In order to promote interest towards the issue of Abkhazia among the youth and to popularize the topic in general, “Academician Ilia Vekua Scholarship” is being implemented at the initiative of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (Resolution of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia No. 1112.09.2017).

The Procedure for Awarding Academician Ilia Vekua Scholarship

Article 1. General Provision

1. The rule for awarding Ilia Vekua Scholarship (hereinafter referred to as the Rule) determines the conditions and procedures for awarding the scholarship to undergraduate and postgraduate students with special achievements and successes in the field of mathematics, applied mathematics and computer sciences.

2. The academician Ilia Vekua scholarship is intended, as specified in paragraph 1 of this article:

a) For an undergraduate student of the accredited higher education program who has high academic performance (80% or more), has published a scientific work, participated in conferences and is socially active;

b) For a postgraduate student of the accredited higher educational program, who has high academic performance (80% or more), has published a scientific work, participated in scientific conferences and is socially active.

Article 2. Scholarship

1. Academician Ilia Vekua scholarship (hereinafter referred to as “Scholarship”) is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students (hereinafter referred to as “Students”) who have demonstrated special achievements and successes in the field of mathematics, applied mathematics and computer science to foster intellectual potential.

2. The scholarship is established for an undergraduate student in the amount of 200 GEL per month (no more than 1 student), and for a postgraduate student in the amount of 200 GEL per month (no more than 1 student). The scholar is awarded on a monthly basis for one academic year (ten months) from the date of appointment.

Article 3. Scholarship Conferring Committee

1. A committee is established in the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) for the purpose of providing scholarship awarding events, announcing the competition, receiving and reviewing applications, presenting candidates and identifying the scholarship holder.

2. The committee activities is headed by a committee chairperson.

3. The committee, consisting of 7 (seven) members, is approved by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (hereinafter referred to as the Minister) after the end of each academic year.

4. If necessary, the Minister makes changes to the committee members.

5. The composition of the committee approved in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article ceases its activities after the scholarship holder is identified in accordance with this rule.

6. The activities of the committee members are not remunerated.

7. The committee is accountable to the minister for the fulfillment of the duties assigned to it.

8. For the purpose of organizational and technical support of the Committee activities, by order of the Minister, the Committee apparatus is created from no more than 3 employees of the Ministry.

Article 4. The Procedure for Awarding and Terminating the Scholarship

1. Authorized higher educational institutions implementing accredited higher education programs in the fields of mathematics, applied mathematics and computer sciences have the right to nominate a student for a scholarship.

2. Relevant documentation of the candidate:

a) In case of a student of an accredited undergraduate higher education program: nomination, 1 letter of reference, a copy of ID card, a student’s study card, documentation confirming the publication of scientific work and participation in scientific conferences, deeds, certificates (if applicable), information on public activities will be submitted to the Minister. The Minister will forward the aforementioned documentation to the committee for consideration.

b) In case of a student of an accredited postgraduate higher education program: nomination, 1 letter of reference, a copy of ID card, a student’s study card, documentation confirming the publication of scientific work and participation in scientific conferences, deeds, certificates (if applicable), information on public activities will be submitted to the Minister. The Minister will forward the aforementioned documentation to the committee for consideration.

3. The committee considers the scholarship application before the start of the new academic year and makes a decision by secret ballot.

4. The session of the committee is authorized to issue a decision on awarding Academician Ilia Vekua scholarship, if more than half of the members of the committee attend the session.

5. Candidates for the scholarship are considered in an open manner.

6. A member of the committee has the right to request the attendance of the candidate at the session or to receive additional information.

7. The committee makes a decision on awarding the scholarship by secret ballot with the majority of the votes of the members present. In case of ties, the vote of the chairperson of the committee is decisive. The decision made at the meeting is formalized by the relevant minutes.

8. After the committee makes a decision on awarding the scholarship, the minutes of the meeting will be submitted to the Minister.

9. In case of approval of the decision of the committee, the appointment of the scholarship is implemented by order of the minister.

10. The Minister, in the case of discovering a defect in the activity of the committee before the appointment of the scholarship, which had a possible impact on the results, is authorized to refuse to approve the decision of the committee and to give the committee a 10-day period to eliminate the defects and to present the final report on the grant of the scholarship. In case of elimination of the defect, the minister makes the final decision.

11. The scholarship holder will be awarded the corresponding scholarship diploma.

12. The Minister has the right to withdraw the scholarship from the scholarship holder early if the student’s status is suspended or terminated. The minister makes this decision after providing relevant information by the educational institution applying for the scholarship.

The deadline for submitting applications by candidates shall be determined from July 1, 2024 to August 10, 2024.