Professor KOBAKHIDZE, Magda Nutsa

Comparative Education; Privatization of Education (Shadow Education, Education Markets); Globalization and Education; Large-scale International Assessments (PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS); Qualitative Research Methods. 

Teaching Area:

MEDD6097, Comparative Education - Approaches, Methods and Themes (MEd)

MEDD6014, Methods of Research and Enquiry (MEd)

BBED5022, Globalization and Education (BBED)

EDU6760, Educational Inquiry (PGDE)

CCGL9022, Globalization in Question: Economic and Human Consequences (Common Core)

MAES7109, Intercultural Communication (MATESOL)

MEDD8886, Qualitative Methods: Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis (MEd)

EDUR8203, Families, Inequalities and Shadow Education 

EDUR7121:  Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo (Part A)

EDUR7122: Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo (Part B) 

Geographic Focus:

Georgia and Former Soviet Countries; Hong Kong; South East Asia (Cambodia and Myanmar/Burma)   

• Wiley Top Cited Article 2020-2021 in European Journal of Education for: 'The Global Diversity of Shadow Education'. 

• 2020 - Faculty Early Career Teaching Award 

• 2019 - Letter of Commendation from the Dean (for a PhD Student's Teaching Award) 

• 2018 - HKU Knowledge Exchange Award 

• 2017 - Gail P. Kelly Award for Outsdanding Doctoral Dissertation - Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), USA

• 2016 - PhD Thesis -Awarded Rank of 'Excellent' - Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong

• 2016 - Research Postgraduate Students Publication Award (Incentive Award) - Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong

• 2016 - EURASIA SIG Best Graduate Paper Award -Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), EURASIA SIG, March 6-10, Vancouver, Canada

• 2016 - United Nation's Sustainable Developmen Goal (SDG) # 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Routledge's Special Collection for 'Corruption Risks of Shadow Education: A Case of Georgia'

• 2012-2016 - Hong Kong PhD Fellowship  - Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong

• 2013 - Global Supplementary Grant - Open Society Institute - New York, USA

• 2009 - International Fellowship - Teachers College, Columbia University  -New York,  USA

• 2008-2009 - Georgian Government and Open Society Institute Joint Fellowship, Tbilisi and New York

• 2007 - Visiting Research Scholarship by the Georgetown University - Washington, DC.  USA

• 2006-2007 - Faculty Development Fellowship - Open Society Institute, New York, USA

Full list of publications: 

ResearchGate 

Academia.edu

Google Scholar 

Books 

• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2018). Teachers as Tutors: Shadow Education Market Dynamics in Georgia. Dordrecht: Springer-CERC. (252 pages). (free download)

  • A book review by Suter, L. (2019) published in International Review of Education, 65 (6), pp.995-997.

  • A book review by Stastny, V. (2019) published in Compare: A Journal of Comparatuve and International Education. 

• Bray, M., Kobakhidze, M.N., Kwo, O. (2020). Shadow Education in Myanmar: Private Supplementary Tutoring and its Policy Implications. Comparative Education Research Centre, HKU in collaboration with UNESCO and Yangon University of Education. (free download).

  • A book review by Duong, B. (2022) published in Current Issues in Comparative Education.

  • A book review by Brown, M. (2022) published in the Journal of Comparative and International Education. 

  • A book review by Chrappan, M. (2021) published in Hungarian Educational Research Journal.

  • A book review by Tian, R. (2020) published in International Review of Education. 

  • A book review by Bhorkar, S. (2020) published in Orbis Scholae.

    • Myanmar-language version of the book published by UNESCO Office, Myanmar. (free download)

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles/Book Chapters  

• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Tavadze, G. (2026, in print). Reviving the Present through Tradition:  Insights from the Georgian Philosophy of Education. Educational Philosophy and Theory. 
• Kobakhidze, M. N., & Šťastný, V. (2026, in print). Different Contexts, Similar Mindsets? A Comparative Study of Parental Decision-Making in Private Tutoring in Hong Kong and the Czech Republic. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. 
• Tian, R., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2026, in press). Shadow Education in China: Cultural, Political and Economic Contexts behind the Double Reduction Policy. In W. O. Lee, K. Kester, & J. Eom (Eds.), Handbook of Education in East Asia: Historical, Cultural and Socio-political Perspectives. Edward Elgar.
• Leung, Y., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2025). Parentocracy in the spotlight: A qualitative study on parents’ wish and wealth in shaping students’ private tutoring experience in Hong Kong. In M. Antony-Newman (Ed.), The Role of Social Inequality in Parent Engagement: From Inequality to Social Justice in Education. Springer. 
• Li, J., Kobakhidze, M. N., & Qin, Y. (2024). Unveiling Shadow Admissions to Lower Secondary Schools: Brokerage Practices Amid China’s Strong Regulations on Private Tutoring. International Journal of Educational Development.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102948 
• Kato, M., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2024). Transnational Juku: Japanese Shadow Education Institutions in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai. Asia Pacific Education Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-024-09946-5  
• Kobakhidze, M.N. Ying, M., & Tsaloukidis, A. (2023). The Impact of Social Class on Out-of-school Educational Activities: Converging Trends in Parental Choices? International Journal of Educational Development.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102881

