Higher Education Funding Policies and Challenges in the Baltic Countries

Abstract

The present paper examines the higher education funding policies and challenges of the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). The aim of the paper is to determine the possibilities of applying this experience in the Georgian context. The significance of the research is due to the fact that Georgia, on its path to European integration, faces the necessity of reforming its higher education system, in which improving funding policy plays an important role. The experience of the Baltic countries, as successful examples from the post-Soviet space, represents a valuable resource for achieving this goal. Specific recommendations are presented to increase the effectiveness of higher education funding, which Georgia can use to promote system sustainability, quality improvement, and increased accessibility. Particular emphasis is placed on the institutional and legislative changes necessary for effectively adapting the successful Baltic experience to Georgian reality.