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1Proj
ect n
umbe
r: 5
3053
7-TE
MPU
S-1-
2012
-1-D
E-TE
MPU
S-SM
GR
Newsletter No. 2
3
About the ProjeCt 4 - 5
ProjeCt MANAgeMeNt 6 – 8
Study ViSit of QuAeM CoNSortiuM PArtNerS to giroNA 9
WorkShoP iN LeiPzig 10
MSu MAkeS ANother SteP toWArdS deVeLoPiNg QuALity of higher eduCAtioN 11
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN 13 - 17
MiNiStry of eduCAtioN: refLeCtioNS 20 - 21
CoNSortiuM MeetiNg ANd trAiNiNg At roSkiLde uNiVerSity 18
ProjeCt QuALity ASSurANCe iN QuAeM 19
CoNteNtS
4
development of Quality Assurancein higher education in Moldova
QuAeM
Project number:
530537-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-DE-TEMPUS-SMGR
budget:
€ 939,727.07
Project description:
In view of the prevailing situation in Moldovan higher education (HE) as
well as the high priority placed on quality assurance (QA) in HE in Europe,
the project is aimed at making the existing QA structures at Moldovan HE
institutions functional, integrating QA into the strategic development of
the universities and supporting Moldova to develop its own QA system on
all levels up to the international accreditation of pilot study programmes
in accordance with EU standards. Its target groups are the management,
teaching staff, administration staff and students from 27 state and private
Moldovan HE institutions as well as representatives of two Moldovan state
ministries responsible for the quality and accreditation in the area covered by
the six HE institutions belonging to the Consortium.
Project goal:
The goal of the project is making quality assurance at Moldovan higher
education institutions functional and conducive to strategy development at the
universities.
objectives:
Make the internal quality assurance offices of the Moldovan higher
education institutions functional
Empower students to participate in quality assurance, foster quality
culture on level of students and staff
Establish a functional dialogue between quality management structures
and academic staff in order to complete the quality assurance cycle
Empower quality assurance offices to conduct self-evaluation and prepare
accreditation process
Conduct international accreditation process of three study programmes
Capacity building at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health,
including groundwork, a pool of experts and documentation for the
activity of the Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation of the Republic of
Moldova
About the ProjeCt
5
results: Quality assurance offices, academic staff and students from 27 Moldovan HEIs
trained in QA
QA peer networks established at national level
Six HEIs (members of the Consortium) evaluated
Strategies for six HEIs developed
Three pilot study programmes prepared for internal accreditation
Capacity building at the Moldovan Ministry of Education for evaluation and
accreditation of study programmes
Website on quality assurance in Moldova
Statement by the Project Coordinator – university of Leipzig
This project investigates and supports the development of a QA system in HE
institutions of the Republic of Moldova under the conditions of a transition
society and the involvement of a large number of exogenous actors in this
process. A study on the needs analysis conducted in January 2011 has
demonstrated that the newly established quality management structures at
the Moldovan universities are not functional because of the lack of training
of the staff involved, the low profile of students in QA, the low level of
communication between the QA structures and the academic staff involved,
the missing link between quality assurance and HE institutions’ strategy
development and the lack of a body that brings QA activities together and
helps to implement common standards in the Republic of Moldova.
The project addresses all these challenges through (i) a series of trainings
for all the actors involved in the quality cycle (quality management officers,
deans, professors, students, universities’ central administration) that are
tailored to the specific needs in Moldova, (ii) the creation of peer networks
for all the actors’ groups, (iii) the internal evaluation and the international
accreditation of three pilot study programmes, (iv) the creation of a pool
of experts (professors and students trained and actively involved in the
process of international accreditation of the selected study programmes)
for the future accreditation body of Moldova and (iv) the link between quality
assurance, internationalization and strategy development of HE institutions.
