Signed and adopted in Batumi, Georgia
July 21, 2026
- Preamble
- Article I. Context and Primary Objectives
- Article II. The Colchis Principles
- Article III. System Architecture and Conversion Mechanisms
- Article IV. The Key Tracks of Contemporary Professional Education
- Article V. Professional Qualifications Framework
- Article VI. The Supreme Status of Professional Recognition
- Article VII. Governance and Infrastructure
- Article VIII. Final Provisions
- Special Legal Disclaimer
- Signatures
Preamble
We, the undersigned,
Recognizing the growing value of lifelong learning and the critical need for the formal validation of professional experience, practical skills, and non-formal education alongside traditional academic achievements;
Striving to create a flexible, transparent, and universal ecosystem for the assessment, accumulation, and transfer of professional competencies on a global scale;
Convinced that the synergy between science, technology, and practical experience serves as the primary driver of modern progress and the sustainable development of human civilization;
Noting that the rapid pace of scientific and technological transformations demands new approaches to the training of specialists capable of effectively responding not only to the challenges of the present, but also to the needs of the future;
Fully recognizing the historical role, fundamental importance, and high authority of traditional institutions of higher and professional education, which for centuries have served as the foundation for the development of science and the formation of human capital;
Aware, at the same time, that existing educational models, due to the inherent inertia of academic processes, are often predominantly oriented toward meeting the needs of already established industries and technological paradigms;
Proceeding from the need for harmonious coexistence and constructive competition with traditional educational institutions, while offering a distinct approach to workforce training based on addressing the current needs of today and the projected challenges of tomorrow;
Considering it our mission to develop specialists for current, emerging, experimental, and advanced technologies, as well as for new scientific fields, manufacturing processes, and organizational models that are in their formative and testing stages;
Supporting the principles of learning on an inherently flexible and adaptive basis, which provides for the continuous improvement of educational programs, their rapid modernization, refinement, and the integration of the latest scientific, engineering, and technological achievements;
Gathered in the ancient land of Colchis, which for millennia served as a meeting place for East and West, fostering cultural exchange, scientific dialogue, and the development of trade routes,
Do hereby declare the establishment of the International Science and Technology Credits (ISTC) system and the Colchis Principles, and adopt this Declaration.
Article I. Context and Primary Objectives
1.1. Historical Resonance and the Strategic Choice of Colchis
The selection of the ancient land of Colchis as the cradle of this Declaration carries profound symbolic and practical meaning. For millennia, this historic region served as a pivotal global crossroads where East met West, fostering a continuous synthesis of cultural exchange, scientific dialogue, and pioneering trade routes. By establishing the ISTC system in a geography historically synonymous with the quest for transformative knowledge — immortalized in the pursuit of the Golden Fleece — we honor a heritage of borderless intellectual curiosity. Just as Colchis historically bridged diverse civilizations and ancient technological crafts, the ISTC system is designed to act as a contemporary matrix, uniting disparate global talent pools, industrial innovations, and scientific disciplines under a unified, universal framework of recognition.
1.2. Alignment with Fifth-Generation Universities, Industry 5.0, and Society 5.0
The architecture of the ISTC system directly drives the transition toward Fifth-Generation Universities, which transcend classic teaching and research to operate as open, hyper-connected innovation ecosystems fundamentally embedded in society. This structural evolution mirrors the core imperatives of Industry 5.0 and Society 5.0, marking a paradigm shift away from mere industrial automation toward a profoundly human-centric, sustainable, and resilient integration of technology. In this super-smart society, where cyber-physical systems and artificial intelligence converge to solve complex existential challenges, the ISTC serves as the vital credit infrastructure. It validates the non-linear, cross-functional, and value-driven competencies required by these fifth-generation institutions, ensuring that human talent remains the central driver of progress in an AI-driven world.
