On 20 May, the Student Scientific Conference “The European Union and the South Caucasus: Integration, Security and Regional Transformations” and a Poster Competition will be held in the G106 Conference Hall of Ilia State University. The conference is  organised by the EU-Funded project “Jean Monnet Chair at Ilia State University” and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The event aims to encourage students’ academic research, critical thinking and discussion on European integration, regional security and ongoing geopolitical processes.

Participation in the conference and poster competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in political science, international relations, European studies and related programmes at Ilia State University and other authorised higher education institutions in Georgia.

Indicative conference topics:

• The European Union and the South Caucasus: cooperation and political dynamics;
• Georgia and European integration;
• EU relations with Armenia;
• EU relations with Azerbaijan;
• EU enlargement policy and the South Caucasus;
• The role of the European Union in regional security;
• The South Caucasus in the context of contemporary geopolitical changes;
• The United States, Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and other external actors in the region;
• Democratisation, human rights and the rule of law in the South Caucasus;
• Energy security, connectivity and transit corridors;
• Hybrid threats, disinformation and resilience;
• Conflicts and prospects for peacebuilding;
• Youth, education and EU opportunities in the South Caucasus.

Participation terms and required documentation:

Interested participants may present either a conference paper or a scientific poster at the event (or both).

For registration, students must upload the following materials via the indicated electronic link:

For the submission of a conference paper:

information about the author (first name, last name, higher education institution, faculty/programme and level of study), the title of the presentation, and the full text (length: 800–1000 words).

For participation in the poster competition:

the author’s details, the poster title, an electronic version of the work (in PDF or JPEG format), and a brief description of the content and relevance of the research (length: 200–300 words).

Important dates and prizes:

Deadline for registration and submission of works: 10 May 2026;

• The organising committee will review the submitted applications and will confirm participation to selected candidates no later than 16 May;
• Three best presentations and posters will be selected, and their authors will receive gift vouchers from “Ligamus” Book House;
• The best works will be published as an electronic collection, and all participants in the event will receive a bilingual certificate.

For additional questions, please contact the organisers at: jeanmonnetchair@iliauni.edu.ge