On February 24-25, 2023, UG School of Social Sciences within the framework of UG Security Platform was pleased to host the Simulation Exercise under the title - “European Integration: Party Politics - Negotiations”.  Representatives of three political parties – Untied National Movement, Girchi More Freedom and For Georgia along with up to 25 senior year BA and MA students from different Georgian universities participated in the event.

The Exercise scenario implied testing potential political developments in Georgia and reactions of internal political actors on the background of problems related to the Georgia’s EU integration agenda. Prior to Simulation Exercise participants were offered an intensive four-week thematic teaching modules (40 hours in total), during which they had an excellent opportunity to deepen their knowledge in EU integration process, political accountability and political party’s organization and management.    

Participants of the Simulation Exercise had the brilliant possibility to grasp the real political atmosphere and the gravity of implications caused by internal and external political developments. Within the framework of the simulation participants were engaged in internal party discussions, bilateral and multilateral political negotiations and developed of strategies and tactics of their political performance. 

The School of Social Sciences of the University of Georgia conducts an annual “Crisis response simulation” project for students, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and public servants. The winners of the project receive the opportunity to visit leading European research institutions and organizations. 

This year the winners of the exercise Mariam Kariauli, Giorgi Lazareishvili, Ana Tcharkhalashvili, and Nino Tsikhelashvili had the possibility to visit the NATO HQ and EU institutions. During the visit to the NATO HQ participants also visited the Georgian Mission to NATO and discussed with Mr. Vakhtang Chkhaidze and Mr. Giorgi Robakidze the NATO-Georgia relations and major priorities. At the Alliance HQ project participant also had a chance to meet with representatives of the Engagement Section of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division Ms. Beata Patasova, Ms. Barbora Moronkova and Ms. Paula Redondo, and had a fruitful discussion about the New NATO strategic concept and role of the alliance in the Russia-Ukraine war.

On the second day, project participants met with the Ambassador of Georgia to EU and the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Mr. Vakhtang Makharoblishvili and discussed the European perspectives of Georgia and existing challenges in the process of European integration. 

Additionally, project winners had a familiarization visit to the European Parliament, European Commission and EEAS. During the visit, participants had an opportunity to meet with the team representatives of the DG NEAR of the European Commission Mr. Michael Rupp and Nick Cendrowicz, and the team leader of the Eastern Partnership and regional cooperation and OSCE of the EEAS Ms. Marta Wytrykowska. 

On behalf of the School of Social Sciences, we want to thank our partners for their collaboration and financial support NATO Liaison Office in Georgia and Polish Embassy in Tbilisi.

Additionally, we also want to thank the Georgian Mission to NATO and the Georgian Mission to EU for assisting in organizing a visit.

Concept: 

Crisis Response Simulation Exercise is an event organized by the School of Social Sciences of the University of Georgia (UG) and supported by the Georgian Strategic Analysis Center (GSAC). The Exercise, a multiday table-top simulation game, is based on a pre-developed crisis scenario and aims at testing the quality of the national preparedness and resilience, as well as the effectiveness of the normative and procedural (policy) mechanisms, given the existing threats and challenges and the capabilities owned by organizations and agencies (state internal and international ones) relevant to the crisis scenario.  

The project is designed for advanced level BA and MA level student in the field of IR and political science (incl. PR, PP and mass communication) as well as professionals from relevant state organizations and municipalities (20 each group, 40 in total). Along with the objective to analyze the degree of state resilience on national and local levels in a specific scenario-based context, the exercise offers its participants and intensive thematic teaching modules within the first four weeks after the project launch (40 hours in total). Participants will have an excellent opportunity to deepen their knowledge and expand competences on the broad variety of topics pertinent to crisis response and management.

The final phase of the exercise entails a two-day long table-top gaming (crisis scenario-based role playing) and the third day dedicated for the reflection and thorough analysis of exercise results and the review of all steps and decisions made during the exercise, as well as identified deficiencies and problem areas.  

Project participants will be judged and evaluated in accordance with the defined criteria to select the best performing ones that will be awarded special prices including the one-week long trip to Brussels to familiarize with the EU and NATO institutions. 

Report:

On October 5, 2020, UG School of Social Sciences in partnership with NATO Liaison Office in Georgia hosted senior year BA and MA students to participate in The Student Crisis Simulation and War-Gaming within the framework of the second annual International Security Conference: “Georgia in the Western and Russian Military Prism: "If" or "When"?

As a parallel-additional event, a pre-selected scenario-based simulation was conducted with the active participation of 30 students (also young professionals) from different Georgian universities and state agencies: The University of Georgia, Free University of Tbilisi, International Black Sea University, Ilia State University, A. Tsereteli State University, also National Defense Academy of the MOD of Georgia and Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Students had the possibility to grasp the real policy atmosphere and the gravity of implications caused by strategic decisions. Within the framework of the simulation students worked on the 2 main following issues: Military-political decisions and holding diplomatic negotiations.

During the simulation training, various scenario development and assessment techniques were reviewed, alongside the respective impact and stakeholder analysis.

This training had also provided students with an excellent opportunity for sharing simulation findings to the parallel International Conference participants.

Participants were awarded with certificates and the 2 winners of the simulation will visit the NATO and EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.