Students of the Hâncești vocational school and the Strășeni Engineering College are trained based on the dual education system owing to cooperation with Germany. The close cooperation between educational institutions and companies offers the students the possibility of acquiring knowledge and basic skills at school and practical experience at companies in Moldova and Germany, IPN reports.
Starting with 2014, the Hâncești vocational school has implemented the dual education system in the Seamstress (clothing) program, while since 2019 – in the Baker program. It also initiated dual education at the Rusca Penitentiary. Currently, 50 students of the school and 50 convicts of the Rusca Penitentiary study based on the dual program.
Ludmila Petrușan, director of the Hâncești vocational school, said that besides dual education, Germany also invested in the professional training of teachers. Internal and external bins for collecting plastic and paper waste separately were set up in the institution. “We also benefitted from Germany’s support in the form of IT equipment, including interactive boards, laptops, multifunctional printers. The support for the dialogue between the institution and the business community is the most important aspect as our cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova creates a legal framework for business entities to become involved in the training of students through dual education. In the case of bakers, the employment rate is 61%, while in the case of empresses, it is 64%. We assume responsibility for the development and sustainability of the investments offered by the Government of Germany,” stated Ludmila Petrușan.
Owing to the cooperation with Germany, students of the Strășeni Engineering College take part in mobility programs. The College, in partnership with the German group of companies “OKW”, offers the students the possibility of taking part in a dual program with six-month internships in Germany, with a scholarship of €800 and team building events.
Director of the Strășeni Engineering College Gabriela Frunză noted that their college provides two dual programs: Mechatronics, for Baccalaureate diploma holders, and Industrial Tools and Accessories, for graduates of vocational schools or secondary schools. Both of the programs of study last for two years and were proposed following a great demand from companies resigning in the Balti Free Economic Zone, being designed with the support of 17 partner companies.
“It is very important to develop dual education. The teachers also contributed to developing the legal framework for dual education in the Republic of Moldova, while during the pandemic they taught courses for students online. These courses and the digital materials can be also used in other schools. We hope to have fruitful cooperation in the future,” said Claudia Hermes, GIZ Moldova Country Director.
Germany’s Ambassador in Chisinau Margret Uebber said that there are many foreign investors in Strășeni. “This is very important for us as in Germany, the small and medium-sized companies in particular are the basis of the economy. German cooperation here centers on the investments that come. Many investors come to Moldova, large companies, including with the assistance of GIZ and KfW, which offer support to ODA (Organization for Entrepreneurship Development, e.n.). We implement projects all over the country, not only in Chisinau. We have projects also in Gagauzia and even in the Transnistrian region. The Moldovan side shows increased interest in such projects and we are glad that we have reliable partners in this regard,” stated the diplomat.
The cooperation between the Federal Government and the Republic of Moldova in the field of development policies was initiated in 1993.