Apart from its pragmatic goals—to make the existing QA structures in
Moldova functional and to prepare the accredited study programmes for
participation in joint and double degree programmes within Erasmus for All
starting in 2014—the project aims at the scientific assessment of this process
in the broader context of HE institutions’ transformation and the current
debates on QA worldwide. In the meantime the University of Leipzig regards
this project as a joint and mutually beneficial learning process for all the
partners involved.
About the ProjeCt
6
ProjeCt MANAgeMeNt
The management of our project is based on the intensive
cooperation with the work package leaders, steering
committee meetings and short planning meetings as well as
annual field monitoring in Moldova.
All these instruments proved to be efficient for planning and
implementing the project’s activities. A special emphasis
should be put here on the active role of the steering
committee which met regularly in the following of each of
the project’s activities, such as the site visit in Roskilde in
November 2013, the workshop on accreditation in Leipzig in
February 2014, the seminar on EU experiences in self and external evaluation in
April 2014 in Bucharest. All these meetings had not only a planning character,
but helped to better identify the specific needs in Moldova and to tailor the
project’s activities to the current situation.
The monitoring meetings which took place in April 2013 and April 2014 helped
to estimate the impact of the project’s activities both at the Consortium’s
universities and on the national level.
2013 field monitoring
The 2013 field monitoring revealed a high satisfaction of partners with the
project. All the foreseen activities have been implemented, the partners
involved were highly motivated, and the political situation seemed to be
favorable to the implementation of the project. Consequently the expectations
towards the Consortium were increasing.
The Ministry of Education had developed an organic law on the establishment of
an Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Moldova and had asked the
QUAEM consortium to render an expert opinion on it. The plan of the Ministry
was to have this law adopted by the end of 2013 at latest and to start to develop
the necessary basis for the activity of the agency.
As a response to this request the project’s management organized the expertise
through the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders, which
has comparable approaches with the ones in Moldova (system oriented, small
country and rich experience in its work with HEI), is very much involved in
policy discussions and has all the documentation in English. In the meantime
the training in Moldova offered the possibility to collect and discuss opinions
from all the members of the consortium (for instance from AQAS) not only on
the legal framework for the functioning of the agency, but also on the ways we
can/should contribute within our project to the activity of the agency (pool of
experts, pool of students representatives, documentation, experience through
the accreditation of the three selected study programmes, etc.).
Also at the level of universities the main expectations were related to
accreditation of the selected study programmes. Due to the lack of a national
body for accreditation for such a long time many universities are under an
enormous time pressure (graduates from study programmes that are not
accredited cannot work outside the country as their diplomas cannot be
recognized, students that cannot follow their mobility tracks because their
credits are not accepted by other universities, etc.). Some universities are about
to organize the accreditation of their strategically important study programmes
outside the country (in most cases by the Romanian Accreditation Agency)
and are very much interested, that the future national agency for QA and
Accreditation will recognize the respective accreditation certificates.
7
ProjeCt MANAgeMeNt
A new and very important development in Moldova concerns the research.
The new law stipulates that higher PhD education will take place within PhD
schools, which can be organized within higher education institutions and
the institutions from the research and innovation fields, as well as within
university consortia, in accordance with the legislation in force. This changes
the relations of power between the Academy of Sciences (which used to
have the monopole over research and PhD education in Moldova) and the
universities. Accordingly there is an increasing interest that the research is
covered as an area in Quality Assurance.
The meeting with students’ representatives revealed a high interest of
students to be actively involved at all levels (institutional for the internal audit
and the preparation for accreditation, national for the creation of students
pool of experts and international for the recruitment of the most active ones
in the ESU pool of experts). In the meantime students expressed the wish to
engage in a more active dialogue with ESU.
2014 field monitoring
The objectives of this monitoring were (i) to familiarize the project
management with the structure of the QA system at the Moldovan partner
universities; (ii) to get an update on the preparation of self-evaluation reports
for the international accreditation; (iii) to verify the arrival and project-
conform use of the technical equipment purchased within the framework
of the project; (iv) to get feedback from the partner universities where they
see priorities within the remaining activities of the project and (v) to get
feedback on the state of the implementation of the Moldovan QA agency
and the perspective for the remaining 15 study programmes to undergo an
international, bi-national or national accreditation.
