Internationalization, inclusion, and sustainability are at the heart of a new Erasmus+ project that will significantly contribute to the modernization of university governance and the integration of higher education institutions from the Republic of Moldova into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
The Technical University of Moldova marks a major strategic milestone on the national and European academic agenda by hosting, from December 15–16, 2025, the launch event of the Erasmus+ KA2 project “Strengthening International Relations Offices in Moldovan HEIs for Further Integration into the EHEA” (IRO4ALL).
As the coordinating institution, UTM assumes a leadership role in implementing this project, which is of strategic importance for both the institutional and international development of the university. The project will be led directly by UTM Rector, Professor Dr. Viorel Bostan, with the involvement of Dr. Daniela Pojar, Vice-Rector for Finance and International Relations and institutional coordinator of the project, further consolidating the university’s commitment to aligning with European standards in international university relations.
With a total budget of EUR 399,982 and a 24-month implementation period (November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2027), the IRO4ALL project is coordinated by Associate Professor Dr. Nina Puțuntean, Head of UTM’s International Relations Office.
The IRO4ALL consortium brings together eight institutions from four countries, united by a shared vision of modernizing and professionalizing the internationalization structures within higher education: the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts; the Military Academy of the Armed Forces “Alexandru cel Bun”; the Cooperative-Commercial University of Moldova; Comrat State University; the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague (Czech Republic); the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (Romania); and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain). This institutional and geographical diversity provides the project with a solid foundation for sharing best practices, efficiently transferring expertise, and aligning university policies with European standards and values.
The IRO4ALL project aims to transform internationalization into a strategically, operationally, and culturally integrated element within Moldovan universities. Through training staff in International Relations Offices (IROs), modernizing institutional policies, and developing operational tools, the project promotes inclusive, sustainable, and green internationalization adapted to modern challenges in higher education.
Expected outcomes include IRO staff trained to European standards, modernized institutional frameworks, high-performance digital tools to increase international visibility, and project proposals aimed at strengthening European cooperation.
The launch event was opened by Dr. Daniela Pojar, who emphasized the role of university leadership in promoting internationalization as a key driver of educational quality and institutional development. Support from national authorities was reiterated by Ludmila Pavlov, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Research, and the impact of the Erasmus+ program was highlighted by Claudia Melinte, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in the Republic of Moldova.
A central moment of the event was the detailed presentation of the IRO4ALL project by Associate Professor Dr. Nina Puțuntean, who provided a clear overview of the project’s objectives, structure, and implementation mechanisms. The activities are organized into six work packages, covering capacity building, institutional internationalization, dissemination, quality assurance, and project management. The expertise of European partners from Spain, the Czech Republic, and Romania plays a key role in developing training materials and implementing internationalization measures, while quality assurance is ensured by the involvement of external evaluator Arayik Navoyan (Armenia).
The second session focused on the work packages related to the exploitation and dissemination of results, as well as the management and coordination of the project, including the financial component. Presentations by Dr. Cristina Diaconu, project manager, Oxana Cibotaru, and Valentina Frunze provided a clear view of the implementation mechanisms, operational coordination, and financial framework, underlining the importance of strict compliance with Erasmus+ rules and standards. Institutional responsibilities, communication and dissemination strategies, progress monitoring tools, and key implementation timeline milestones were presented, emphasizing the need for efficient and transparent management to ensure the project’s impact and sustainability.
The Project Governance Council approved key documents, including the coordination structure, the quality assurance strategy, and the activity plan for the first year, reaffirming the firm commitment of all partners.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the Râșcani campus, offering partners a direct view of UTM’s modern infrastructure for education, research, and innovation: Tekwill, FabLab, ZIPHOUSE, Microlab, Agrotek Arena, Green Bio Hub, the Micro-Winemaking Lab, and other representative centers, strengthening UTM’s image as a forward-looking university, open to international collaboration and connected to European innovation ecosystems.
The IRO4ALL project represents a strategic commitment to transforming Moldovan universities into active participants in the European Higher Education Area. Through leadership, cooperation, and shared vision, UTM and its partners demonstrate that true internationalization begins with well-trained people, open institutions, and sustainable partnerships.