• Tsaloukidis, A., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2023). Responding to uncertainty: examining Hong Kong parents’ perceptions of private tutoring through the lens of timescapes. Journal for the Study of Education and Development, 1-35.https://doi.org/10.1080/02103702.2023.2243195

• Kobakhidze, M.N. Ying, M., & Tsaloukidis, A. (2023). Tiger Parenting Beyond Cultural Essentialism: Discourses of Class, Culture and Competition in Hong Kong. ECNU Review of Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/20965311231198  

• Kobakhidze, M. N., & Šťastný, V. (2023). Theoretical Perspectives on the Role of Parents in Shadow Education. Studia Paedagogica, 28(2), 73-95. https://doi.org/10.5817/SP2023-2-4  

• Kobakhidze, M.N. and Hui, J. (2023). Admission Olympics: The Emerging Tutoring Market for Kindergarten Applicants. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education.https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2023.2212109
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2023). In Search of Legitimacy: Covid-19, Education Policy Response and the Emergence of 'Digital Compradors' in Georgia. Globalisation, Societies and Education. 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2023.2191934 
• Nhem, D., & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2022). New Generation Schools in Cambodia: A Farewell to Shadow Education? Asia Pacific Journal of Education. 10.1080/02188791.2022.2112147 
• Kobakhidze, M. N. & Eradze, M. (2022). An Unfinished Journey: Education Policy Responses to COVID-19 in Georgia. Schole- Journal of Education and Cultural Studies. Special issue "Pandemie Rotture Epistemologiche". ISSN 2611-9978, ISBN 978-88-284-0424-8.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. & Samniashvili, L. (2022). "Less USSR, More Democracy Please!": Hope and Discontent in Georgia's Quest for Academic Freedom. Higher Education Quarterly ..DOI: 10.1111/hequ.12382  
• Johnson, T. Eradze, M. & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2022). Findings a Silver Lining in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case of Teachers' Online Community in Georgia. In Jose, M., Loureiro, A., & Gerber, H.R. Global Education and the Impact of Institutional Policies on Educational Technologies. 10.4018/978-1-7998-8193-3 
• Kobakhidze, M.N. Hui, J. Chui, J. & González, A. (2021). Research Disruptions, New Opportunities: Re-imagining Qualitative Interview Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 20 (1-10). Open Access. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211051576
• Stastny, V. & Kobakhidze. M.N. (2020). Throwing Light on Shadow Education. Editorial. Orbis Scholae. 14(2). https://doi.org/10.14712/23363177.2020.17 
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2020). Desacralising Teachers: Inside Myanmar's Educational Capitalism. Globalisation, Societies and Education. 10.1080/14767724.2020.1776098
• Kobakhidze, M. N. & Sutter, L. ( 2020). Global Diversity of Shadow Education. European Journal of Education, Research, Policy and Development. 55 (2). https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12411 
• Bray, M., Kobakhidze, M.N., & Sutter, L. (2020). The Challeneges of Measuring Outside-School-Time Educational Activities: Experiences and Lessns from the Programme for International School Assessment (PISA). Comparative Education Review, 64(4).
• Bray, M., Liu, J., Zhang, W., Kobakhidze, M. N. (2019). (Mis) Trust and (Abuse of) Authority in Cambodian Education: Parallel Lessons in the Shadow. Extended Education from an International Comparative Point of View. Springer. pp. 7-21.
• Bray, M., Kobakhidze, M. N., Liu, J., & Zhang, W. (2018). The Hidden Curriculum in a Hidden Marketplace: Relationships and Values in Cambodia’s Shadow Education System. Journal of Curriculum Studies, Taylor & Francis Group.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. ( 2018).(Un)regulating Shadow Education in West Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. In Kennedy, K. and Chi-Kin Lee, J. (Eds) Routledge Handbook on Schools and Schooling in Asia. pp.355-365.
• Bray, M., Liu, J., Zhang, W., & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2016). Confiance, défiance et (abus d’) autorité dans l’éducation au Cambodge: Leçons tirées de l’école de l’ombre. Revue international d’éducation de Sèvres, Centre international d’études pédagogiques (CIEP). [in French].
• Bray, M., Kobakhidze, M. N., Liu, J., & Zhang, W. (2016). The Internal Dynamics of Privatised Public Education: Fee-charging Supplementary Tutoring Provided by Teachers in Cambodia. International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 49, pp. 291-299. 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2016.04.003 
• Bray, M., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2015). Evolving Ecosystems in Education: The Nature and Implications of Private Supplementary Tutoring in Hong Kong. Prospects: Quarterly Review of Comparative Education, Vol.45, No.4, pp.465-481. 10.1007/s11125-015-9353-2
• Kobakhidze, M .N. (2015). Shadow Education Research through TIMSS and PIRLS: Experiences and Lessons in the Republic of Georgia. In Bray, M., Kwo, O., & Jokic, B. (eds.) Researching Private Supplementary Tutoring: Methodological Lessons from Diverse Cultures. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC), The University of Hong Kong. Springer. pp.23-48.
• Bray, M., Zhang, W., Kobakhidze, M. N., & Liu, J. (2015). Researching Private Supplementary Tutoring in Cambodia: Context, Instruments and Approaches. In Bray, M., Kwo, O., & Jokic, B. (eds.) Researching Private Supplementary Tutoring: Methodological Lessons from Diverse Cultures. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC), The University of Hong Kong. Springer.  pp.219-244.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2014). Corruption risks of private tutoring: case of Georgia. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 34(4), 455-475.
• Bray, M., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2014). Measurement Issues in Research on Shadow Education: Challenges and Pitfalls Encountered in TIMSS and PISA. Comparative Education Review, Vol. 58, No. 4, pp. 590-620.
• Bray, M., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2014). The Global Spread of Shadow Education: Supporting or Undermining Qualities of Education?. Qualities of Education in a Globalised World. pp 185-200.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2013). Teacher certification examinations in Georgia: Outcomes and policy implications. Teacher reforms around the world: Implementations and outcomes (International Perspectives on Education and Society), 19, 25-51.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2011). PIRLS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Reading: Chapter on Georgia. In PIRLS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science, Volumes 1 & 2. In  Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Minnich, C.A., Stanco, G.M., Arora, A., Centurino, V.A.S., & Castle, C.E. (Eds.). Chestnut Hill, MA, USA. pp.243-251.
• Mzhavanadze, N., & Kobakhidze, M. N.  (2011). TIMSS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in  Mathematics and Science: Chapter on Georgia. In TIMSS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Mathematics and Science, Volumes 1 & 2. In Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Minnich, C.A., Stanco, G.M., Arora, A., Centurino, V.A.S., & Castle, C.E. (Eds.). Chestnut Hill, MA, USA. pp.299-311.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2010). Teacher incentives and the future of merit-based pay in Georgia. European Education, 42(3), 68-89.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2009). Education and Military Expenditure in the Baltic States. Organon, 41, 41-50.