With regard to the QA system of the Moldovan partner universities it could
be noticed that all partner universities have a centralized structure (Vice-
Rector for QA and a QA manager) as well as QA “Methodists” at the level of
faculties (TSU only has a centralized structure). The Ministry of Education
provides a framework for QA activities through regulations and guidelines.
The QA structures see the implementation of these regulations as one of
their foremost tasks. In this sense, the primary focus of QA activities lies
on ensuring compliance and thus follows a control paradigm. The focus of
QA activities lies on assuring the qualifications of the teaching staff and the
quality of study programmes.
As for the preparation of self-evaluation reports for the international
accreditation all partner HEIs (with the exception of State Medical and
Pharmaceutical University) have begun working on the preparation of their
self-evaluation reports, both for the four study programmes that were
selected for international accreditation, as well as for the applications that
could not have been selected in the first round. As long as it is unclear
according to what model the remaining study programmes will be accredited,
the State Medical and Pharmaceutical University does not see the finality of
investing time and resources in developing self-evaluation reports.
The feedback regarding the accreditation methodology and the guidelines for
the preparation of the self-evaluation reports brought to light challenges with
regard to the formulation of intended qualification goals of study programmes
as well as the need for further clarifications with regard to the statistics to be
used. Both aspects have been addressed during the seminar in Bucharest and
detailed answers to all the related questions as well as samples for specific
documents have been made available to the consortium’s universities.
8
As for the technical equipment purchased within the project at all universities
the equipment is being used not only for the activities of the QA offices, but
primarily to improve the quality of teaching. While this is good insofar that it
maximizes the equipment’s usefulness, the universities need to ensure that
the QA staff have unconstrained access.
With regard to the priorities within the remaining activities the partner
universities seem to be highly interested in exploring the link between QA and
strategy development. The clear priority is, however, to move forward with the
accreditation of study programmes.
future prospects
The project’s management is now about to prepare the work package ”From
Quality Assurance to Strategy Development“ and to coodinate the respective
activities with the recently aproved bilateral follow-up project between
AQAS and the Ministry of Education of Moldova. The new project aims at
the international accreditation of the study programmes that could not be
selected in the first round of our project as well as capacity building for the
newly launched Moldovan Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation.
ProjeCt MANAgeMeNt
Dr. Victoria Reinhardt
QUAEM project manager
9
From 21-24 October 2013, the QUAEM participants traveled to Girona for
a site visit to Agency for Assurance of Quality Catalonia (AQU Catalonia) in
Barcelona and the final Quality Assurance training. The event was organized
by AQU Catalonia and the University of Girona (UdG) as part of the first
QUAEM work package.
Representatives from all Moldovan public universities and the Moldovan
Ministry of Education met their European counterparts from Austria,
Denmark, Germany and Spain to prepare further cornerstones needed
in order to set up the Moldovan Agency for Quality Assurance. Different
topics were discussed, for instance the preparation of possible systemic
recommendations for the Moldovan Higher Education institutions on QA
for new degree programmes. The representatives from the host institution
presented their experience related to the implementation of the QA system in
Spain and Catalonia and its functioning on different levels using the concrete
examples of AQU Catalonia and UdG.
Study ViSit of QuAeM CoNSortiuM PArtNerS to giroNA
10
“Study Programmes Accreditationas external Quality Assurance”
On 4-5 February 2014, the workshop ”Study Programmes Accreditation as
External Quality Assurance“ took place at the Centre for Area Studies of the
University of Leipzig. The focus of this Tempus QUAEM workshop were the
details of the upcoming accreditation procedures at the universities of the
Republic of Moldova. Together with the AQAS consultants, the university
representatives discussed the criteria that will be used for the accreditation
procedures. Since those will be in accordance with the European Standards
and Guidelines, it proved important to discuss the understandings of the
criteria and also outline potential needs for adaption in the Moldovan system.