1.3. Transformation of the Educational Landscape
Driven by these profound paradigm shifts, the very nature of knowledge acquisition and application is undergoing fundamental changes. We are witnessing an unprecedented rise in the importance of non-formal learning, corporate education, and intensive professional programs. In a technology-driven society, cutting-edge practical experience, applied research, and skills acquired directly within the industry become the primary drivers of innovation and an integral part of human capital. The role of education is transforming: it is no longer solely a preparatory stage but a continuous, lifelong process deeply integrated into professional activity.
1.4. Complementarity to the Traditional System
While fully recognizing the absolute value, fundamental methodological role, and undeniable authority of traditional universities as the foundational institutions for preserving and advancing academic knowledge, we note the critical need to expand existing frameworks. The ISTC system is established in strict complement to the established model of classical academic education. It is designed to serve as a bridge connecting fundamental science with dynamic applied practice, thereby enriching both domains.
1.5. Objectives of the ISTC System
Based on the premises above, the implementation of the ISTC system pursues the following objectives, aimed at resolving critical challenges in the contemporary professional world:
- Establishing a universal, measurable mechanism to formally validate and convert years of professional experience, corporate training, and proprietary technological developments into standardized credit units. This addresses the systemic undervaluation of real-world competencies among professionals who may lack field-specific or up-to-date academic degrees.
- Addressing institutional and geographical obstacles. The system aims to ensure the seamless transition of professionals across different jurisdictions, industries, corporations, and research centers, guaranteeing that their accumulated professional capital is universally recognized and accounted for.
- Bridging the gap between the speed of technological advancement and the adaptation time of classical educational curricula. ISTC provides the labor market and knowledge-intensive industries with a flexible assessment tool capable of immediately responding to the emergence of new professions and technological paradigms.
- Building an integrative environment where traditional academic credits (such as ECTS) and ISTC professional units can mutually complement each other, creating an objective, holistic, and modern portfolio of a practicing professional.
Article II. The Colchis Principles
To ensure trust, transparency, and the global applicability of the International Science and Technology Credits (ISTC) system, its operation and development are governed by the following core principles:
2.1. Principle of Outcome-Based Assessment
ISTC credits are awarded not for mere time spent in a profession (“seniority”), but for verified results and measurable contributions to industry or science. The allocation of credit units is strictly based on objective evidence of competence: successfully executed projects, registered patents and proprietary certificates, developed technological architectures, scientific publications, and the results of independent industrial audits.
2.2. Principle of Comparability and Interoperability
The ISTC architecture is designed as an open system capable of integration and harmonization with existing international qualification frameworks and academic credit systems. This ensures a transparent and mutual transfer (conversion) of competencies between the corporate sector, research institutes, and classical higher education anywhere in the world.
2.3. Principle of Dynamic Relevance
Unlike classical academic degrees, which are granted indefinitely, the ISTC system accounts for the rapid obsolescence of technology. It introduces the concept of a credit lifecycle for fast-evolving industries: competencies must be regularly re-validated or expanded through the mastery of new technological stacks and practices.
2.4. Principle of Decentralization and Expert Authority
The assessment and verification of experience for awarding ISTC credits cannot be monopolized by a single institution or state. The system relies on a distributed network of authorized industrial consortia, global technology corporations, professional associations, and scientific councils possessing the highest level of expertise in their respective specialized fields.
2.5. Principle of Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity
The ISTC system guarantees equal access to qualification recognition for every professional, regardless of their foundational education, geographical location, or employment format. The sole criterion for obtaining science and technology credits is the individual’s actual professional and intellectual caliber.
2.6. Principle of Parity Between Professional and Academic Tracks (Equivalence of Non-Formal and Corporate Education)
The outcomes achieved by a professional through non-formal, corporate, and continuous professional education are recognized and accounted for in the ISTC system on an equal footing with traditional academic achievements. This Declaration establishes full institutional parity between a classical university degree and verified competencies acquired within the industry. Corporate training programs, internal scientific and technological schools, professional development courses, and proven practical experience hold equal status in shaping a specialist’s professional track, provided that their outcomes can be objectively measured and validated.
