2015-05. Legislative Proposals: Restructuring, Rationalizing, and Modernizing Higher Education Sector in the Republic of Moldova

Description of impact

These legislative proposals put forward a set of policy recommendations for restructuring and modernization of Higher Education (HE) in Moldova. They are based on (1) the analysis of the institutional university autonomy in Moldova; (2) the benchmark analysis of institutional university autonomy in Denmark, Lithuania, Romania, Scotland and Sweden; (3) the on-going analysis of the current situation of institutional university autonomy in Moldova, including the on-going analysis and review of the Code of Education; and (4) the European Commission agenda for the modernization of higher education.

These legislative proposals have been developed by the EUniAM Lead Task Force team: Ala Cotelnic, Vice-Rector Academy of Economic Studies, Angela Niculita, Vice-Rector State University of Moldova, Daniela Pojar, Head of HR and Planning Department Balti State University, Petru Todos, Vice-Rector Technical University of Moldova, Larisa Bugaian, Vice-Rector Technical University of Moldova, and Romeo V. Turcan of Aalborg University.

The output identifies the objectives of the legislative proposals; discusses risks and challenges that HE in Moldova faces today and in the next 10-15 years; identifies expected outcomes; identifies basic principles on which the process will be founded; proposes a new structure for the HE sector; offers an example of a rationalization process, incl., a road map, recommending that there should be 7 universities in Moldova: 3 regional universities and 4 universities in Chisinau (capital); following the principle of clear demarcation between state regulation and institutional university autonomy, specifies universities powers and responsibilities; suggests a distinct separation between governance and management; suggests teaching and research funding formulae based on inputs and outputs; and outlines a new National Qualifications Framework.

The urgency of the situation in HE in Moldova dictates that the restructuring and modernisation process should commence in 2015. The road map put forward in the report identifies key activities, milestones as well as key outputs in relation to the rationalization process, integration and modernization processes. It suggests a 3-4 year implementation plan, in three periods: (1) preparing rationalization (max 9 months), (2) implementing rationalization (max 12 months) and (3) integrating and modernising (24-30 months).

It is expected inter alia that the restructuring, rationalization and modernization of the higher education sector will produce larger, stronger public universities, which will provide a basis for more multi and interdisciplinary learning and teaching in all cycles; strengthen regional and national links with employers; reinvigorate public universities with effective, new governance and management structures committed to relevant student centred education; and ensure fuller more cost effective utilisation of capital resources releasing funds for learning and teaching, research and knowledge transfer.

Impact date	May 2015
Category of impact	Public policy impact, Economic impact, Social impact
Impact level	Adoption