Furthermore, the workshop was helpful in outlining the different perspectives
on the impacts and outcomes of an accreditation from the perspective of
a university undergoing the procedure and an external quality assurance
agency. It became clear that, besides the intended outcomes, an accreditation
procedure also has several unintended side effects arising through the
required self-assessment of the programme under review.
Considering the current establishment of a Moldovan accreditation agency,
the workshop was also used to provide information of the structures of AQAS
as an example of an external quality assurance agency following European
standards. Besides the need for transparency and independent decision
making processes, the general role of an agency in the procedure was
discussed.
WorkShoP iN LeiPzig
11
The State University of Moldova, jointly with the other public universities from
Moldova and consortium members of the Tempus project “Development of
Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Moldova” (QUAEM), enterprise new
actions for ensure the quality of higher education and services rendered.
The MSU team participated in two site visits in the fall of 2013, one at the
University of Girona (UdG) and one at the University of Roskilde (RUC).
From October 21-24, 2013, Dr. Otilia Dandara (Deputy Rector for Didactic
Activity), Dr. Liliana Rotaru (Chief of the Quality Management, Evaluation
and Curriculum Development Department), Dr. Igor Verlan (Chief of the
Studies Department), and Victoria Buffalo (student) participated in the final
QA training at UdG in Spain. The MSU delegation, together with the other
members of the consortium, visited the Agency for Assurance of Quality
Catalonia and took the experience of the agency from Barcelona to identify
important elements regarding the structure of an agency, accreditation
procedure, working methods, etc. During the visit, the MSU delegation
also presented the results of the simulation exercise of external evaluation
which they conducted together with State University ”B. P. Hasdeu” from
Cahul (SUC). Based on the results of the exercise, the universities from the
consortium elaborated systemic recommendations for developing new study
programmes (the design and their approval mechanism) at higher education
institutions from Moldova.
From 28-30 November, 2013, Dr. Liliana Rotaru, Dr. Galina Ulian (Dean of
the Economics Science Faculty), Dr. Ion Gumenai (Dean of the History and
Philosophy Faculty), and Dr. Ludmila Novac (Deputy Chief of the Quality
Management Department) attended the workshop “EU Experience in Self
and External Evaluation” held at the RUC in Denmark. The consortium
members were informed about the quality assurance system of RUC and the
accreditation processes in higher education in Denmark. From the Danish
experience, the QUAEM participants could identify elements that could be
taken into account for the development of the Moldovan Accreditation Agency.
MSu MAkeS ANother SteP toWArdS deVeLoPiNg QuALity of higher eduCAtioN
12
State University in Cahul visits Moldova State University
On 4 October 2013, the observation team from the State University in Cahul
(SUC), composed of Dr. Ion Certan (Associate Professor, Vice Rector for
Quality and Didactic Activity, and President), Dr. Ion Şişcanu (Professor), Yulia
Vicol (Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Informatics, and Mathematics), and
Valentina Bozbei (Quality Officer and secretary) visited Moldova State University
(MSU) for an evaluation of the study programme Finance and Banking (I cycle
Bachelor) as part of the QUAEM evaluation simulation exercise. According to
the QUAEM stipulations, the goals of the observation team were to evaluate
the department’s capacity concerning the implementation of the study
programme, to assess the processes of internal quality assurance, to observe
the institutional mechanisms of decision making, and to assess the degree of
public information regarding the elaboration of new study programmes.
After an studying the ex ante-evaluation dossier of the study programme,
describing the educational process, the didactic staff, the scientific activity,
the students, the material resources, the quality management, and the
continuous improvement, we found that the programme is provided with the
technical and material resources for training the future specialists: seminars
and applied activities, classrooms equipped with appropriate furniture,
modern computers, all being the property of the university. There are courses
available online and lecture notes and summaries exist for different courses.
Another modern support for the teaching and learning processes is the
Moodle platform, which is already used by the teachers of the university
alongside printed courses. The make-up of the didactic staff with more than
58% holders of scientific degrees corresponds with the programme’s goals.