Other Co-authored Books 

• Chachkhiani, K., Kobakhidze, M.N., & Gabashvili, M. (2011). Practical Guide for School Principals (II). National Center for Teacher Professional Development. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. TPDC (211 pp). [in Georgian].
• Kobakhidze, M.N., & Gabashvili, M. (2010). Effective Teaching: Theory and Practice. National Examination and Evaluation Center. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. NAEC. (270 pp). [in Georgian].
• Goglichidze, A., Kobakhidze, M.N., & Latsabidze, G. (2010). Practical Guide for School Principals (I). National Center for Teacher Professional Development. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. TPDC (176 pp). [in Georgian]

Book/Media Reviews:

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2021); Cambodia for sale: Everyday privatization in education and beyond. By Will Brehm. International Review Educcation. Routledge, London/New York, 2021, 144 pp. Politics of Education in Asia series.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-021-09923-9 (a view-only version).
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2015).Shedding Light on Shadow Education.Comparative Education Review, 59(3), 577-582. Open Access. 

Selected Conference Papers 

• Kobakhidze, M. N., & Leung, Y. (2025). Back to the basics: A qualitative study on post-pandemic parental perceptions of online tutoring and their changing preferences for tutoring. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference, March 22–26, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 

• Rajgarhia, S. S., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2025). Shadow education in a digital age: Parental choices and policy impacts. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference, March 22–26, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 

• Kobakhidze, M. N., & Tavadze, G. (2024). Being addressed by tradition: A hermeneutic approach to the Georgian tradition in the philosophy of education. Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK) Annual Conference, November 22–24, Hong Kong.

