Dr. Manana Ratiani, PhD

Dr. Manana Ratiani has a background in education policy, leadership, teacher training, and sustainable development. In her roles at the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth (MOESY), the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development (TPDC), and Ilia State University she has developed policy documents for system reforms, analyzed data to make evidence-based decisions, planned programs, and facilitated professional development initiatives for Georgian educators. She has developed educational materials, including national curricula, teacher standards, and guidebooks, with the goal of enhancing teaching quality and fostering educational excellence.

As the Director of Pre-Service Education on the USAID Basic Education Program in Georgia, Dr. Ratiani leads initiatives to enhance the quality of pre-service teacher education programs. She worked closely with the Program’s eight partner universities to develop and revise their pre-service programs and courses. As part of this process, she provided consultations and training sessions to the universities and helped them ensure alignment with modern teaching trends, such as student-centered learning practices. Dr. Ratiani leads the program’s “Strengthening Primary Education Model.” This model aims to enhance student centered teaching practices through teacher observations, feedback sessions, and a culture of continuous professional development. 

Dr. Ratiani is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Education Commission and a U.S. Department of State International Exchange Alumni community member. She is also an observer of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development.