A relevant element of the democratization of educational process is the
involvement of students in the decision-making process of the university, an
important principle stated in regulatory documents of the Bologna Process. At
MSU, the students are involved in decision making process as members of the
senate and faculty council. They participate in the organization of surveys on
the evaluation of the quality of the taught courses. The results of the surveys
are analyzed at all levels of management. Depending on the views expressed,
corresponding decisions are made and the administration looks for solutions
to improve the quality.
MSU ensures the free access of students to the departments’ curricula, the
plans and programmes of study, and the decisions of the senate. In order to
inform the public about the development of new programmes, the members of
the departments offer consultations and place the information on the website of
the university. Additionally, students could participate actively in developing of
new programmes of study and/or improve ongoing programmes of study.
Some suggestions could be offered from the SUC team, who felt that it would
be better if the curricula clearly defined the methods and forms of formative
and summative assessment (evaluation through written/oral exams, practical
tasks, reports, projects/theses, portfolio, etc.). The MSU programme will
include information about educational policy and development strategy of the
university/faculty/department within the general and specific competences,
the correlation between theory and applications/internships, and reflect how
to ensure and monitor the student’s individual work training.
Finally, we would like to mention that the work of team members participating
in the observation was pleasant and helpful.
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
13
State University for Medicine and Pharmacy visits Tiraspol State University
In the context of the evaluation simulation exercise, the QUAEM team from the
State University for Medicine and Pharmacy (SUMPh) visited Tiraspol State
University (TSU). SUMPh’s team was comprised of Lilian Şaptefraţi (Chairman,
Associate Professor and Head of Didactic Division), Olga Tagadiuc (Secretary,
Associate Professor, and Head of Division of Doctoral and Master Studies), Mircea
Bețiu (Associate Professor, and Dean of Faculty of Medicine no. 2), Adauji Stela
(Associate Professor, and QA Officer), and Junco Victor (Student).
The team examined both the self-evaluation report of TSU and the dossier
submitted for evaluation. During the visit and the discussions, additional
information was collected regarding the way in which a new study programme
is currently approved at TSU, the actors involved in the process of initiation and
development of new programmes, the reasons of initiating new programmes and
the contribution of labor market at this stage, and the forms of internal self-
evaluation applied in the period between accreditations and in periods with a lack
of legal framework for academic evaluation and accreditation.
Our analysis of the regulation of the Quality Management System (QMS) of TSU
demonstrated that the attributions and responsibilities are delimited at various
levels of the TSU structure, that certain competence limits are established at each
hierarchical level, and that there is a fruitful cooperation among the managerial
structures of the university and the created structure of the QMS.
The individual contribution of each employee is periodically assessed at TSU in
order to ensure that the whole staff is involved in and responsible for the quality
assurance process. The main actions and institutional processes are permanently
identified and analyzed in order to determine those which are useful to the
increase of the quality of training processes and scientific activities results.
TSU has internal mechanisms which ensure that new programmes have clear
goals and strengthen the connection between the title of the programmes and
their content or their place in the Qualification National Framework.
The arguments included in the examined dossier contained compelling
justifications in the favor of launching new programmes. It is worth mentioning
that the new programmes proposed claim to contribute to the training
of specialists in the fields declared as national priority, for instance, the
implementation of geo-informational systems, environment protection, and the
promotion of general human values in the conditions of globalization.
The explanatory note describes the premises of development and the necessity
of implementing the programmes. It also lists the normative acts approved at
the national and international levels in which there are stipulated feasible goals
through training specialists in relevant fields, and, finally, confirms the fact that
the educational process is based on the implementation of modern teaching
technologies.
The programmes attached to the dossier demonstrate the tendency of the
organization to focus on competences in teachers’ training. The information on
the access and admission to the program is clear, adequate, and transparent,
and is also placed on the university web page. Additionally, the program clearly
explains the way in which the students are to be evaluated and there are clear
regulations on the organization and implementation of practical internships.