• Rajgarhia, S., & Kobakhidze, M. (2024). Exploring factors influencing parents’ iterative decision-making on private tutoring in Hong Kong. Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK) Annual Conference, November 22–24, Hong Kong.

• Kobakhidze, M. N., Ma, Y., & Tsaloukidis, A. (2024). The fabric of dreams: Typology of parents’ higher education aspirations in Hong Kong. Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK) Annual Conference, November 22–24, Hong Kong.
• Tsaloukidis, A., & Kobakhidze, M. N. (2024). Lives in tutoring: A biographical analysis of the role of private supplementary education in parenting practices. Comparative Education Society in Europe (CESE) Annual Conference, July 8–11, Thessaloniki, Greece. 
• Šťastný, V., Kobakhidze, M. N., & Nekardová, B. (2024). Parents’ provision of tutoring: Comparison of the Czech and Hong Kong contexts. Czech Educational Research Association (CERA) Annual Conference, Charles University, Prague.
• Kobakhidze, M. N., & Tsaloukidis, A. (2024). The early bird catches the worm: Tutoring for young children and its educational implications. Comparative Education Society in Europe (CESE) Annual Conference, July 8–11, Thessaloniki, Greece.
• Kobakhidze, M. N. (2024). Local anxieties, global aspirations: The impact of social class on parental demand for out-of-school activities. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference, March 10–14, Miami, Florida, USA.
• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Hui, J. (2023). Early Childhood Tutoring and the Kindergarten Admission Rat Race. European Educational Research Association (ECER). University of Glasgow, the UK. 22-25 August, 2023. 

   

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2023). “Less USSR, More Democracy Please!”: Hope and Discontents in Georgia’s Quest for Academic Freedom. ​Freedom of Academia In and Out: Social Sciences and Humanities in the Times of Geopolitical Crisis.​ 19-21 October, 2023 , Yerevan, Armenia. 
• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Tsaloukidis, A. (2023). Responding to uncertainity: Hong Kong parents' perceptions of the roles and functions of private tutoring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Washington DC, USA. Feb 14-22. (Online)
• Kobakhidze, M. N. & Hui, J. (2023). Chasing Elitism: From kindergarten interview preparation services to equitable education. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Washington, DC, USA. Feb 14-22 (online)
• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2022). In search of legitimacy: Covid-19, education policy responses and emerging forms of public-private partnerships.  Digital education governance beyond international comparative assessment: complex histories, contested presents, and contingent futures. May 25-26. Online Conference.  
• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Ma, Y. (2022). Revisiting Tiger Parenting: From Cultural Essentialism to Multiple Frames of Reference. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, April 18-22. (online presentation).
• Nhem, D., & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2021). New Generation School Education Reform in Cambodia: Farewell to Shadow Education?. Comparative Education Society of Cambodia Annual Conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. October 14-15, 2021. (Online conference). 
• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Samniashvili, L. (2021). "Less USSR, more democracy, please!: Hopes and discontents in Georgia's quest for academic freedom. University Purpore and Institutional Authonomy: Challenges and their Impact on Georgia, International Conference. October 29-30, Georgia, Tbilisi. (Online conference). 

   

• Kobakhidze. M.N. & Hui, J. (2021). Catching the Train: An Emerging Tutoring Market for Kindergarten Admissions in Hong Kong.Comparative and International Education Sociaty (CIES) Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington, USA, April 27, 2021. (conference took place in a virtual space due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Kobakhidze. M.N. (2020). Desacrilising Teachers: Inside Myanmar's Educational Capitalism. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conferencei in Miami, Florida, March 22-26. 2020. (Conference moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2020). Teachers' Indentities in the Informal Shadow Education Market in Georgia. [Roundtable Session]. AERA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, California, USA. (Conference Canceled due to COVID-19).

• Jackson, L., Kobakhidze, M.N. (2019). Overview of the Comparative Education Research Centre (special guests). OSF Southeast Asia Education Conference. October, 26-27. Bangkok, Thailand. 

• Bray, M., and Kobakhidze, M.N. (2018). Shadow Education in Myanmar: Private Dimensions in Public Schooling. Paper presented at the 11th Biennial Comparative Education Society of Asia, Siem Reap, Cambodia. May, 10-12. 2018. 

• Kobakhidze. M.N., Bray, M. & Sutter, L. (2018). The Challenges of Measuring Outside-School-Time Educational Activities: Experiences and Lessons from the Programme for International School Assessment (PISA). Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Mexico City, Mexico, April 25-29, 2018. 

• Kwo, O. & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2017). Shadow Education and the Roles of Teachers in Myanmar: Private Dimensions in Public Schooling. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. March 5-9, 2017.

