At the Technical University of Moldova, we are committed to excellence in education and continuous innovation, preparing students to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow’s world. In this spirit, the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences has taken a significant step toward modernizing agricultural education by integrating GREEN and ECO principles.
From June 30 to July 4, a representative delegation from UTM undertook a study visit to the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) in Bucharest. This strategic initiative was part of the sub-project “Modernizing education at the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry and Environmental Sciences in line with GREEN and ECO principles – GREEN BioHUB@Uni,” within the “Higher Education in Moldova” Project, funded by the World Bank.
Organized with the support of Professor Dr. Liliana BĂDULESCU, Head of the Department of Bioengineering of Horticultural Systems at USAMV Bucharest, the visit aimed to familiarize participants with modern educational models and innovative teaching strategies in the agronomic field. Through direct interaction with renowned experts and exploration of state-of-the-art academic and research infrastructure, the UTM delegation sought to identify best practices in Romania that could be implemented in our own educational system.
The mobility agenda included essential objectives for modernizing the educational process at UTM:
- Modular, competence-based curricula: identifying best practices in modular curriculum design and implementing a competency-based learning approach.
- Innovative teaching methods: observing and adopting modern teaching and assessment methods, including practical lab work, teamwork, case studies, and the use of advanced digital platforms.
- Effective evaluation: studying learning outcome assessment models and integrating them into UTM’s educational processes.
- Professional relevance: exploring mechanisms for collaboration with the economic sector and research institutions to enhance the real-world relevance of academic programs.
- Strategic university extension: developing functional extension structures in the context of integrating the Criuleni SDE and managing 580 hectares of arable land—a major strategic asset for strengthening UTM’s role in applied research and technology transfer in rural areas.
- Expanded student support: examining extracurricular activities and support services for students, including internships, competitions, applied projects, and involvement in sustainable initiatives.
Composed of leading academic figures actively involved in curriculum modernization and the promotion of GREEN principles—Dr. Daniela POJAR, Vice-Rector for Finance and International Relations; Esenia TURCHIN, Head of Public Procurement; Associate Professor Dr. Ion RÎBINȚEV, Head of the Department of Horticulture and Forestry; Associate Professor Dr. Grigorii BATÎRU, Department of Agronomy and Environment; Associate Professor Dr. Silvia SECRIERU, Head of the Department of Agronomy and Environment; and Associate Professor Dr. Nadejda MOCREAC, Department of Horticulture and Forestry—the UTM delegation took part in working sessions and discovered the impressive research infrastructure at USAMV Bucharest:
- The “Qlab” Research Center for Food Quality Study: a flagship of excellence featuring 13 research labs equipped with over 200 high-performance tools and a fully automated greenhouse essential for cutting-edge research.
- The “Moara Domnească” Agronomic Research and Development Teaching Station: a clear example of how applied research can be integrated into the educational process.
- The “Pietroasa” (viticulture and winemaking) and “Istrița” (fruit growing) research and development stations: known for their work based on green technologies and sustainable practices in viticulture, winemaking, and pomology.
This visit served as an invaluable source of inspiration and practical insight within the framework of the GREEN BioHUB@Uni sub-project’s mobility plan, financially supported by the World Bank through the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and carried out at UTM under agreement MD-MOED-6542-ASF-U2-12. Its aim is to contribute to the development of a concrete action plan for modernizing agricultural study programs in line with sustainable development requirements and the European green agenda.
The best practices identified during the visit will be integrated into our academic programs, transforming UTM into a central hub for green innovation and education in Moldova. We aim to train specialists who are ready to actively contribute to a modern, sustainable, and environmentally responsible agriculture.
The future of agriculture begins here, at the Technical University of Moldova! We are ready to take bold steps forward—together.