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
14
The way in which the process of obtaining results in teaching is ensured
is described in the analytical programmes of the disciplines. These
programmes also stipulate the number of contact and individual hours, the
methods of study (full time, part time, distance learning, online), the forms
of organisation of teaching-learning-evaluation activities, bibliographical
references for the course, etc.
The university employees are encouraged to participate in meetings with
representatives of the labour market in educational institutions and district
education departments, with alumni of lyceums and representatives of
various professional sectors and fields in which the alumni of TSU could
play an important role, with the aim to identify the necessities of both
the employees and future students. Therefore, the SUMPh team came to
identify the necessity of launching the Master’s Programme in Educational
Management for various education levels.
In conclusion, we can assert that the simulation exercise was useful for the
participants because the discussions allowed identifying the methodology
and tools applied by the institutions for the quality assurance in education
process.
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
15
The experience of Tiraspol State University at SUMPh
In August and September 2013, the TSU team conducted a detailed analysis
of the process of initiating new master’s degree programmes in compliance
with the present legislative framework in the Republic of Moldova. This
exercise was part of the QUAEM project with the purpose of involving partner
institutions in a number of activities simulating the process of evaluation
and self-evaluation of the effectiveness of the quality management systems
functioning in universities. After studying the official documents and the
mechanisms of quality assurance in place, the TSU team was allowed to dive
into the role of experts and evaluators of the processes of implementing new
programmes at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (SUMPh), which
distinguishes itself by the fact that it is under double subordination—academic
and administrative—from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
The main goals of the TSU team—consisting of Larisa Sali (Project Manager)
and Valeriu Bordan (Vice Rector, responsible for QA at TSU, Assistant Professor
at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and IT), Eugenia Chiriac (Assistant
Professor and Chair of the Plant Biology Department), and Lora Moşanu-Şupac
(Vice Rector, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Biology and Chemistry)—
were to assess the process of introducing new master’s programmes at
SUMPh in order to highlight best practices and to improve the methodology of
development, approval and conducting master’s programmes; and to review the
self-assessment report of SUMPh and the folder submitted for evaluation. For
this, we worked with different institutions at the Department of Biochemistry
and Clinical Biochemistry, the Scientific Seminar of Medico-Biological profile,
the Methodical Commission and the Scientific Council at SUMPh.
SUMPh offered us for examination the set of documents for a recently
authorized master’s programme, which pertains to training teachers out of
medical graduates for activities at SUMPh or other educational institutions
in the field. Additional information collected by our team was the reason of
initiation of new master programme, data on the staff and other stakeholders
who are involved in the process of starting and developing new programmes,
and the manner of drafting and approving programmes at SUMPh.
We have identified that this programme compensates the previous lack
of preparation in Medical Biochemistry at the second level and, learned
that, through this programme, SUMPh is planning the improvement of the
psychological skills of students which are required for effective doctor-patient
communication.
We discovered similar processes of ensuring the quality of documents
assessment as in TSU, where we are at a stage of establishing special
organizational structures for quality assurance of the educational process, but
do not have sufficient internal levers to supervise this process. The discussions
have identified the methodology and tools used by the universities to ensure
quality of education. The TSU team found out the algorithm of approving
programmes of study where the institution is subject to double subordination
of the Ministries of Health and Education. The advantages and disadvantages of
this hierarchy were highlighted.
Overall, the simulation exercise was useful to the participants. We collected
information and impressions for good and interesting discussions at the Girona
seminar.
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
16
Observation mission conducted at Technical University of Moldova by the evaluation QUAEM team from Alecu Russo Balti State University
On 20 September 2014, the evaluation team from Alecu Russo Balti State
University (USB) traveled to the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) to
conduct the evaluation exercise of the study programme “Design and Product
Development” at the Faculty of Textile Industry. It was a new experience
for us, being for the first time involved in simulations of this kind, focusing
on requirements, trajectories and design modeling of the QUAEM project
consortium and, in particular, by partners of international rating agencies.