• Kobakhidze. M.N., (2017). Intersections of Equity, Quality and Ethics: Shadow Education Provided by Teachers in Myanmar. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK), Annual Conference in Education University of Hong Kong, March 24-25, 2017.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2016). Mixed roles and identities in the shadow education market in Georgia. Paper presented at the XVI World Congress of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES). Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, 2016, August 21-26.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2016). Teachers as Tutors: Shadow Education Market Complexities in Georgia. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK), Annual Conference Hong Kong Institute of Education. Hong Kong SAR, China, 2016, April 15-16.

• Bray, M. Kobakhidze, M.N., Liu, J., & Zhang, W. (2016). Values in the enactment of shadow education in Cambodia: Living together but living apart. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK), Annual Conference. Hong Kong Institute of Education. Hong Kong SAR, China, 2016, April 15-16.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2016). Impact of Shadow Education on Teacher Professionalism and Identity in Georgia. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference. Vancouver, BC, Canada. 2016, March 6-10.

• Bray, M. Kobakhidze, M.N. (2016). Shadow Education in Cambodia. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Asia (CESA) the 2016 Biennial Conference. De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, 2016, January 28-30.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2015). Teacher Professionalism in Marketized Georgia. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference. Washington DC, USA, 2015, March 8-13.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2015). Corruption Risks of private tutoring: Case of Georgia. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK), Annual Conference. The University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong SAR, China, 2015.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2014). Teachers as Tutors: Teachers’ Dual Lives in the Republic of Georgia. Paper presented at the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK), Annual Conference. The University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong SAR, China, 2014.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2012). Teacher Certification Examinations in Georgia: A two Year Experience. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society’s (CIES) Annual conference. San Juan, Puerto Rico April, 2012.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2010). Teacher Salaries and Incentives in Georgia. Paper presented at the Second East Asian Conference in Teacher Education Research. Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED). Hong Kong, China. December 15-17, 2010.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2010). Teacher Incentives and Future of Merit-based Pay in Georgia. The XIV World Congress of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES). Boğaziçi University, Department of Education, Istanbul, Turkey. June 14-18, 2010.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. (2010). Education and Military Expenditure in the Baltic States. Paper presented at the Comparative and International Education Society 54th Annual Conference (CIES). Chicago, USA. March 1-5, 2010.

• Kobakhidze, M.N. & Revishvili, N. (2009). International Models in Georgian Education System. Paper presented at the Open Society Institute (OSI) – New York Annual Conference. Harvard University, Graduate School of Education. April, 2009.

• Henninger, M. & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2007). Four Cultures of the West . . . and Beyond. Paper presented at the Open Society Institute (OSI) – New York Annual Conference. Rutgers University, School of Arts and Sciences. April – May, 2007.

• Bakhtadze, R. & Kobakhidze, M.N. (2006). Georgia After Revolution of Roses: Achievements and Challenges. Paper presented at the Open Society Institute (OSI) – New York Annual Conference. Brown University, the Watson Institute of International Studies. May 2006.

Other Publications (Newspaper/Media)

• "Managing “Gained” and “Lost” Time: Hong Kong Parents’ Perceptions of Private Tutoring During the Covid-19 Pandemic". A blog published by SCAPE. June 28, 2023. Co-authored with Alex Tsaloukidis. 

• 'Privatization, Private Tutoring and the Rise of Non-state Actors in Education.' FreshEd Podcast Recommended List. May 1, 2022.

• "Hong Kong's Hyper-Competetive Kindergartens. COVID-19 intensifies the kindergarten admission competition in Hong Kong." Opinion Piece. The Diplomat. Co-authored with Janisa Hui. April 23, 2021. 

• "My Myanmar". A blog. Business Media Georgia (BMG). March 6, 2021.  

• "The Rapid Growth of Private Tutoring during the Pandemic: What of Public Education?" UCL Institute of Education, Centre for Education and International Development (CEID). Blog series #34. June 26, 2020. 

• "The Covid-19 Pandemic Changes Global Dynamics in Education". Modern Diplomacy. May 4, 2020. 

• "Coronavirus pandemic has upended schooling in Hong Kong - with parents bearing the brunt." South China Morning Post (SCMP). May 29, 2020. 

• "10 tips to parents during coronavirus homeschooling". Publika. March, 20. 2020. 

Editorship

• Book Series Editor (Routledge): CERC Studies in Comparative Education  & CERC Monograph Series (2023-present)

• Associate Editor: International Journal of Comparative Education and Development (IJCED) (2023-2025)

• Co-Editor of Orbis Scholae's special issue (2020) (together with Dr Vit Stastny) published by Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. 