2.7. Principle of Lifelong Accumulation and Stackability
ISTC credits are inherently modular and cumulative. They are designed to accompany a professional throughout their entire career, allowing individuals to continuously aggregate micro-credentials over a lifetime. These stacked credits can periodically culminate in advanced global qualifications without requiring a return to baseline academic cycles.
2.8. Principle of Borderless Professional Mobility
Reflecting the historic spirit of Colchis as a global crossroads, the ISTC system operates beyond geopolitical, national, or regional boundaries. It serves as a universal, frictionless currency for talent, ensuring that verified competencies are equally recognized by employers and institutions worldwide, thereby facilitating seamless international migration of expertise.
2.9. Principle of Technological Neutrality and Agility
The framework remains completely independent of specific software vendors, proprietary platforms, or passing market monopolies. It maintains an agile infrastructure capable of rapidly absorbing and structuring newly emerging technological stacks, programming paradigms, and scientific methodologies as soon as they manifest in the real economy.
2.10. Principle of Interdisciplinary Synergy
The ISTC system recognizes that breakthrough innovations occur at the intersections of diverse fields. It actively values and categorizes cross-functional competencies—such as bio-informatics, eco-engineering, or tech-governance—incentivizing professionals to build unique, multi-faceted expertise profiles that traditional siloed academic structures fail to accommodate.
2.11. Principle of Immutable Verifiability and Data Integrity
To eliminate fraud, credential inflation, and unauthorized tampering, the verification architecture of the ISTC relies on decentralized ledger technologies and secure cryptographic signatures. Every awarded credit is permanently anchored in a transparent, immutable public registry, enabling instantaneous, automated verification by third parties while strictly respecting individual privacy laws.
2.12. Principle of Transparent and Collaborative Governance
The criteria, rubrics, and evaluation methodologies used to award ISTC credits are never proprietary or hidden. They are developed through open-source principles, subject to continuous peer review, and updated via a collaborative consensus mechanism involving the global scientific, academic, and industrial community.
Article III. System Architecture and Conversion Mechanisms
3.1. Unit of Measurement and Conversion Framework
The ISTC credit serves as a unified unit for accounting professional competencies. The allocation of credits is based on a balanced assessment of the volume of effort expended (time equivalent), the complexity of the tasks solved, and the measurable outcome. Accumulated ISTC credits form a professional’s digital qualification passport.
The conversion of experience, non-formal, and corporate education into ISTC credits is executed through four core validation blocks:
| Validation Block | Assessment Domain | Verifiable Outcomes and Activity Forms |
| Block A Corporate and Non-Formal Education | Learning outside the classical academic system that possesses direct value for the industry. | Programs of corporate universities, academies, and internal training schools. International and independent industry certifications (vendor, IT, management standards). Intensive programs, specialized bootcamps, and micro-credentials. |
| Block B Project-Applied Activity | Practical experience and leadership within the real economic sector and high-tech industries. | Contribution to designing, developing, and scaling complex technological products. Management of engineering, IT, or research teams (verified by performance metrics like KPIs/OKRs). |
| Block C Intellectual Property | Recorded and recognized results of innovative, scientific, and technical activities. | Patents, proprietary certificates for utility models, and software applications. Publications in leading field-specific and scientific journals, monographs, and white papers. Participation in developing industry, national, and international standards or protocols. |
| Block D Expert and Community Track | Recognition of the professional’s authority and competencies by the professional community. | Activity as an independent expert, reviewer, or jury member (scientific councils, hackathons, grants). Mentorship, leadership, and verified contributions to human capital development within the industry. |
3.2. Validation Procedure
The conversion of professional experience, non-formal, and corporate education into ISTC units is executed by Authorized Validation Centers (AVC) following a strictly regulated four-stage procedure:
Stage 1. Digital Portfolio Formation (Evidence Base)
The candidate, either independently or through a corporate employer, compiles a digital portfolio within the unified ISTC ecosystem.