The observation mission had the following objectives: visiting TUM’s Faculty
of Textile Industry where the training of the master’s programme “Design and
Product Development” takes place, and acquainting ourselves with the features
of the studying process and documentation based on the preliminary study of
the dossier for authorization of the curriculum. We also wanted to acquaint
ourselves with the processes of initiation, elaboration, and authorization of the
study programmes at TUM, prepare a team of experts in quality assurance field
at national level, and, finally, the help prepare for international accreditation of
the study programme “Design and Product Development”.
The observation mission started with the preliminary preparation of USB’s
QUAEM team. We analyzed the self-evaluation dossier provided by TUM’s
Faculty of Textile Industry, we studied appendices, and we researched
documents on the TUM website.
Afterwards, during the visit to TUM, we discussed with Prof. Petru Todos
(first rector of TUM), Dr. Andrei Chiciuc (Head of the Quality Management
Department and Associate Professor), Dr. Valentina Bulgaru (Dean of the
Faculty of Textile Industry and Associate Professor), Dr. Stela Balan (Head of
the Department for “Modeling of Fabrics and Knitted Garments” and Associate
Professor), Dr. Angela Scripcenco (Head of the Department for “Technology of
Fabrics and Knitted Garments” and Associate Professor), Dr. Marina Malcoci
(Head of the Department for “Modelling and Leather Clothing Technology” and
Associate Professor), Dr. Natalia Pochidico (second year-student at the Faculty
of Textile, gr. DDP-121M, cycle II, “Design and Product Development”). We also
visited the departments, the Experimental Laboratory of Design and Product
Development, and we discussed with teachers holding the second cycle courses
in the master’s programme “Design and Product Development”.
We thus became familiar with teaching materials, infrastructure, database,
frameworks from the Faculty of Textile Industry and of TUM, we analyzed
the authorization procedures of the study programme “Design and Product
Development”, and checked if it fits with the regulations in force.
The observation mission allowed us to conclude that the study programme
“Design and Product Development” is authorized and is conducted in
accordance with the regulations in force, and that the conditions at TUM (study
spaces, laboratories, workshops, library, canteen, etc.) are appropriate and
correspond to the sanitary-hygienic and technical regulations. Additionally, we
found that the curriculum of the subjects is elaborated, is reviewed periodically,
taking into account the market demands and scientific and technical progress
in the field. The didactic-methodical support for the subjects of the master’s
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
17
programme is developed, reviewed, and completed annually. The results of
the analyzed study programme can be pursued in master’s theses that are
produced in correspondence with all the requirements.
We conclude that the observation mission conducted at TUM by the evaluation
QUAEM team from USB allowed us to get an overview of the self-evaluation
process of the study programmes, and the report prepared by the university
about the following stages for initiating and approving the new programmes
of study. We analyzed procedures of initiating new study programmes at TUM,
the decision-making process and the quality of public information for new
programmes. Based on our observations during the visit to TUM, we developed
recommendations that we suggested to our partners.
After the public examining of the provided information by TUM, it can be
mentioned that they are affordable and well-structured, providing prospective
students with everything they need in order to apply to the study programme.
Reflecting on the gained experience of the observation mission, the
indisputable value of the QUAEM project for IIS capacity building in the Republic
of Moldova is worth mentioning. The simulation exercise allows the creation of
a national pool of experts in the field of evaluation and accreditation of study
programmes, quality management in higher education, and the assimilation of
best practices in the implementation of European standards in Moldovan higher
education. Admittedly, it was an exercise focused on strengthening the skills,
developing the attitudes and involvement in promoting quality culture in higher
education system in Moldova.
eVALuAtioN SiMuLAtioN
18
CoNSortiuM MeetiNg ANd trAiNiNg At roSkiLde uNiVerSity
In November 2013, Roskilde University had the honour to host all partners in
the QUAEM consortium. On Thursday November 28, a consortium meeting
was held in the old town hall in the centre of Roskilde. During the constructive
meeting, the first year of the project was evaluated. Also, the next year of the
project was planned, making clear that much interesting work lays ahead for
all partners.
