On June 25, 2025, upon the nomination of the Tamaz Beradze Institute of Georgian Studies, the Georgian Studies Foundation Medal was awarded to the renowned scholar, Doctor of Philology Mzekala Shanidze, for her outstanding contribution to the development of Georgian studies.

Professor Shanidze is distinguished for her decades-long, productive academic career. She is the author of around 200 scholarly works, translations, and monographs, including:

• The Old Georgian Grammatical Treatise (1990)
• The Life of King of Kings David (1992)
• Catalogue of Newly Discovered Georgian Manuscripts(translation of the English section of a trilingual edition, Athens, 2005)

Her research interests include the history of the Georgian language, lexicology, textology, and biblical philology.

Previous recipients of the Georgian Studies Foundation Medal include:

• Linguist and Doctor of Philology Damana Melikishvili
• Archaeologist and Doctor of History Julon Gagoshidze
• Orientalist and Doctor of History Tsisana Abuladze