Students of nine Moldovan universities studying at the faculties of applied and economic sciences will be able to access online the courses they have in the program of study from anywhere and whenever they want. It is a new project implemented by a number of EU universities in partnership with nine universities of Moldova. The project was launched at the Technical University of Moldova on December 8, Info-Prim Neo reports. Project coordinator Petru Todos, first pro-rector of the Technical University, said the project envisions the creation of a thematic university network in applied and economic sciences. “The aim is to promote e-learning as a method for renovating higher education and testing if the e-learning method meets the requirements in engineering and economic sciences,” he said. Within the project, there will be created an interuniversity network with a modernized infrastructure able to efficiently support modern e-learning platforms, and a technological center outfitted with computers, audio and video equipment and modern software for working out efficient and attractive online courses for students. The project will be implemented at the Technical University, the State University, the Academy of Economic Studies, the State Agrarian University, the State University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, the Cooperatist Commercial University, the Balti-based State University, the Cahul-based State University, and the Comrat-based State University. Technical University rector Ion Bostan said the project introduces new elements common in EU member stated in the higher education system of Moldova. According to him, this project will contribute to increasing the quality of the teaching and learning process. The project will last for three years, until October 2014. Nadejda Velishko, head of the Education Ministry’s Higher Education Division, about 6,000 students will have access to the university network. In the future, the project may be extended to cover other areas. The teachers will be trained to devise and implement online courses. The project’s partners in the EU are the French universities Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes I and Rennes II, the University of Gand in Belgium, Santiago de Compostella (Lugo) in Spain, and the university Pisa in Italy. At local level, the partners are the Technical University, the Education Ministry, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and SRL Endava.