• Editorial Board Member - International Journal of Educational Development (IJED) 

• Editorial Board Member - Asia Pacific Education Review

• Editorial Board Member - Academic Praxis. 

Reviewer for Journals: 

• Comparative Education Review (CER); Oxford Review of Education; International Journal of Educational Development (IJED); Globalisation, Societies and Education (GSE); European Education (EE); Asia Pacific Journal of Education (APJE); Asia Pacific Education Review (APER); Comparative and International Education (CIES) Annual Conferences; Journal of Eurasian Studies.  

Committee/Organization memberships 

• Faculty of Education

  • Faculty Board member (since 2017)

• Faith and Global Engagment

• Executive Commitee Member. 

• Comparative Education Sociaty of Hong Kong (CESHK)

  • Vice-president (July, 2023 to present) 

• Comparative Education Research Center, HKU.

  • Director, 2022-2024

  • Elected Member (2024-2026)

  • Managment Commitee Member (2019-2021)

  • Co-opted member (2018-2019)

  • Head of the Shadow Education SIG (since 2018)

• Comparative and International Education Sociaty (CIES). USA.

  • Annual Conference Planning Committee Member (2015-2016)

  • Deputy Conference Manager (2015-2016)

  • Member (since 2010)

  • Eurasia SIG (Founding Member since 2012)

    • Dissertation award commitee member 

    • Travel grant award commitee member

• Higher Education Institute. Education Policy Unit. HKU.

  • Organising committee member (2018)

  • Organising committee member (2017)

• Postgraduate Student Research Conference 

  • Organising committee member (2018)

  • Reviewer (2017-present)

• Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Tbilisi State University

  • Faculty search committe member (July, 2018)

USAID Georgia (2022-2023)

• Grant Commitee Member. Strategic Support and Policy Grants (SSPG) program (education, healthcare and social protection) 

Global Partnership for Education Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (Canada). 

• Member of the Independent Assessment Panel - KIX EAP Regional Call (Europe, Asia and Pacific) 

Forbes Georgia’s 30 Under 30, Education and Science category.

• Jury Member (2024 and 2025) 

Invited Talks/Keynotes 

• “Different Contexts, Similar Mindsets? Comparing Parental Decision-Making in Private Tutoring in Hong Kong and the Czech Republic”. Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC). Shadow Education SIG. Seminar with  Vít Šťastný. The University of Hong Kong. March 7, 2025.
• ECNU Review of Education Roundtable Seminar, “After Asia as Method: Reflections on the Promises and Challenges of Developing a Regional Framing for Education Research.” Invited speaker. East China Normal University, Shanghai, China. June 22–23, 2024.
• “When Crises Converge: Georgia, Ukraine, and the Geopolitics of Foreign Aid Withdrawal.” Invited panel speaker. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA. March 24, 2025.
• “Beyond Class Boundaries: Patterns of Parental Choices in Academic Tutoring and Extracurricular Activities in Hong Kong.” Invited webinar speaker. ICER: International and Comparative Education Research & Nordic Comparative International Education Society (NOCIES), Stockholm University. February 29, 2024.

• “Tiger Parenting Beyond Cultural Essentialism: Discourses of Class, Culture, and Competition in Hong Kong.”Invited webinar speaker. Parent Engagement Webinar Series, School of Education, University of Glasgow. April 26, 2024.

• "Downward Pressure: Insights into Kindergarten Tutoring in Hong Kong". Invited seminar by Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). November 10, 2023. 

•  

  "Collaboration or Competition: A Difficult Balance in Education". A Keynote. Conference organized by Education for All (EFA) Coalition to honor National Teachers Prize participant teachers. July 27, 2023. Tbilisi, Georgia.

• "Publishing in English Language Journals: Strategies and Practical Advice". Invited Doctoral Seminar. School of Education, Ilia State University. June 26, 2023. Tbilisi, Georgia.

• "Educational Dilemmas in the Context of Globalization". A Keynote. Conference Organized by Education for All Coalition (EFA), Consultation and Training Center (CTC), and School-lab. September 20, 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia. 

• "Navigating the Challenges of Academic Freedom in Post-Soviet Georgia: De Jure Declarations, De Facto Realities". Invited talk. Organised by Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC), American Councils and American Research Institute of the South Caucasus. July 19, 2023. 

• "The Imagined freedom: Challenges of Academic Freedom in Post-Soviet Georgia". Invited talk. Organised by Eurasia SIG of Comparative and International Education Society of USA (CIES). May 31, 2023.  

