Higher education plays an essential role in the genuine economic development of a state, while Moldova faces difficulties in this respect. The situation in which the higher education sector is now shows that restructuring and modernization is needed immediately so as to make the faculties more attractive and efficient, considers British professor John Reilly, expert within the project “Enhancing University Autonomy in Moldova” (EUniAM) of the EU’s TEMPUS program.

In a news conference at IPN, John Reilly said statistics show that the number of students in Moldova’s education institutions is declining. Since 2009, it decreased by 25% due to demographic factors and also to the fact that many young people decide to study abroad. Currently, only one fifth of the university graduates in Moldova manage to find employment immediately after graduation. The employment-related difficulties are due to the lack of cooperation between the education institutions and the business community. The academic sector must develop in close connection with the business sector so as to adjust the university curriculum to the market demand.

John Reilly noted that the high quality of studies can be ensured only by developing the autonomy of education institutions. The restructuring implies the reduction in the number of universities and the creation of more powerful and larger institutions. These merged institutions would include all the cycles of higher education and this will facilitate the learning process and will improve connection with the labor world.

The British professor also said that resistance to change is felt in Moldova, as in other states, but changes are imperative in the current circumstances. The merger of institutions will allow liquidating the improper doubling of disciplines. The changes will also contribute to the more efficient use of the infrastructure in the field, which now generates costs.

“Enhancing University Autonomy in Moldova” (EUniAM) is a project of structural measures that aims to contribute to developing and strengthening the education institutions and systems in Moldova. Its goal is to enhance university autonomy by the amendment of normative acts.