Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (TESAU) is one of the oldest educational centers in Georgia. The University is the worthy successor of the century-old educational traditions of Ikalto Academy (XII Century), Telavi Philosophical and Theological School (1758-1782), Theological Seminary (1782-1801), Theological School (1818-1918), Teachers’ Professional College (1924-1939), Teachers’ Professional Institute (1939-1951) and Pedagogical Institute (1951-1999). The University is named after the great Georgian pedagogue and public figure Iakob Gogebashvili since 1940. On the 60th anniversary from its foundation, in 1999, the University was given the status of State University. It is an autonomous State Higher Educational Institution. Teaching language here is native Georgian.