Projects promoting teachers’ collaboration through mutual learning have been implemented in Georgian schools. However, the effectiveness of these projects and the factors influencing their sustainability have been insufficiently analyzed which is the goal of this study. The following research question was formulated - How do project specifics and school-related factors influence the effectiveness and sustainability of project outcomes?
The theoretical framework for the study is based on the Theory of Change (Fullan, 2006). 40 focus groups and 33 interviews were conducted across eighteen schools. Maximum variation sampling was used to select the projects, while targeted sampling was applied in the first stage to identify specific schools, followed by random sampling in the second stage. Data were analyzed using thematic and structural analysis.
Findings reveal that projects are effective and sustainable when they: Offer diverse activities and implementation formats aligned with school experience; Incorporate mechanisms for peer observation, feedback, follow-up, and reflection; Foster participant engagement and accountability to ensure dissemination of gained experience; Involve the school principal as an instructional leader.
Conversely, challenges such as teachers’ feelings of instability due to ongoing changes in the educational system, along with limited time and space resources, hinder project success.
Findings align with previous research, emphasizing the importance of contextualized activity diversification, the circular nature of reflexivity, and school principal involvement (Carroll, Patrick, & Goldring, 2021; Geshel, 2017).
Based on these results, recommendations are formulated at the state, school, and teacher levels to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of collaborative projects.

Authors:
Sofiko Lobzhanidze, Ilia State University, Georgia
Marika Kirvalidze, Ilia State University, Georgia

About the Presenter(s)
Sofiko Lobzhanidze is Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of education sciences at Ilia State University, head of school of education and an expert at the National Centre for Teacher Professional Development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiko-lobjanidze-75245aa7/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sofiko-Lobzhanidze
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5429-3369

Marika Kirvalidze holds a Ph.D. in Education and is an invited lecturer in education programs at Ilia State University, within the Faculty of Business, Technology, and Education. She is also the Head of Quality Management at a private school.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marika-kirvalidze-65924833
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marika-Kirvalidze
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5333-618X

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiko-lobjanidze-75245aa7/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sofiko-Lobzhanidze

Additional website of interest
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5429-3369

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