Georgian university's Nazi-linked research sparks outrage before curriculum U-turn
A research centre at Georgia's Kutaisi International University (KIU) has drawn controversy after its founder linked its work to Nazi-era theories. The programmes it promoted were briefly added to the national curriculum before being scrapped. Meanwhile, KIU's German partner, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has stayed silent on the issue.
The Iberian Cultural Heritage Centre at KIU, led by Aliko Tsintsadze, bases its research on ideas tied to the Nazi SS. On 12 February 2026, Georgia's national curriculum included two new bachelor's programmes—astrolinguistics and astroarchaeology—developed by the centre. But heavy criticism led to their removal less than two weeks later.
An audio recording from February reveals that KIU planned to enrol students in these programmes from September 2026. After an investigation exposed the controversy, KIU released a video featuring Wolfgang Herrmann, TUM's former president and KIU's honorary president, defending the partnership. The university also scrubbed references to the disputed programmes from its website, redirecting the link to its general news section. TUM, however, claims it knew nothing about the centre or the new courses. Herrmann, who chairs TUM's International Advisory Board, also denied any prior knowledge. Despite repeated questions, TUM has not explained whether it approved KIU's use of its branding in the video or addressed its ties to the centre.
The programmes were officially listed in Georgia's curriculum before public backlash forced their withdrawal. KIU has since removed online traces of the courses, while TUM continues to avoid direct comment. The financial details of TUM's collaboration with KIU, including any payments from the Cartu Group, remain undisclosed.