The portfolio must contain hard, verifiable evidence (Evidence-Based Portfolio): digital tokens from corporate universities, verified industrial certificate IDs, links to open-source code repositories (for IT), patent registration numbers, internal tech implementation deployment acts (subject to NDA), or verified excerpts from project management systems.
Stage 2. Automated Scoring and Initial Verification
At this stage, the system conducts an automated audit of Block A elements (corporate education and certifications).
The data is matched against the Global ISTC Equivalence Matrix. If a certificate or corporate program is already accredited within the system, the allocation of base credits occurs automatically via an approved IT algorithm, eliminating human bias.
Stage 3. Expert Audit and Peer-Review
Elements of Blocks B, C, and D (projects, patents, mentorship) that require qualitative assessment are forwarded for independent evaluation.
An Expert Commission composed of three independent validators—recognized industry leaders within the candidate’s specific technological domain—is formed to evaluate each case.
The commission assesses the scale, complexity of architectural solutions, the candidate’s level of responsibility, and the measurable economic or scientific impact of their work, rather than mere “time spent in the profession.”
Stage 4. Decentralized Recording and Crediting
Based on the results of the scoring and expert review, a final decision on the volume of awarded ISTC credits is issued.
Information regarding the awarded credits, their lifecycle, and the competency profile is permanently recorded in the ISTC Distributed Ledger. This guarantees data immutability, prevents fraud or unilateral tampering, and provides instant, cross-border access to the specialist’s profile for verification by any international employer or institution.
Article IV. The Key Tracks of Contemporary Professional Education
4.1. Intelligent Education
The ISTC system formally introduces the paradigm of Intelligent Education — a fluid, AI-integrated, and self-evolving educational ecosystem that transcends rigid curricular boundaries. It allows for the instantaneous capture, synthesis, and validation of newly emerging hybrid fields, informal knowledge networks, and unmapped vocational tracks, ensuring that the recognition of human talent remains as infinite and adaptable as innovation itself.
To ensure the harmonious development of society, overcome global challenges, and build a balanced, human-centric ecosystem, this Declaration defines five major structural tracks for professional recognition within this framework:
Track 1. Management Sciences
The architecture of modern socio-economic systems. This track encompasses agile management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, LeSS), change management under high uncertainty, strategic leadership, talent and cross-cultural team management, and the design of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Track 2. Health Sciences
Ensuring the quality, longevity, and mindfulness of human life. This track covers biomedical technologies, preventive medicine, biohacking, genetic research, digital health, as well as mental well-being and cognitive health within an overloaded information environment.
Track 3. Technological Sciences
The material foundation of civilization. This track unites advanced engineering, robotics, materials science, additive manufacturing (3D/4D printing), clean energy, aerospace systems, and ecologically sustainable industrial production.
Track 4. Cyber Sciences
The architecture of digital reality. This track includes the design and evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, Big Data, machine learning, quantum computing, cybersecurity architectures, distributed ledgers, and Web3 technologies.
Track 5. Game Studies
The design of immersive environments, motivational models, and behavioral patterns. This track explores game theory, the gamification of social, corporate, and educational processes, metaverse architecture, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), engagement psychology, and interactive art.
4.2. Synergy of Tracks in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
We firmly maintain that in the era of rapid artificial intelligence development, the isolation of professional disciplines leads to stagnation. AI automates routine cognitive operations, turning hyper-specialized hard skills into rapidly obsolete commodities.
The path toward sustainable human development lies exclusively at the intersection of these five domains. Only the convergence of cybersciences and technology with a profound understanding of human nature (Game Studies, Health Sciences) and efficient resource allocation (Management Sciences) can prevent digital inequality and foster a harmonious society where technology empowers humanity rather than replacing it. The ISTC system is designed to incentivize and validate precisely these cross-disciplinary competencies.
