The Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) was founded in 1994 with one Master's program in Public Administration. Since then, GIPA has been one of the first innovative Western-oriented universities in Georgia. The university continues its successful cooperation with American and European Universities. 

Nowadays Georgian Institute of Public Affairs administers four schools: The School of Government, the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management, the School of Law and Politics and the School of Social Sciences. Three departments: Research department, department of Rural Development and Vocational Education (DRDVE), department of International Relations and Development. On the university base is functioning seven centers: for local governance, training and consulting, career development, environmental protection, policy research center (PRC), cultural heritage and students cultural center.

At the initial stage, the academic personnel was staffed with professors from leading American universities who were replaced by Georgian highly qualified professors. Georgian professors are equipped with Western knowledge, modern teaching methods and techniques. Lecturers of the English programs are Georgian, American and European professionals whose methods of teaching are based on facts and high standards of learning.

Georgian Institute of Public Affairs' academic standards, experience, and teaching methods are leading in the country. GIPA successfully implements research and training projects and manages the first English-language and student-run radio GIPA. Georgian Institute of Public Affairs counts up to 3000 graduates and the majority of them are successfully employed in public and business sectors, private, non-governmental and international organizations.