The Faculty of History has come through long and difficult formation path; like a mirror of time, it reflects the difficult fate of its People.
From the first days of Sukhum State Pedagogical Institute foundation in 1932, trainings in the Specialty "History" started as part of the Public Literary Faculty. The Faculty of History was opened in 1937, and then, in 1956 it was transformed into the Historical and Philological Faculty, and later, in 1979 into the Faculty of History and Law. Since 2003, the Faculty of History has been functioning independently.
A long-standing dream of the Abkhaz people was to study the history of their own country, but even despite the existence of the History Department at the Pedagogical Institute, the History of Abkhazia was only taught since 1957 at the initiative of the Institute Director, Georgy Alekseevich Dzidzaria. Lectures were given by Z.V. Anchabadze (from ancient times until the 19th century), G.A. Dzidzaria (19th-early 20th centuries) and A.E. Cuprava (Soviet period).
Meny outstanding scientists and prominent public and state figures were at the roots of the Faculty formation: G.A. Dzidzaria, Sh.D. Inal-ipa, Z.V. Anchabadze, A.F. Honelia, A.K. Adleiba, M.M. Trash. Famous Scientists, Professors G.A. Amichba, G.K. Shamba, Yu.N. Voronov were working here. The leader of the National Liberation Movement, the first President of the Republic of Abkhazia, Vladislav Grigoryevich Ardzinba, is the Graduate and Professor of the ASU. In difficult days of the Patriotic War of 1992-1993, lecturers ButbaV.F., Antsupov V.V., Zantaria D.Sh. and students Gurgulia A., Honelia E., Amichba A., Sangulia A., Daraselia R., Avidzba R., Klievskaya V., Dgebia R., Gitsba B., Honelia T., Agumaa O., Bigvava G., stood on defense of their homeland from the first minutes of the war, giving their lives for our freedom.
At different times, the Faculty of History was headed by: Sh.I. Basilaya, A.K. Adleiba, M.V. Beria, G.A. Amichba, S.I. Sharia, M. Patsatsiya, I.Sh. Agrba.
From 2001 to the present, the Dean of the Faculty of History is PhD in History, Associate Professor Gabelia Alik Nikolaevich.
Currently, there are three Departments at the Faculty of History:
- Department of History, Archeology and Ethnology of Abkhazia (Head of Department - PhD in History, Associate Professor A.M. Khashba);
- Department of the History of Russia and Foreign Countries (Head of Department – PhD in History, Associate Professor R.N Katsiya);
- Department of History and Theory of International Relations (Head of Department – PhD in History E.A Gurgulia).
Today, many famous scientists - professors, academicians are teaching at the Faculty A.E. Cuprava, O.Kh. Bgazhba, S.M. Shamba, V.L. Biguaa, T.A. Achugba, S.Z. Lakoba; Associate Professors - A.N. Gabeliya, A.M. Khashba, R.N. Katsiya, I.Sh. Agrba, M.B. Kvitsiniya and others. Highly qualified lecturers of the middle generation work at the Departments - Doctor of History, Associate Professor. A.F. Avidzba, Ph.D., Assoc. G.I. Vardaniya, Ph.D., Assoc. S.A. Dbar, PhD, Assoc. M.B. Kvitsiniya, Doctor of History, Associate Professor O.V. Maan, PhD S.Sh. Salakaya, PhD, Assoc. L.Ya. Kharchlaa, PhD, Assoc. S.Z. Tarba, Assoc. V.V. Avidzba, Ph.D. K.A. Ajinjal, Ph.D. G.D. Gumba, Ph.D. N.V. Kaslandziya, M.K. Chediya, PhD, Assoc. E.V. Marganiya, PhD S.Z. Vozba, PhD M.I. Zukhba, PhD I.R. Khintba, PhD I.G. Hanagua and others.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
A new Department on History and Theory of International Relations and, accordingly, a new Specialty "International Relations" appeared in 2003 at the Faculty of History. The opening of this kind of specialty in the conditions of unrecognition of our young State had, besides practical, great political significance.
The initiative of the Faculty members was supported by the ASU Rector A.A. Guaramiya, and by the first President V.G. Ardzinba. Thus, thanks to active assistance of the MFA RA headed by the Minister S.M. Shamba and support of University Administration, another specialty was founded at the Abkhaz State University. At the beginning this Department was headed by the PhD in History, professor R.A. Khoneliya. Currently, the Department is headed by the young scientist, PhD in History E.A. Gurguliya.
The Department is focused on the development of scientific, theoretical and political issues of European security and international cooperation in the modern era. Currently, the Department provides teaching of various disciplines and awards Diplomas of Specialists in the fields of International Relations and Conflict Management, the qualifications of which include following functions:
- referent, expert consultant;
- translator (translator-referent) in State and Educational Institutions.