Article V. Professional Qualifications Framework
5.1. Professional Qualifications Frameworkin Science and Technology
This Declaration explicitly rejects the mirroring of classical academic degrees and introduces the Professional Qualifications Framework in Science and Technology. This framework is strictly based on the actual scale of a professional’s responsibility, the complexity of the industrial challenges they resolve, and the volume of practical capital accumulated within the ISTC system.
| Qualification Level | Professional Status | Industrial (Corporate) Equivalent | Competency Criteria and Assessment Focus | ISTC Credit Range |
| Level I | Professional Associate | Junior / Middle | Independent execution of technological or managerial tasks within established protocols. Core industry certifications, successful completion of foundational corporate programs (Block A). | 60 – 120 |
| Level II | Advanced Professional | Senior | Autonomous resolution of complex, multi-layered challenges. Deep expertise in one of the five primary tracks. Proven track record of successful project execution (Block B), field-specific publications or patents (Block C). | 180 – 240 |
| Level III | Principal Expert / Architect | Lead / Principal / System Architect | Designing advanced technological systems or managing cross-functional teams. Creation of critical intellectual property (Block C), active contribution to the professional community (Block D). | 300 – 420 |
| Level IV | Technological Leader / Director | Executive / C-Level / Head of R&D | Strategic management of macro-projects, directly influencing the evolution of an entire industry or tech stack. Systemic mentorship, establishing corporate academies and internal ecosystems (Block D). | 480 – 540 |
| Level V (Supreme Status) | Doctor Ex Meritis | Pinnacle / Visionary / Industry Legend | Outstanding global contribution to science and technology. Pioneering new cross-disciplinary domains at the intersection of the five tracks. Absolute international recognition by the Concilium Professionalium. | 600+ (and Council decree) |
Article VI. The Supreme Status of Professional Recognition
6.1. Return to Etymological Origins
This Declaration explicitly returns to the foundational Latin meaning of the word “doctor” (derived from docere — meaning to teach, to instruct). Historically, long before the establishment of modern academic bureaucracy, this title signified a recognized Master, Teacher, and guide of practical knowledge, whose authority within a professional guild was absolute. The ISTC system restores the word to its true purpose within real-world industrial practice.
6.2. Definition and Institutional Status
The supreme title of professional recognition (Level V in the Professional Qualifications Framework) is hereby established within the ISTC system: Doctor Ex Meritis (Doctor by Merit).
The Doctor Ex Meritis title is an exclusively non-academic form of qualification recognition.
This title does not compete with traditional academic doctoral degrees (Ph.D. / D.Sc.) but operates within a parallel professional track, carrying equal social, economic, and industrial weight.
6.3. Criteria and Philosophy of Conferment
The conferment of the Doctor Ex Meritis title does not require the defense of a traditional academic thesis. Its foundation rests entirely on real-world achievements and industry-wide validation. The title is awarded to leaders who have:
- Attained the highest qualification tier (600+ ISTC credits) through the execution of large-scale projects and the creation of significant intellectual property.
- Proven their capacity to act as Mentors. A recipient of this status is an individual capable of translating unique expertise, establishing proprietary schools, guiding professional communities, and serving as a visionary for the industry.
6.4. Professional Privileges
The title shall be conferred solely by the decree of the Supreme Authority — Concilium Professionalium. The record of conferment shall be immutably inscribed into the Distributed Ledger. This title grants the right to conduct certified proprietary training programs, lead expert committees, and serve as a chief validator within the ISTC system.
Article VII. Governance and Infrastructure
7.1. Institutional Foundation and Governing Organization
The foundational governing organization of the System shall be the International Science and Technology Consortium.
The Consortium shall provide strategic planning, legal support, operational coordination, and global scaling of the ISTC ecosystem, acting as the primary guarantor of the system’s integrity and sustainability.
The permanent headquarters of the Consortium is established in Geneva, Switzerland, offering a neutral space for global technological collaboration.
7.2. Supreme Authority for Qualification Recognition
A specialized body shall be established and operate within the structure of the Consortium: Concilium Professionalium: The United International Council for Professional Scientific and Technological Recognition.