• SAGE Research Methods, Invited case study, video talk.  'Adapting a Qualitative Interview Study for Educational Research' (2023).  

• "How to write and publish academic articles in peer-reviewed journals". Invited talk at the Faculty of Psychological and Educational Studies. Tbilisi State University. Tbilisi, Georgia. October 11, 2022. 

• "Revisiting tiger parenting: From cultural essentialism to multiple frames of reference". Invited speaker. Institute for Research and Development of Education. Faculty of Education, Charles University. Prague, Czech Republic. June 8, 2022. 

• "PhD journey and beyond: Strategies to write and publish academic papers". Invited speaker. Institute for Research and Development of Education. Faculty of Education, Charles University. Prague, Czech Republic. June 9, 2022. 

• "Tiger parenting under globalization: Social class, ethnicity and culture". Invited keynote speaker. Global Public Seminars in Comparative and International Education. Department of Education. University of Oxford. March 16, 2022. 

• "Working in higher education beyod the West: Job prospects, opportunities and challenges". New Scholars Workshop, vCIES 2021. A panel speaker. April 27, 2021. 

• "Reopening Schools, Reimagining Education: Experiences from the Central and West Asian Countries". Webinar. Invited keynote speaker. Asian Development Bank (ADB). December 16, 2020.

• "Education in the Time of COVID-19". Webinar. Invited keynote speaker. UCL Institute of Education. September 25, 2020.

• "Online tutoring and COVID-19". Public lecture. Caucasus University, School of Education. May 27, 2020.

• "Universities and COVID-19". Invited speaker. Webinar. April, 10. 2020. 

• "Online teaching, Hong Kong experience". Public lecture. Sokhumi University. Tbilisi, Georgia. April, 24. 2020.

• Resilient Asia Webinar session #4. Ornagised by Resilio and Black Dog Consultants. April 21, 2020.

• "Working in higher education beyond the West/Global North: job prospects, opportunities and challenges". A panel speaker. New Scholars Essential Workshop. Comparative and International Education Society (CIES). Miamim Florida, USA. March 27, 2020. (The event moved online due to COVID-19).

• Postgraduate Research Conference. "Common Mistakes that postgraduate students make when transitioning to the first job academic job". Together with Yeung P.S. & Zhu, Z. May, 2019. 

• "PhD journey and beyond". Interdisciplinary lab. A pair of talks organised by the Department of Educational Sciences, Tbilisi State University. July, 10-11. 2018.

• Research Seminar. Shadow education in Myanmar: Private supplementary tutoring and its policy Implications. CERC & Faculty of Education, HKU. September, 2018. 

Knowledge Exchange: 

Film co-producer, 2022–2024. 

Documentary Film: National Exams (74 minutes, Georgia, 2024). Based on the book: Kobakhidze, M.N. Teachers as Tutors: Shadow Education Market Dynamics in Georgia (Springer, 2018).

• Film premiere. Chokhatauri, Guria, Georgia. September 30, 2024.
• Film screening. Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. October 19, 2024.
• Film screening. Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK) Annual Conference, Hong Kong. November 23, 2024.
• Film screening. Tbilisi International Film Festival, Tbilisi, Georgia. December 8, 2024.
• Film screening. Europe and Central Asia SIG, Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, USA. March 24, 2025. Chair: Nutsa Kobakhidze.
• Film screening. CIES Annual Conference. Film Festivalette. March 24, 2025. Chicago, USA.  Chair: Jorge G. Baxter. Discussants: Iveta Silova (Arizona State University) and Will Brehm (University of Canberra).
• Film screening. University of Freiburg, Switzerland. May 14, 2025.
• Film screening. Kutaisi International Short Film Festival, Kutaisi, Georgia. September 28, 2025.
• Film screening. Tbilisi Film Festival. Cavea, Tbilisi, Georgia. July 14, 2025
• Film screening. Union Cinema, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, USA. September 20, 2025.
• Film screening (Official Selection). 22nd Docudays UA, International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Kyiv, Ukraine. June 6–13, 2025.

Newspaper interviews:

• "Beyond Classroom Education" -an interview by Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). July, 2023. 
• "On education policy" - an interview with online magazine The Teacher. August 26, 2022. 
• "Education during the Pandemic" - an interview with online magazine Publika. August 31, 2020.
• "I hear, see and learn but on a distance" - an interview by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. March 6, 2020.
• "Online Education in Georgia" - an interview by magazine At.ge. March 12, 2020.
• "Coronavirus, temper tantrums and Youtube await" - quoted in a story by the Times Educational Supplement. March 12, 2020.
• "In search for local solutions" - an interview by magazine Akhali Ganatleba (New Education). April, 10, 2020.
• "Mainland Chinese students best in world as Singapore, Hong Kong slip down rankings"- quoted in a news report by South China Morning Post. December 3, 2019. 
• "PISA from a critical perspective" - an interview by the Teacher, a nationwide magazine issues by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. December 10, 2019.  
• "Teachers as tutors in Georgia"- an interview by magazine At.ge. August 25, 2018.
• "There are no recipes in education system"- an interview by the Teacher, a nationwide magazine issued by the Ministry of Education and Sceince of Georgia). May 12, 2018. 

