Rate My Professor Vato Lejava

Vato Lejava serves as Professor and Rector of the Agricultural University of Georgia since 2016, while also holding the position of Rector at Tbilisi Free University. He is Professor of Urban Development at Tbilisi Free University since 2016. His academic background includes a Master's degree in Infrastructure Planning from the University of Stuttgart, obtained between 1997 and 1999, and a Diploma in Architecture—equivalent to a master's degree—from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, earned from 1984 to 1990. In 2012, he was appointed Chancellor of the Agricultural University by Kakha Bendukidze, prior to assuming the rectorship.

Lejava's distinguished career in public administration features several senior governmental positions instrumental to Georgia's economic reforms. From 2009 to 2012, he functioned as the Prime Minister's Chief Advisor on economic and governance issues, leading negotiations for Georgia on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union, and shaping reforms to bolster Georgia's international ratings. From 2007 to 2009, he served as First Deputy Minister of Economic Development. Earlier, from 2004 to 2007, Lejava acted as deputy to Kakha Bendukidze in the Ministry of Economic Development and as Deputy State Minister for Reform Coordination Issues. As a committed free market advocate and associate of Kakha Bendukidze, he actively participated in pivotal reforms enhancing the business environment, public sector operations, anti-corruption efforts, labor legislation, and the Economic Freedom Act. Since 2007, he has engaged in discussions and development of the Knowledge Foundation concept. Lejava founded Reformatics, a company executing consulting contracts across more than 30 countries.