georgian Philology (Head: Prof. Ramaz Khalvashi);

- European Studies Department (Head: Prof. Irine Goshkheteliani);

- Slavic Studies Department (Head: Prof. Marina Aroshidze);

- Department of History, Archaeology and Ethnology (Head, Assoc. Prof. Kakha Surguladze);

- Department of Philosophy (Head, Assoc. Prof. Lali Zakaradze;

- Department of Art Theory and History (Head, Prof. Maia Chichileishvili)

As a result of the reorganization carried out in September 2010, the Faculty of Humanities was merged into the Faculty of Education and Sciences, and since September 16, 2013, the Faculty of Humanities continues to operate independently.

By Resolution No. 55 of the Academic Council of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University of May 29, 2015, the Department of Oriental Studies was established on the basis of the Department of History, Archaeology and Ethnology at the Faculty of Humanities of Batumi State University, where bachelor's and master's degree programs in Turkology are currently operating.

Currently, the faculty combines five departments: The department includes:

- Department of Oriental Studies (Head, Prof. Lile Tandilava)

- Department of European Studies (Head, Assoc. Prof. Ivdit Diasamidze);

- Department of History, Archaeology and Ethnology (Head, Prof. Jemal Karalidze);

- Department of Philosophy (Head, Assoc. Prof. Giorgi Masalkini);

- Department of Georgian Philology (Head, Prof. Maia Baramidze).

The Faculty of Humanities is located in the old, historical building of the university, has auditoriums equipped with modern technology, English, German, Romance, American

Following the elections held on 12 December 2022, Associate Professor Teona Beridze was elected Dean of the Faculty.