TV/Radio interviews: 

• “Pre-school Tutoring in Hong Kong.” Radio interview. RTHK Radio 3 – Brunch with Noreen. October 9, 2025.

• “The Shadow Education Industry in Hong Kong.” Podcast guest. The Leading, Language and Literature Podcast.April 26, 2024.

• Radio Interview. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "Tutoring". Morning program "Conversations on Education". July 14, 2023. 
• TV Interview. Mautskebeli. "Teaching and Tutoring in Georgia". July 12, 2023. 
• Documentary on "History of Georgian Education System 1990-2020". Interview. Released on June 26, 2021.
• "Kindergarten Admission Competition During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong". Radio Interview. RTHK Radio 3, "Brunch with Noreen". February 26, 2021. 
• TV Euronews. "School reopening and hybrid teaching and learning".  TV interview. September 14, 2020. 
• TV GPB (Georgian Public Broadcaster) - "School reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic". TV Interview. August 1. 2020.
• TV Mtavari - "Experiences and challenges of online teaching and learning". March 10, 2020.
• TV Pirveli - "Distance education during coronavirus". March 11, 2020.
• TV Pirveli - "Learning from global experiences on online learning". April 3, 2020.
• Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty - Freedom Diaries (print and video). July 30, 2017. 
• TV Pirveli - "Ladies Narratives" - an interviw. April, 7, 2017.

Other KE seminars: 

• “Bridging Education Research with Practice.” Invited panel speaker. Organized by Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni in Hong Kong. January 20, 2024.

• "Growth Mindset: What it really means" - Knowledge Exchange with Teachers and Parents at Nanxun Secondary School, Zhejiang Province, China - June 19, 2024. 

• Knowledge Exchange Seminar for Public School Teachers. "Competition in Education: Global Trends and Local Challenges." Sajarejo Municipality, Georgia for local school teachers on June 26, 2023.

• Invited speaker for “Resilient Academics” Podcast, 2022. 
• Knowledge Exchange Seminar. "Admission Olympics: Expanding Tutoring Market for Kindergarten Admissions in Hong Kong". July 15, 2021. 
• Book launch  "Teachers as Tutors: Shadow Education Market Dynamics in Georgia. Writers' House, Tbilisi. Georgia. August 2, 2018.
• A pair of knowledge exchange workshops for teachers, school principals, NGO representatives. "Private Tutoring in Myanmar: Major Study Finidngs". Yangon, Myanmar. KE Impact project Scheme. April 25-26, 2018.  

PhD/EdD Students under Supervision 

Primary Supervision: 

1. Li Jun (PhD) (Graduated in 2023) "Operators of Private Tutoring Business in Chongqing, China: Entrepreneurship in Multiple Social Cognitive Inclusions".
2. Peter Suante (PhD). (Graduated in 2022) "Normalizing private tuition in Myanmar: Implications of embodied dispositions and forms of capital".
3. Weilin Wang(PhD). (Graduated in 2025). "The Triangular Relationship between Curriculum Standard, High-Stakes Examination and Instruction in China".
4. Lelyzaveta Shchepertylnykova (PhD). (Graduated in 2024) "Intellectual Leadership in Post-Totalitarian Education Systems: the Study of Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine".
5. Alex Fedorov (PhD). (Graduated in 2025). "Religious Education in Postcolonial Hong Kong: Religious Plurality and Secularity."
6. Yvette Leung (PhD) "Parentocracy in the spotlight: how parents’ wish and wealth shape students’ English private tutoring experiences and learning opportunities in Hong Kong".
7. Claudia Chan (EDd). "Student agency in shaping and curating tutorial learning experiences: Case studies of secondary school students’ learner identities in Hong Kong".
8. Alexandros Tsaloukidis (PhD). "Reflecting (on) uncertainty through tutoring: A case study of private tutoring-related risk perceptions of parents in Hong Kong from the perspective of risk society theory".
9. Renxiang Tian (PhD). "Reshaping the ecosystem of education: An ethnographic study of teachers’, students’ and parents’ experience after China’s Double Reduction Policy."


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