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Moldova Higher Education Leadership and Management

609656-EPP-1-2019-1-MD-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP2019Capacity Building in higher educationongoing
Countries: MD|DE|RO|UK · Grant: €844,453

Project summary

The need for reform and restructuring of the higher education (HE) system in Moldova is being held back by a lack of leadership and management capacity in the HE sector. To ensure that reform occurs, universities in Moldova need to build the capacity of their managers in relation to governance, strategic planning and management. Managers need to be able to drive through change and cope with the greater complexity that goes with increased size and independence. As part of this reform, leaders and managers need to ensure that their institutions are focused on the needs of the Moldovan economy and society.The project addresses the need for development for university leaders and managers in Moldova through the creation and implementation of a structured leadership and management programme, tailored to the specific needs of higher education institutions in Moldova. It will create structures and materials to support the programme as well as identify and equip dedicated facilitates where the training will take place. Learning will take place through lectures from visiting speakers, action learning sets, national management research projects, and exercises to strengthen professional networks. The project will ensure staff training workshops are developed and executed for the Moldovan university staff responsible for implementing the new programme. To support the ongoing sustainability of the programme, a cross university staff delivery network will be developed.During the life of the project, 208 Moldovan leaders and managers will have been developed through the programme with a demonstrable impact on their capacity to operate the governance, strategic plans and management of HEIs. In the year following the project, it is expected that a minimum of 128 managers will benefit from taking the programme in project institutions and that at least 14 additional Moldovan universities will have adopted the programme, thus enhancing the capacity for reform of HE nationally.

Objectives

The project aims to enhance leadership and management capacities in Moldovan universities through six objectives: 1) Identify and apply best practices from EU partner universities (WP2.1), 2) Create a higher education leadership and management development programme (WP2.1), 3) Train Moldovan university staff (WP2.2 & WP2.3), 4) Establish a sustainable program infrastructure (WP2.1), 5) Pilot and implement the program in Moldova (WP2.2 & WP2.3), and 6) Disseminate program findings globally (WP4).

Background

The Moldovan Higher Education sector faces shifts from state to market-driven economy and depopulation. With institutions gaining autonomy in 2013, reforms are essential. Recent leadership changes renewed commitment to restructuring. However, a lack of training for leaders and managers poses a risk to further reforms. This aims to create a professional leadership cadre, crucial for navigating the evolving higher education landscape in Moldova.

Final report summary

<< Background >> The Moldovan Higher Education sector faces shifts from state to market-driven economy and depopulation. With institutions gaining autonomy in 2013, reforms are essential. Recent leadership changes renewed commitment to restructuring. However, a lack of training for leaders and managers poses a risk to further reforms. This aims to create a professional leadership cadre, crucial for navigating the evolving higher education landscape in Moldova. << Objectives >> The project aims to enhance leadership and management capacities in Moldovan universities through six objectives: 1) Identify and apply best practices from EU partner universities (WP2.1), 2) Create a higher education leadership and management development programme (WP2.1), 3) Train Moldovan university staff (WP2.2 & WP2.3), 4) Establish a sustainable program infrastructure (WP2.1), 5) Pilot and implement the program in Moldova (WP2.2 & WP2.3), and 6) Disseminate program findings globally (WP4). << Implementation >> The project has been implemented during four years ( 15/11/2019- 14/11/2023) << Results >> The main outputs are: the new programme – Leadership and Management Program developed, implemented in each partner university; enhanced proficiency of trained personnel in leadership and management capabilities; established infrastructure to support programme delivery at 7 Moldovan HEIs, Harmonized legislative framework Development Strategy “Education 2030” in IV. Strategic guidelines, general objectives and priority directions for action, Section 9 Good governance for quality education

Project partners (10)