Today, December 6, 2023, the Rector of the Technical University of Moldova, Prof., Dr. Habil. Viorel BOSTAN, marked a historic moment in a ceremonial gathering attended by distinguished guests from the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași, the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Moldova, and representatives from the Ministries of Education and Culture (MEC) and Economic Development and Digitalization (MDED), alongside numerous professors and students. The official inauguration of the university’s corporate network was initiated, as part of the cross-border project “WiNet@UNI – Joint Cross-Border Networking Infrastructure of Technical Universities of Iasi and Moldova” (1HARD/3.1/75). The successful conclusion of the project was made possible through funding under the Joint Operational Program Romania – Republic of Moldova 2014-2020.
At the onset of the concluding session of the WiNet@UNI project, Mrs. Daniela POJAR, Vice-Rector for Financial Affairs and International Relations at UTM and the project coordinator, extended a warm greeting to the students present in the hall, who are also the direct beneficiaries of the project. Mr. Pojar expressed her gratitude to the distinguished guests who had come to share the joy of this major success for UTM and TUIAȘI.
Special acknowledgements were directed towards Emilian MORAR, diplomatic counselor at the Embassy of Romania in the Republic of Moldova – the primary beneficiaries of the project are the students. Further appreciation was expressed to Nadejda VELIȘCO, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, and Mihai LUPAȘCU, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization of the Republic of Moldova. Recognition was also given to the representative of the project’s partner university, Simona CARAIMAN, Vice-Rector for Computerization and Digital Communications, and General Project Manager at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași, Romania.
Emphasizing the significance of the project, UTM Rector, Prof., Dr. Habil. Viorel BOSTAN, pointed out that it took root at the close of 2017, coinciding with the formulation of the digitalization strategy for the university. Mr. Bostan noted the crucial role of digitalization in shaping a modern university, bringing efficiencies in staffing, optimizing processes, and allocating financial resources more effectively for students, teaching activities and research, as well as for modernizations and renovations. The Rector highlighted that the success of the project was made possible through close collaboration with the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași.
Simona CARAIMAN, Vice-Rector for Computerization and Digital Communications and General Project Manager at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași, Romania, added that, beyond the essential academic priorities, the project has strengthened the bonds of friendship between the two partner universities. Ms. Caraiman shared that the initiative kicked off at the end of 2017, when the need to intensify the digitalization process by modernizing communication infrastructures, services, and applications was identified. This approach facilitated the development of integrated study programs incorporating digital technologies, thereby fostering research and innovation in this field.
The detailed technical overview of the project was presented by Dr. Dinu ȚURCANU, Vice-Rector for Digitalization at UTM. According to Mr. Turcanu, the cross-border initiative aimed to secure a sustainable future through the improvement of digital communication infrastructures at both participating universities. The program’s primary focus centered on enhancing cross-border transport infrastructure and ICT infrastructure, with tangible results evident in the establishment of integrated ICT networks and facilities.
Throughout its implementation, the project has directly benefited students involved in study or research mobilities across various universities, researchers collaborating with the two institutions, as well as professors and graduate students participating in scientific conferences, student competitions, and cultural events organized by the partner universities, TU-IAȘI and UTM-Chișinău.
The primary target group included 14,905 individuals from Iași and 9,244 from Chișinău, with a special emphasis on students (21,408 individuals – 13,393 at TUIASI and 8,015 at UTM-Chișinău) and academic, research, and administrative staff (2,741 individuals – 1,512 at UTGA-IASI and 1,229 at UTM-Chișinău).
The allocated budget of approximately €1,000,000 to the Technical University of Moldova aided the development of a modern network infrastructure, providing high-quality WiFi and IP streaming systems for students, professors, and researchers at both universities. Beyond just connectivity, this advanced infrastructure supports the implementation of modern and competitive educational systems, promoting collaboration and interaction not only locally, but also on the global academic stage.
The “WiNet@UNI – Joint Cross-Border Networking Infrastructure of Technical Universities of Iasi and Moldova” project has made an impact by fortifying collaboration between the two higher education institutions. It opens up exciting prospects for launching and boosting scientific initiatives and projects based on the outcomes achieved within this collaborative effort.
Collaboration sparks innovation in incubators, research and development clusters, contributing in the long term to the creation of employment opportunities and the enhancement of competitiveness in the region. By expanding cross-border communications, the project encourages scientific cooperation in the fields of science and research, while contributing to the promotion of cultural values and the cultivation of long-term relations between the two countries.
The Technical University of Moldova and the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University in Iași extend their gratitude to all partners, funders, and those involved in this successful project. The partner institutions declared themselves committed to future collaborations and the sustainable advancement of higher education and research in the cross-border region. Through this remarkable initiative, both universities make meaningful contributions to the academic and technological progress of both countries.
