The bill with amendments to the Education Law, which is examined by the parliamentary commissions, provides for the exclusion of doctoral studies from the higher research education. There will be two types of doctoral schools: scientific and professional. They will form part of the higher education, IPN reports.

According to Minister of Education Maia Sandu, the institution of the third cycle in university education will strengthen the research capacity at university level. “We plead for the transparent use of the funds allocated for developing research so that everyone can access these funds, depending on the quality of the presented projects,” the minister said in the hearings held by the parliamentary commission on education.

Rector of the Technical University of Moldova Ion Bostan said that the quality of scientific research will worsen if the doctoral education is included in the university system. We should not transform the research into business. The private education institutions will also soon issue diplomas,” said the rector. Ion Bostan considers that education cannot be considered competitive if it’s not based on research.

Deputy Minister of Education Loretta Handrabura said the title of doctor will be confirmed not by the universities, but by the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation. She gave as example the experience of other European states, where a similar mechanism is implemented, and the results show that the activity is transparent.

The bill to amend the Education Law was approved by the Government and is to be passed by Parliament.