Students have the opportunity to study five foreign languages at the Department of History and Theory of International Relations: English, German, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic. As part of each educational program, students learn three compulsory foreign languages in the volume of 16 to 20 hours a week. At their request, students of the Department can take language courses and get additional qualification of professional translator. The Department is actively developing traditions of teaching foreign languages at the Abkhaz State University, which are based on integrative learning and maximum immersion of students into the language environment:
- the language of instruction of all studies is the studied foreign language;
- round tables are held to discuss the current situation in the International arena;
- special courses in English are also available.
The Department is aimed at providing education to future diplomats who will represent Abkhazia at the international level. For this reason, students are offered the intensive study course in foreign languages with in-depth learning of a number of basic aspects:
- practical course, or communication;
-practical grammar course of foreign language;
- reading books in the original language;
- working with authentic audio, video and visual teaching material and sources.
Thus, students get the opportunity not only to improve communication skills, but also to enrich the vocabulary and terminology in the field of International Relations.
Lecturers of the Department are regularly upgrading their skills. Specialists, Professors from foreign countries - native speakers are also invited by the Department.
In addition, the Department runs the TOEFL Training Program (Test of English as a foreign language). The scores obtained at the final exam provide the opportunity to non-native English speakers-students from all over the world to study at universities abroad.
Graduates of the Department of History and Theory of International Relations work in government structures, including the Central Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Abkhaz Embassies and Representative Offices in several Countries.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY OF ABKHAZIA.
The Department of History, Archeology and Ethnology of Abkhazia was founded in 1989. Employees of the Department are working on problems of ancient and medieval archeology, ethnology, new and modern history of Abkhazia, history of the National Liberation Movement, and results of their works are published in monographs and scientific collections. Over the past 20 years, more than 50 monographs have been published.
Such outstanding Abkhaz scholars as Z.V. Anchabadze (1980-1983), A.E. Cuprava (1983-1994), G.A. Amichba (1994-2003) were heading the Department of History of Abkhazia in different times. From 2003 to the present, the Department is headed by PhD in History, Associate Professor A.M. Khashba.
Graduates of the Department of History, Archeology and Ethnology of Abkhazia receive a Specialist degree in “History”.
Recently, ASU switched to the Bologna (two-stage) Education System, and the Faculty of History is the first at the University to begin training in Master's Programs.
Studying at the Faculty of History provides a broad-profile, qualified education and opens up wide prospects for students. The Faculty Management and staff are full of new plans and ideas on Faculty development and introduction of new specialties. Graduates of the Faculty successfully work in general educational, research institutions, government structures, both in Abkhazia and abroad.
Students have the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice. Each course carries out a specific profile practice on archaeology, regional studies and ethnography, giving the opportunity to students to determine their specialty.
Graduates of the Department of History, Archeology and Ethnology of Abkhazia get the qualification of a Historian, Teacher of History, they can work in the Public Education System, as teachers in secondary schools, vocational educational institutions, higher educational institutions, in research institutes, libraries, archives, museums, in organizations and cultural institutions, as experts in analytical centers, in state and public organizations, in government and local administrations.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF RUSSIA AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
The Department of History of Russia and foreign countries is one of the oldest ASU Departments. It was formed in 1983 and was first called the Department of the USSR History. The Department was entrusted with teaching of all historical disciplines at the Pedagogical Institute. In 1940, the Department of History was divided into two: the USSR History and General History. After 20 years, in 1960-61 academic year, they were again united into one Department of History, but the process of unification and separation did not end there. After several years, the Department was again divided, to be finally united in 1992 into the Department of History of Russia and foreign countries.
At different times, the Department of the USSR History, and then the History of Russia and Foreign Countries, was headed by: the famous Caucasian Historian and future professor of Moscow State University A.V. Fadeev, future professor of Odessa State University Yu.M. Melikhov, future Head of Department of the Historical Institute of the Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences I.G. Antelava, future professor of the same Department D.M. Lemonjava, Professor I.D. Akhalaya, 1982-1998 Assoc. R.A. Honeliya, from 1998 to 2006 Assoc. G.I. Vardaniya, from 2006 to the present, the Department is headed by Associate Professor R.N. Katsiya.
Graduates of the Department of History of Russia and Foreign Countries receive a Specialist degree in “History”.
Recently, ASU switched to the Bologna (two-stage) Education System, and the Faculty of History is the first at the University to offer trainings in Master's Program.
Studying at the Faculty of History provides a broad-profile and qualified education, it opens up wide prospects for students. The Faculty Management and Staff is full of new plans and ideas on Faculty development and introduction of new Specialties. Graduates of the Faculty successfully work in general educational and research institutions, government structures, both in Abkhazia and abroad.
Students have the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice. Each course provides a specific profile practice on archaeology, regional studies and ethnography, giving students the opportunity to determine their specialty.
Graduates of the Department of History of Russia and Foreign Countries receive qualifications of a Historian, a Teacher of History, they can work in the public education system, as teachers in secondary schools, VET institutions, in higher educational institutions, in research institutes, libraries, archives, museums, in organizations and cultural institutions, as experts in analytical centers, in state and public organizations, in government and local administrations.
