From March 24–27, 2026, the international academic community gathered under the auspices of the RE-GRAD project – an ambitious initiative aimed at modernizing higher education under the strategic coordination of the Technical University of Moldova (UTM). In this context, the UTM implementation team participated in the international workshop hosted by Transilvania University of Brașov, a key event for analyzing progress made in reforming study programs across the region.
This initiative, focused on exchanging best practices and analyzing the interim results of the pilot phase, targeted the direct integration of the principles of the European Green Deal, digitalization, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the university curricula. The meeting facilitated a constructive dialogue among the 12 partners from the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Armenia, France, and Italy, providing the necessary framework to assess how the 8 revised study programs meet the new standards of quality and European relevance.
The official opening, delivered by Prof. Dr. Eng. Simona Lache (UNITBV), emphasized that the relevance of current studies critically depends on alignment with the standards of the European Higher Education Area. In addition, the RE-GRAD project coordinator, Assoc. Prof. Nina Puțuntean, highlighted the current status of implementation, marking the transition toward an educational model based on applied competencies and sustainability. The UTM delegation benefited from the expertise of a multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Cristina Diaconu (project manager), Associate Professor Dr. Vladislav Reșitca (First Vice-Rector), as well as deans and faculty members: Associate Professor Dr. Iurie Subotin, Associate Professor Dr. Marin Guțu, Associate Professor Dr. Mihail Balan, Associate Professor Dr. Ana Cozari, and Ms. Oxana Cibotaru, senior specialist at the International Cooperation Office.
The meeting agenda placed particular emphasis on the results achieved by partners from the Republic of Moldova and Armenia. UTM representatives demonstrated – through the contributions of Mr. Marin Guțu and Mr. Iurie Subotin – demonstrated how the “Mechanical Engineering” and “Wine and Fermented Products Technology” programs have been transformed through the integration of green competencies. Similarly, colleagues from the “Bogdan Petriceicu Hașdeu” State University in Cahul and Armenian partners from YSU and NUACA presented curricula adaptations in fields such as public administration, biology, and geodesy, all oriented toward a sustainable economy.
Beyond academic aspects, discussions focused on progress assessment, policy dialogue, and the structural impact that RE-GRAD is generating at the national level. The presence of Ms. Doina Usaci, representing the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, confirmed the project’s importance as a public policy tool. A major outcome highlighted was the approval of the Concept on the Integration of the SDGs into Higher Education Curricula (Order No. 197/2026), a document which, alongside the update of the National Framework Plan, mandates the inclusion of environmental protection courses in the training of young professionals.
The conclusions of the meeting and the future prospects outlined on the final day of the gathering reaffirmed the project’s sustainability. In addition to study visits to innovative facilities such as the “Solar House,” the consortium laid the groundwork for long-term collaborations by signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs). Under the coordination of Dr. Arayik Navoyan and with the support of the France-Moldova Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by Emmanuel Skoulios, the next step is to validate the programs through consultations with the socio-economic sector, thereby ensuring that the curricula modernization initiated by RE-GRAD will produce specialists prepared for tomorrow’s labor market.
