The education establishment, started by Nina Chikvashvili in the city of Kutaisi, today unites three schools in Georgia, with 2,000 students and a broad network of graduates. The history of American International School Progress has been more than 20 years in the making. However, the vision of the business is much more ambitious than the achievements of the past.
Step by step towards progress – For many years, Nina Chikvashvili has been guided by this philosophy both in her career and in her education company.
Progress in the city of Kutaisi began in the early 2000s. First, there was an English language learning club, followed by a non-governmental organization, a private school in Kutaisi, and later in Tbilisi and Batumi. Today, Nina Chikvashvili takes responsibility for the academic and personal development of more than 2,000 students while simultaneously envisioning ambitious plans, aiming to establish the prominent brand of Progress and expand its reach outside of Georgia.
The conversation, of course, begins with stories related to the establishment of the school. The respondent honestly states that creating her own school was not her dream or a decision from an early age. However, she shares that while studying at school, she constantly had ideas and visions of her ideal learning environment. Nina Chikvashvili studied in a Soviet school and received distinction for her high academic performance and for her vocal expression of opinions related to school life. As she recalls, she consistently tried to persuade those around her to create a better, more student-oriented learning environment.
After completing her higher education, Nina Chikvashvili returned to her own school as a teacher. As a young and inexperienced English teacher assigned to higher grade students in the school, she felt a great responsibility towards them and the school. Consequently, she invested considerable resources into preparing for lessons and seeking ways to impart new knowledge to her students.
Soon, she noticed that students could better realize their interests and talents in an informal environment through participation in clubs. Creating such a pleasant and free environment quickly brought together more than 70 students around Nina Chikvashvili. “While working with students, I witnessed the positive outcomes such approaches could yield. This inspired me to establish a school that would motivate students to study and become active citizens,” recalls the founder of Progress, reflecting on the initial steps of the private school.
Opening a private school in Kutaisi was a bold move two decades ago. Nina Chikvashvili believes that fulfilling this task would have been difficult without the support of her family. Her first investment in Progress was financed by a bank loan, which her parents secured with their own house. “I was incredibly motivated by the support of my family members. They believed in my idea and my motivation and trusted my determination,” she recalls the moral support she received during the founding of the school. She mentions that the encouragement from those around her led her to take such a huge risk and take on such a big responsibility. She especially emphasizes her husband’s support and involvement in business activities from the very first days of the school’s establishment, stating that her success would have been unimaginable otherwise.
The bank loan for Progress was utilized to purchase and rehabilitate the first building – transforming the former Kutaisi Military Prosecutor’s Office into an attractive and competitive private education institution seemed challenging initially. However, due to Nina Chikvashvili’s determination, the school welcomed its first class of students in the new building the following year. This marks the beginning of the history of Progress – with 50 students, several classrooms, and the surprised faces of guests, who often asked Nina Chikvashvili if all the children in uniforms in the schoolyard studied there or if there were also “other” students present.
Expanding the school network in the case of Progress does not only entail increasing the number of campuses. Twenty years later, Progress has evolved into more than just a school – it now includes a preschool program, American-accredited pre-baccalaureate programs, integrated professional programs, and a variety of non-formal education services. These are the services offered by the Progress team to its students.
“It took us a lot of effort to obtain American accreditation. We wanted young people to have the opportunity to prepare for university life at our school and leave our institution competitive,” Nina Chikvashvili tells us, emphasizing the importance of the non-formal education component. Today, there are more than ten clubs across all three campuses of Progress. The respondent shares that in terms of finances, investments are made equally in school and non-formal education: “A big team collaborates with us in this direction. The activities of the clubs are fully synchronized in all three cities. I believe this has a noticeable positive impact on our young people’s personal growth and development.”
As a result of this approach, students, alumni, and parents are actively involved in the school’s daily activities. The format of cooperation is diverse, including the parents’ association, student unions, alumni network, and other avenues. Nina Chikvashvili believes that the progress that has led to the creation of a competitive and innovative product in the education market today is the result of active cooperation between the school’s management team and all stakeholders.
Nina Chikvashvili emphasizes multiple times during the interview that the school team significantly contributes to the success of Progress. She refers to the team as allies – competent, dedicated to their work and ideas, and professionals with a strong team spirit. The founder of Progress proudly mentions that most of her team has been leading the activities of the school since its foundation.
“I rarely bring in top managers from outside the team. My goal is to allow each team member to develop, progress, and participate in the democratic development that we have created, with respect for each other’s opinions,” she explains, highlighting one of the reasons for the team’s success. She further emphasizes that she makes no significant decisions for Progress alone.
“When we started working, there was no national standard of education in Georgia. Later, standards of quality for general education were developed. We created, developed, and implemented these fundamental directions in Progress much earlier. I believe we are still progressive and ahead in many aspects.”