The Concilium Professionalium shall be vested with exclusive authority over the validation of professional experience and non-formal education. Its responsibilities shall include:
- Developing and approving the Global Competency Equivalence Matrix across the five major tracks of contemporary professional education.
- Accrediting corporate academies, industrial giants, and independent institutes as Authorized Validation Centers (AVCs).
- Executing the final audit of complex validation cases (Blocks B, C, D) and verifying the decisions of Expert Commissions regarding the allocation of science and technology credits.
7.3. Technological Infrastructure
The technological cornerstone of the system shall be the ISTC Distributed Ledger, with its deployment, security, and cryptographic protection maintained by the International Science and Technology Consortium.
Qualification records inscribed into the ledger by the Concilium Professionalium shall remain absolutely immutable and accessible for instant cross-border verification by international employers.
7.4. Professional Data Sovereignty and Human-Centric Privacy
To align with the human-centric imperatives of Society 5.0, the infrastructure maintained by the Consortium shall operate on the principle of absolute data sovereignty for the individual. Every professional retains exclusive, decentralized ownership and cryptographic control over their verified competency portfolio. The technological architecture shall prevent any unauthorized corporate or institutional tracking, ensuring that verified credentials can only be accessed, shared, or presented to prospective employers through the explicit, self-sovereign consent of the professional.
Article VIII. Final Provisions
8.1. Openness to Accession
This Declaration is an open international instrument. Any technology corporation, research institute, or educational organization that endorses its principles may declare its accession by signing a protocol through the Secretariat of the International Science and Technology Consortium.
8.2. Entry into Force
This Declaration shall enter into force immediately upon its signature by the founding parties at the inaugural assembly in Colchis. Concurrently, the deployment of the ISTC Distributed Ledger and the formation of Expert Commissions under the auspices of the Concilium Professionalium shall commence.
8.3. Amendments and Revisions
The provisions of this Declaration may be revised or amended exclusively by a decision of the Concilium Professionalium, subject to consensus approval by the International Science and Technology Consortium. Such revisions shall be dictated strictly by the demands of technological progress and objective shifts in the global labor market.
8.4. Depository and Authenticity
The original text of this Declaration is composed in English, which serves as the official operational language of the Consortium. The Secretariat of the International Science and Technology Consortium shall act as the official Depository of this Declaration, maintaining the original document and transmitting certified digital and physical copies to all signatory parties.
Special Legal Disclaimer
This Declaration was drafted, adopted, and signed within the territory of the historical region of Colchis (Georgia) strictly as an independent, private international initiative and a decentralized professional gathering.
The signatories officially declare that this document was established and ratified without any participation, prior consultation, financial, or institutional endorsement by the official authorities, government, or state institutions of Georgia. The reference to Colchis is of a purely historical, cultural, geographical, and symbolic nature, serving solely as a neutral platform for global dialogue.
Furthermore, the signing of this Declaration and the subsequent activities outlined herein do not constitute the establishment, operation, or functioning of a non-governmental organization (NGO), public association, or domestic non-profit entity within the jurisdiction of Georgia. The International Science and Technology Consortium and its affiliated bodies operate strictly as a private, extraterritorial professional network.
The signatories and the Consortium do not engage in domestic public, political, or civil society activities within Georgia, nor do they manage funds intended to influence domestic policies or public opinion. Consequently, this initiative falls entirely outside the regulatory scope of any national legislation regarding foreign-funded organizations, foreign influence, or foreign agents.
This Declaration is not a political instrument, does not interfere in the domestic affairs of any sovereign state, and creates no legal, diplomatic, or other obligations for the host country. Full and sole responsibility for the provisions of this Declaration and the activities of the Concilium Professionalium lies exclusively with its individual signatories and the founding members of the Consortium.
Signatures
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned representatives, being duly authorized by their respective organizations, have signed this Declaration.
Original Text of the Declaration