The Technical University of Moldova has successfully concluded the first edition of the Innovative Entrepreneurship Course, implemented with the support of the “Future Technologies Activity” project in Moldova. Spanning a duration of five weeks, the course, based on the renowned Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship (BMoE), delivered a unique educational experience to students enrolled in the “Software Engineering” program (FCIM) and the “Business and Administration” program (FIEB).
Under the guidance of both international and local experts, the students had the opportunity to explore and apply innovative principles and techniques of entrepreneurship, leading up to an impressive Demo Day, during which their outstanding results were evaluated by specialists.
Professor Viorel BOSTAN, Rector of UTM and a member of the jury, extended congratulations to the students participating in this remarkable experience. Mr. Bostan conveyed his gratitude for the fruitful collaboration between UTM, UC Berkeley, and the Future Technologies Activity project, funded by USAID and Sweden. “The successful implementation of BMoE at UTM is evidence of our institutional commitment to providing students with the most modern and effective learning methods. My appreciation goes to everyone involved, including both international and local speakers, mentors, and especially the participating students, for their enthusiasm and commitment. The results showcase the immense potential of this course in contributing to the formation of a new generation of innovative and creative entrepreneurs,” declared Rector Viorel BOSTAN.
The initiative was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Nina PUȚUNTEAN, Associate Professor and Head of the International Relations Service, and Dr. Rina ȚURCAN, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Economics and Management at FIEB, in collaboration with Industry Fellow Rick RASMUSSEN from UC Berkeley and expert Alina ADAMS from Stanford Business School, USA. Special recognition is extended to the four UTM students actively involved in organizing the course. As winners of the first edition of the Bootcamp in June 2023, they underwent training at UC Berkeley in January of the current year: Maria-Mădălina UNGUREANU, Viorel NOROC, Anastasia OLEINIK, and Iuliana STEȚENCO.
The instructional methodology employed in the course, founded on the principles of team collaboration with a deliberate emphasis on diversity, adhered closely to the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship (BMoE) algorithm, enabling students to navigate the essential stages of entrepreneurship, ranging from problem definition and solution development to business plan creation and the identification of product promotion strategies.
Participants benefited from lectures delivered by esteemed international and local experts during, including George TEODORESCU, the Regional Director at MixBook; Michelle ILLIEV from FTA Moldova; Mariana GURGHIȘ representing Tech Women Moldova; Mihai STIPANOV and Aliona ROTARU from DreamUps; Vadim JELEASCOV from BNM; Emil CHICHIOI representing Bloomcoding; Silvia CANGEA and Valentina MOROSAN from ODA, and Natalia URSU, project manager. Each expert shared valuable insights from their extensive entrepreneurial backgrounds.
On Demo Day—the conclusive examination of this course—the student teams presented their ideas and projects before the jury, consisting of notable figures in the entrepreneurial field: Professor Viorel BOSTAN, George TEODORESCU, Cristian CERNEANU (Entrepreneurship and Startups Manager, Chemonics International), Mihai STIPANOV, and Silvia CANGEA.
The entire process has been a great success in showcasing the extraordinary potential that collaboration and entrepreneurial education hold in shaping the future generation of leaders and innovators. Congratulations to the organizers, participants, and all those involved for their contribution to this significant achievement.
This initiative marks a new stage in the strong partnership between UTM and UC Berkeley, providing students with opportunities for learning and development in the field of entrepreneurship—a crucial step towards fostering a more dynamic and innovative society.