When speaking about the team, Nina Chikvashvili emphasizes the importance of self-development and experience sharing. That is why, at Progress, teachers are encouraged to develop new skills and acquire the necessary competencies for the digital age. The company places great emphasis on activities aimed at raising awareness among team members in the areas of economy, entrepreneurship, and business management.
The founder of Progress herself is guided by the same practice. Nina Chikvashvili states that the process of acquiring new knowledge never ends. After completing her academic studies in English, pedagogy, and related fields, she enrolled in a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program. She chose the dual degree program of the business schools of Grenoble and the Caucasus University after recognizing the need for more solid competencies in improving operational management and developing the corporate culture of Progress.
“The management of the educational network, as it continues to expand, presents more and more challenges. I believed an MBA would significantly aid me in this direction, and I was not mistaken,” Nina Chikvashvili shares about her recent academic adventure. She also mentions that while working on her master’s thesis, she actively applies the new knowledge gained in practical situations.
The priority of knowledge and experience sharing is particularly evident in the Progress internship program, designed for novice and young teachers. “Young teachers come to us, and their mentors are experts in the relevant subject,” Nina Chikvashvili describes the program’s specifics. She explains that young teachers who join through this program are motivated, tend to stay within the school team, and, at the same time, bring fresh development perspectives to the school.
Nina Chikvashvili links the concept of a modern school to the idea of continuous learning and development. According to her, a structured professional development and support system is equally important for both students and teachers. “The environment is evolving rapidly, and new challenges arise periodically. Coping with all of this requires constant self-development and appropriate support. There is no alternative to this approach in Progress,” she asserts.
“In Progress, you must do everything now, and at this moment, there is no ‘later.’ Even one moment of relaxation could have costly consequences – it’s challenging to operate a business in the field of Education.”
As a leader in the local education community, Nina Chikvashvili has ambitious plans and tasks for the Progress team. The far-reaching plans of the business, which started in the city of Kutaisi, include entering the international market. The vision is for the American International School Progress to become a brand with franchises in other countries of the region within a few years. After making significant contributions to the development of the regions in Georgia, Progress aspires to expand its new, innovative, and modern institutions to neighboring countries.
However, before embarking on international expansion, Nina Chikvashvili has an equally important task in the capital city of Tbilisi. A new campus of Progress will be built near Lisi Lake, with an investment of almost 10 million euros. Nina Chikvashvili and her business partner, Anagi Education, will welcome students to the new campus starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. Alongside the large-scale infrastructural work, the institution is actively working to introduce emotional intelligence and mental health-promoting services within the educational network during the same period.
In the new school, special attention will be given to the development of the STEM and robotics departments. These fields are actively implemented in leading countries around the world. Progress also aims to obtain a regional franchise and become a member of the World Robotics Association, focusing on this direction. As a result, the school will participate in and host both local and international Olympiads.
The new campus will also provide recreational and working spaces for parents so they can access the additional services they need conveniently close to their child’s school and use their time effectively.
Equally crucial for Progress is ongoing reform, which is leading to the development of a system of professional colleges in Kutaisi and Batumi in collaboration with the well-known technology education platform re:school. “Adults will have the opportunity to acquire entrepreneurship and new technology skills alongside a general education. Upon completing the 12th grade, they should possess both a professional foundation and a vision and aspiration for higher education,” Nina Chikvashvili explains the new initiative. She also clarifies that integrated professional programs will be available from September.
Step by step towards progress – once again, the founder of Progress reminds us of her motto and adds that after the successful implementation of professional programs, the company will also venture into the higher education market. “In general, the next steps are always dictated by ongoing processes. Currently, we are not fully prepared to enter the field of higher education; however, I am confident that as we expand our capabilities and resources, we will be able to create a unique and competitive offer in this market and establish a high-quality higher education institution.”
Nina Chikvashvili also emphasizes that the desired result will never materialize if they do not respond to challenges promptly. She openly shares the current challenges facing Progress: “I believe that the education industry lacks a sense of belonging, and our business approaches also need refinement… Achieving stability and development without addressing these aspects is simply impossible.”
If the school was managed intuitively and based on its own ideals years ago, today, Nina Chikvashvili actively collaborates with the management team to develop a systematic approach in the educational network. The main task in recent years in this direction has been the development of corporate governance, ethical principles, and organizational culture.
At Progress, they passionately believe that there is no limit to their possibilities. The opportunities for their students and graduates are boundless as well. Graduates of the school study at leading universities in Georgia and around the world, and they hold prominent positions in various fields. Nina Chikvashvili takes immense pride in sharing the stories of each graduate whose children are now students of Progress: “I am delighted that our graduates are now members of the parents’ association and have entrusted their children’s future to their alma mater. It speaks volumes about Progress and the strong bond of our graduates.”
We asked Nina Chikvashvili if she considered her efforts successful. The answer was clearly evident throughout the interview: Step by step, towards progress.
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