A promising start in the modernization of higher education and research in the Republic of Moldova implies substantial investments in upgrading university infrastructure, providing state-of-the-art technical and material resources, and modernizing curricula. Our ultimate goal is to deliver high-quality educational experiences and to prepare skilled professionals ready to meet the constantly evolving demands of the job market.
As an essential factor for academic excellence, innovation, and practical knowledge for shaping successful careers, the modernization of the curriculum and the continuous enhancement of spaces at UTM is progressing rapidly. With the financial support secured in the second round of grants provided through the “Higher Education in Moldova” Project, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research and funded by the World Bank, UTM will implement four exciting new projects.
During the official event on November 23rd, the Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun, handed over the grant certificate worth 3.5 million euros to the UTM representatives. Dr. Daniela POJAR, Vice-Rector for Financial Affairs and International Relations, accepted the certificate on behalf of the university.
The winning projects aim to enhance university infrastructure, equip laboratories with state-of-the-art technology, modernize study programs, curricula, and course materials. These four transformative initiatives, intended to bring significant changes in both higher education and people’s lives, are as follows:
– “UNDERSEA – Unified Platform for Scientific Research and Data Exploration with Applications in Education”, with a budget of 807,300.00 EUR;
– “GEAR 4.0 More – Enhancing Fundamental Preparation for Professional Competencies in Engineering, Electronics, Automation, and Robotics, in Response to Industry 4.0 Requirements”, with a budget of 1,653,068.00 EUR;
– “Green and Eco-Inspired Modernization of Education at the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences”, with a budget of 639,090.00 EUR;
– “Modernizing Clinical Education at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in Accordance with the One-World-One-Health Principles”, with a budget of 400,542.00 EUR.
“We are delighted to announce our success in securing all four projects during the second round of the competition initiated by the World Bank. A heartfelt thanks goes to the Government and the Ministry for their support. Aside from our two priority areas—engineering and IT activities—UTM also applied for two projects in fields announced as additional focus areas: veterinary medicine and agricultural sciences. The first project, building on our first round efforts, addresses challenges encountered in fundamental courses for engineering students. Our objective is to modernize the curriculum in key areas such as technical drawing, engineering graphics, dimensional tolerance and control, basics of machine design, and more”, shared Mrs. Pojar.
In shedding light on the goals and specifics of the winning projects, Mrs. Pojar highlighted the upcoming activities.
“Our second project, aptly named UNDERSEA, is tailored for the field of information technology. We plan to develop a platform based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, which will not only process diverse datasets, but also withstand simulated cyber attacks. We aim to modernize curricula in fundamental courses for the training of future professionals. Within this particular sub-project, we will equip another physics laboratory. This decision stems from our recognition of a gap in essential physics knowledge for the upcoming generation of IT specialists”.
“Moving on to two more projects that are both captivating and impactful, we dive into the field of veterinary medicine under the One-World-One-Health initiative. Understanding that we are essentially what we eat, and that the judicious use of antibiotics in wildlife affects with us all, this project introduces a series of laboratories equipped with diverse tools and installations. These resources will enable us to manage situations involving infectious diseases in animals. Now, onto the last but certainly not least project, which indirectly addresses our health by focusing on the modernization of university education at the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences, in line with green and bio principles. Within this initiative, we will acquire and equip laboratories essential for the in vitro and in vivo cultivation of various plant species resistant to the impacts of climate change.”
“We wish success not only to ourselves but to all involved. Thank you for the new knowledge gained by our team during the first round of projects, and we hope that the second round will unfold even smoother”, concluded the Vice-Rector.
At UTM, we turn great ideas into tangible projects that shape highly skilled professionals, ready to thrive in both the national and international job markets. Through recognizing that boosting the appeal and competitiveness of higher education in Moldova is a shared responsibility, we actively invest in education, fostering the dynamics of economic success and overall societal development.
The “Higher Education in Moldova” Project (PÎSM) is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research during the period 2020-2025. The second round of grant allocations aims to further the modernization and furnishing of educational institutions in the country. The objective is to align the educational system with the demands of the job market. The total investment value exceeds 10 million euros, benefiting five universities in the country.
