On February 21, the Technical University of Moldova officially launched four new projects, securing financial support from the second round of grants within the framework of the “Higher Education in Moldova” Project. This initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research and funded by the World Bank, allocates a total value exceeding 3 million euros for the implementation of these projects, scheduled to continue until the year 2025.
In his inaugural message, Minister Dan PERCIUN emphasized the importance of investing in university infrastructure, outfitting study spaces with advanced technology and equipment, and improving the quality of education through aligning the university curriculum with the changing demands of the labor market, with the involvement of the business environment.
- We appreciate the positive momentum witnessed at the Technical University of Moldova in all its initiatives, as well as the feedback it receives in society, particularly among the youth—the future students of UTM. The reevaluation of perceptions regarding higher education in the Republic of Moldova is substantially driven by these commendable initiatives unfolding within the UTM community.
In this context, Minister Dan PERCIUN expressed gratitude to the UTM administration for their efforts in making local university studies more attractive to students, noting that UTM stands as an undisputed leader in this regard.
UTM Rector, Prof. Viorel BOSTAN, Dr. habil., declared himself honored by the University’s societal responsibility. In presenting the tangible impact of the sustainable projects launched today, Mr. Bostan highlighted the anticipated value of the outcomes.
- Through the integration of leading-edge fields that contribute to the country’s development—engineering, agriculture, IT, veterinary medicine—into the four newly launched projects, and with a main focus on enhancing university infrastructure, supplying labs with state-of-the-art equipment, and modernizing study programs and curricula, we aim to ignite interest in education and personal development not only among our young people but also among their peers in other countries, our fundamental objective being for UTM to gain recognition and prominence internationally.
The event took place in a fully-packed hall, filled with students, professors, deans, and the designated coordinators of the new projects. Vice-Rector Daniela POJAR took the stage to present the four projects and their primary goals:
– “UNDERSEA—a Unified Platform for Scientific Research and Data Exploration in Education,” with a budget of EUR 807,300.00;
– “GEAR 4.0 More—aimed at Enhancing Fundamental Training for Professional Competencies in Engineering, Electronics, Automation, and Robotics, in response to Industry 4.0 requirements,” with a budget of EUR 1,653,068.00;
– “Modernization of Education at the Faculty of Agricultural, Forestry, and Environmental Sciences in line with GREEN and ECO principles,” with a budget of EUR 639,090.00;
– “Modernization of Clinical Education at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in line with One-World-One-Health principles,” with a budget of EUR 400,542.00.
The main objectives of the launched projects are as follows:
- Improving the quality of study programs in the field of Engineering by focusing on practical skills in the initial two years of studies. This approach is designed to lay a robust foundation for the preparation of future engineers, taking into account the increasing digitalization of engineering activities and environmental challenges.
- Improving university education in Agricultural Sciences by modernizing the didactic-material base and the training and research infrastructure. The goal is to adjust the educational offerings with the dynamic requirements of the job market for biotechnological expertise in plant engineering.
- Enhancing the quality of training for IT specialists by creating a practical learning platform with virtualization capabilities for future DevOps, SRE, and platform engineers. Additionally, advanced computing opportunities for innovative fields will encourage collaboration between the academic and professional sectors and facilitate the adaptation of higher education to the demands of a globalized digital environment.
- Improving the university education of veterinary doctors by building and equipping multiple specialized laboratories within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This initiative is geared towards providing modern equipment to align veterinary education with contemporary standards.
These four projects are set to kickstart a transformative journey, bringing significant changes in the country’s higher education system and revolutionizing the designated priority domains of activity for the entire society.
The recent grant allocation in the second phase of the “Higher Education in Moldova” project marks a strategic move towards ongoing modernization and resource advancement for the country’s educational institutions. With an investment exceeding 10 million euros, this initiative extends its benefits to five universities across the country.
The event was organized by the Technical University of Moldova as part of the “Higher Education in Moldova” project, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Research and funded by the World Bank.
