An Engineering College could be opened in Straseni town this autumn. A project to this effect was initiated two years ago by the German company “Draexlmaier”, which is one of the foreign companies investing in the Free Economic Zone Balti. According to the zone’s main administrator Marin Ciobanu, this partnership derived from the need to train engineers who will afterward work within the zone.

In a news conference at IPN, Marin Ciobanu said that to found the College, the German side provides a grant of €1.6 million. There are now 46 colleges in the country, but these are not outfitted appropriately. “Therefore, two years ago we initiated the foundation of an Engineering College in Straseni. We hope that it will start work this autumn. The college was created based on a partnership between the business community and the college as an institution,” he said.

The administrator also said that “Draexlmaier” initiated a number of partnerships of the kind during the last few years. One of these is the partnership with the Balti-based Professional School No. 5. “Here the students are taught by the German model by trainees of the company. The curriculum was adjusted to the market requirements and the needs of “Draexlmaier,” stated Marin Ciobanu.

According to him, the worst situation in vocational education in Moldova is witnessed at the level of middle management. “Operative and functional managers – technicians, production, logistics and shift chiefs. We lack such specialists,” stated Marin Ciobanu.

Another partnership launched by the German company is that with the Balti-based State University “Alecu Russo”, where a new specialty was created – transport engineering and management. “Earlier, all the young people applied to study law. Now transport engineering and management is the most popular specialty. Before enrolling at this department, the young people go on a trip to “Draexlmaier” to see the possibilities,” stated Marin Ciobanu.

He noted that the German concern invested a lot in the university and equipped it with computers. The company also pays professors from Germany to come and teach the students. Furthermore, 16 young people get a monthly scholarship of €100.