The largest universities of the country this year will hold the bachelor’s and master’s degree exams online. The students could return to classes after May 15, when the state of emergency is to be lifted.
Contacted by IPN for a comment, rector of the Academy of Economic Studies (ASEM) Grigore Belostecinic said the ASEM is considering two possible scenarios. The examination session and the presentation of the bachelor’s theses in ordinary conditions will be possible if the students return to lectures after May 15. Under the second scenario, the exams will be held online. There is also the alternative of extending the university year for at most two-three weeks and the process of study will thus end in the middle of July. Traditionally, this ends on Juny 25-26.
The rector noted the presentation of theses cannot be annulled. Work on the theses started at the end of last year and wasn’t interrupted in the quarantine period. The students could consult the professors through email. Even if the libraries are closed, the students have access to the online stocks of libraries. A password was earlier needed, but now access to the ASEM’s online library is free. “We will not be so tough as regards the deadlines for the submission of theses. Before the quarantine, the time limit was May 10, but now will be May 20,” stated Grigore Belostecinic.
Asked about the tuition fees, the rector said these will remain unchanged as the learning process continues from a distance. The teaching part is only a component of the activity of a teacher and the Government obliged all the national education institutions to fully pay the salaries to employees, including for the quarantine period. The same is true about dorm charges. The dorms remained open even if some of the students chose to go home.
As to admission, Grigore Belostecinic said a decision hasn’t been yet taken. They will wait for the decision concerning the Baccalaureate exams first. The submission of files for taking part in the admission contest this year could take place online.
Olga Chernetski, first pro-rector, pro-rector for teaching activity at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemițanu” (USMF), said that their University this year will organize graduation exams for presenting the bachelor’s theses only as the legislation allows this. The previous years the examination session included the thesis, a test and an oral exam based on a clinical case. The theses this year will be presented online in all the commissions.
“During six years, our students take a lot of exams and the studying of all the disciplines ends with an exam. Therefore, we can organize the examination of the bachelor’s theses only,” stated Olga Chernetski.
This year, the USMF will have over 900 graduate students, more than 300 of whom are foreign citizens. A part of them are in Moldova, while another part went to their countries of origin, given the epidemiological situation. The thesis will be taken online based on a set schedule and the process is expected to end at the start of June. The large-scale oath taking ceremony will not be held this year.
Olga Chernetski said the students who didn’t live in dorms during the state of emergency, but paid for accommodation will not get the money back as it was decided that the sum will be deducted from the charge for next year. The dorms are open as the students who work take part in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as volunteers and the nurses live there. About 400 students now live in dorms.
Admission to the USMF this year will be based on the decisions of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, but will most probably be held online.
According to the rector of the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) Viorel Bostan, all the bachelor’s thesis tutors of their university since March have had discussions with students and the themes were reviewed where it was necessary. The theses will be taken online in June and they already tested a number of platforms that allow for this. The university’s internal regulations were modified so that this method of exam taking becomes legal.
Viorel Bostan assured that the students were assisted in compiling their theses and those who needed to work in the UTM’s labs were allowed access by strictly maintaining social distancing.
The state exams that are part of the graduation session were already taken, except for two programs of study. Two theoretical exams were taken online in April.
The students who went home for the quarantine period will be refunded the money they paid for accommodation in dorms. As there are students who want to return to dorms to study, the UTM asked for the permission of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research.
The rector noted they are considering the possibility of organizing admission online. They are now working on the instruments needed to ensure this, but it also depends on the Ministry of Education, which has to review its regulations concerning enrollment.
Otilia Dandara, pro-rector for teaching activity at the State University of Moldova, has told IPN that their Senate meets on May 7 to take the decisions regarding the completion of the university year.
