Some 80% of the tuition-free places in colleges and centers of excellence have been filled after the first admission stage. Applicants are invited to compete for the remainder during the second stage, to be held during August 9-12, IPN learned from the Ministry of Education.

The most preferred specialties, with a competition of two applicants per place or more, include Tourism, Programming, Architecture and Medicine. Other popular specialties include Economy and Finance, Transport, and Administrative and Secretariat Services.

Among the most popular institutions are the Information and Communication Technologies Centers of Excellence, the Economy and Finance Centers of Excellence and the Medicine and Pharmacy Centers of Excellence.

According to Silviu Gincu, head of the Ministry’s Vocational Education Department, this year there is an increased interest for vocational education and training, with the number of applications growing. “This is due, among other factors, to constant efforts in recent years to revive and modernize this type of education and to promote its benefits”.

The complete list of places and specialties available in the second admission stage can be found on the Vocational Education Department’s website www.ipt.md.