Moldovan students and researchers who studied, are studying and will yet study in Germany gathered together in Chisinau on October 11 to discuss the opportunities of returning to Moldova after staying in Germany, IPN reports.
In the meeting “Facilitation of professional reintegration of highly qualified graduates of German universities and education programs, native of the Republic of Moldova”, Thomas Weithoner, head of the economic section of the Embassy of Germany in Chisinau, expressed his support for such events. “It is a wonderful event for the country and for you personally because you invested so much in your experience and now should be able to reap the benefits and have clear prospects here, at home,” he stated.
Sophia Bellman, lecturer for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), said that Moldova annually receives 40 scholarships from the DAAD. Afterward, those who finish the studies in Germany can return home through the Returning Experts Program that is implemented by the Center for International Migration and Development of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Project manager Laura Cioclea said that besides assistance in the form of consultancy, information and access to a network of professional contacts, the program also offers financial support covering the transport expenses, a bonus to the salary of €500-1,000 for 24 months with the possibility of extending the period for another 12 months, financing of the participation in professional conferences and up to €1,000 for outfitting the workplace in Moldova. Fifteen Moldovans have benefitted from the program since its opening in 2011.
“Nobody can promote European values better than those who experienced them. We experienced them, saw how the democratic states work and how well the human rights and freedoms are respected. That’s why we support such events so that those who returned to Moldova could remain here and could promote these European values,” said Natalia Corobca, the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She added that the foundation supports and finances also information and experience exchange and has a program of scholarships for students with good academic standing in Moldova.
“We will repeat such events so as to make sure that our students from abroad, especially from Germany, have interesting opportunities to return home and use the experience and knowledge they gained abroad,” said the head of the Bureau for Diaspora Relations Victor Lutenco.
Dorin Toma, senior EBRD consultant, said the young specialists, including those who studied abroad, can benefit from internships at state institutions through the platform stagii.gov.md. The number of available internship places will soon rise as the state institutions will be obliged to allocate 10% of the workplaces for internships.
The meeting “Facilitation of professional reintegration of highly qualified graduates of German universities and education programs, native of the Republic of Moldova” was organized by the Bureau for Diaspora Relations in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
