Akaki Tsereteli State University

The study investigates the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of black tea dried at different temperatures using advanced technologies to obtain high-quality aromatic tea. Tea quality and health benefits are asso­ciated with essential oils, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds. Tea leaves harvested in May and September were divided into two groups: one dried by conventional hot-air drying and the other by infrared emitters operating mainly in the far-infrared range (8–20 μm). Drying was conducted at temperatures from 75 °C to 95 °C (with 5 °C intervals) until a residual moisture content of 5–7 % was achieved. Under optimal regimes, key physicochemical indicators determining tea quality (taste, aroma, colour, and storage stability) and sensory properties were evaluated. The results showed that for both Martvili and Tkibuli teas, infrared drying at 85–90 °C for ~15 min yielded higher sensory aroma scores and overall sensory quality compared with hot air drying. Tea produced using infrared drying demonstrated superior physicochemical and sensory characteristics compared to conventionally dried tea. Among the samples, infrared-dried Tkibuli tea (extractive substances 370.0 mg·kg-1, total phenolic compounds 170.5 mg·kg-1, sensory score 5.15) outperformed Martvili tea (extractive substances 356.8 mg·kg-1, total phenolic compounds 167.4 mg·kg-1, sensory score 4.95).

Type of the article: Research Article AbstractIn Georgia, employed master’s students face a unique conflict between professional and academic roles, which can critically undermine their work engagement and performance. This study aims to identify the challenges to work engagement faced by employed master’s students in Georgia and to explore practical strategies for improvement. A cross-sectional, anonymous survey of 437 employed master’s students was conducted in the spring semester of 2023 across major universities in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Telavi, ensuring national representativeness. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics via Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA, and regression analysis. The results quantitatively demonstrate that work engagement is strongly correlated with workplace learning opportunities (r = .702), supervisory responsibility (r = .704), and, most significantly, with high-quality supervisor communication (r = .989) and democratic management styles (r = .809). The study confirms that engagement is significantly higher when students feel their opinions are valued and when supervisors effectively communicate organizational goals. In conclusion, the findings provide empirical evidence that modifying workplace management practices, specifically by enhancing supervisory communication, adopting democratic styles, and offering developmental opportunities, can significantly improve the work engagement of employed master’s students. These insights offer clear directives for employers, universities, and policymakers seeking to better support this key demographic group.

The integration of digital technologies in the global educational space has sparked a fundamental transformation, a process accelerated in Georgia by the COVID-19 pandemic. While technological progress is evident, this study identifies a critical "digital divide" that persists despite high rates of general internet access. Based on a mixed-methodological approach - including normative act analysis, secondary data evaluation (Geostat, UNICEF, UNESCO), and qualitative systemic assessment- the paper analyzes the current state of digital education in Georgia's public schools. The findings reveal that digital inequality in Georgia has evolved into a multidimensional phenomenon, encompassing infrastructure quality, regional imbalances, and a "second-level digital divide" related to the quality of technology use. A significant legal vacuum is identified: current legislation, including the Law on General Education and the Law on Personal Data Protection, lacks specific regulations for digital learning environments and the certification of educational platforms. Furthermore, the study highlights a critical deficit in the digital competencies of educators, which hinders the safe management of virtual classrooms. The research concludes that technical equipment alone is insufficient for educational equity. It emphasizes the urgent need for a policy-based digital citizenship education framework and a modernized legal structure aligned with international standards (Council of Europe, 2019). The study provides strategic recommendations for policymakers to harmonize national legislation, bridge regional infrastructure gaps, and integrate "digital hygiene" into the national curriculum to ensure the psychological well-being and security of students in the digital age.

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) is becoming an increasingly important high-value berry crop in Western Georgia, particularly in Adjara, where humid subtropical conditions and expanding market opportunities support commercial production. Reliable introduction of new cultivars, however, requires locally validated information on phenological timing, ripening windows and vegetative performance. This study evaluated the phenological dynamics and biometric characteristics of three introduced cultivars, Legacy, Bluegold and Duke, in Kobuleti, Khelvachauri and Qeda municipalities during the 2024 growing season. Field records were systematized from the available primary dataset and processed by converting calendar dates into day-of-year values, calculating interval midpoints and preparing descriptive cultivar- and municipality-level summaries. Because the dataset contained one cultivar-by-location observation and no replicated plot-level measurements, inferential statistical testing was not applied. The results showed marked cultivar- and location-related differentiation.