After some sightseeing in windy Roskilde and a good night of rest, the
programme continued the next day with a site visit to Roskilde University.
Here, everyone was welcomed and introduced to Roskilde University by the
head of the international board at the university, before a representative of
the Teaching and Learning Unit presented the learning-centred approach
in the quality system of the university. After this, the Danish Accreditation
Agency presented the accreditation system in Denmark. One of the specific
focus areas of the Danish system is the involvement of stakeholders not the
least employers in the designing and development of study programmes. This
was illustrated by the story of how one of Roskilde University’s new study
programmes was designed in close cooperation with international employers
within the area. The various presentations were eagerly discussed by all
participants, which was much appreciated by the hosts.
CHE Consult is a consultancy specialized in Higher Education. Among others,
CHE Consult has experts in the area of evaluation and project management
as well as quality assurance systems and accreditation. In the QUAEM project,
both areas of expertise are useful to bring the project forward. In QUAEM, CHE
Consult is responsible for the quality assurance (QA) of the project. Project QA
aims to support the project by reaching its goals in the best way possible.
A view on the project from the QA perspective
All in all, the progress of the QUAEM project is very satisfactory. All project
partners make consistent contributions towards reaching the projects goal of
enhancing QA structures in Moldova. Partners have a strong interest in seeing
substantial, sustainable and recognizable results, which is very beneficial to
the project as whole. While starting out with different experiences, over the
course of the project, the participating institutions contribute their particular
expertise into a joint and mutually beneficial development process, which even
goes beyond the stated objectives of the QUAEM project to make the existing
QA structures in Moldova functional and to prepare four accredited study
programmes.
Regarding the future work of the consortium, the support of project universities
in the international accreditation process of selected study programmes, as
well as of the emerging Moldovan QA agency will be of great importance.
If successful, QUAEM could become a model for other projects in the new
Erasmus+ programme.
ProjeCt QuALity ASSurANCe iN QuAeM
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Reflection on the progress of the project afterone-year implementation
The higher education sector has registered some progress
after the nine-year participation in the Bologna Process.
The education sector continued to be one of the most dynamic
sectors and a major priority in Moldova, with high public
spending of around 8% of GDP. However, output and quality of
education still need improvement due to the lack of qualified
teaching staff, inefficiencies and an inadequate match
between education offered and the need of the labor market.
Reform of the education sector progressed significantly with
the approval of the new Code of Education in the Parliament and the Education
Strategy 2020. These two educational
policies documents are based on three main pillars:
• Access
• Quality
• Relevance
These important documents also provide for a range of other changes in
aspects such as: teaching-learning and evaluation process, ICT use in teaching
and learning processes, relevance of education for the labor market needs, Life
Long Learning, entrepreneurial skills, and learning of foreign languages.
In 2013 after the Parliament’s approval of the legislative initiative to establish
an independent Quality Assurance Agency for higher education and vocational
education and training, in 2014 the National Agency for Quality Assurance in the
Professional Education was established and its interim Coordination Council
was selected. Since its inception, the interim Council has as its main mission to
organize the functioning of the Agency, to hire its technical staff, and to select,
in February 2015, the future members of the Coordination Council using a
transparent procedure and an international selection committee. Meanwhile,
all law bachelor study programmes were externally evaluated for accreditation
by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, and the
results of this process are expected in November 2014.
In this context, the impact of the QUAEM project is very significant as it:
MiNiStry of eduCAtioN: refLeCtioN
Nadejda Velisco, PhD
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contributes to creating an effective policy in QA and training of future staff of
National Agency of QA;
responds to the great need of reform of higher education, especially the
approval of a new Code of Education;
contributed to the development of instruments for the evaluation and
accreditation of education institutions and study programmes;
creates and strenghtens National Quality Assurance Agency in Professional
Education in Moldova;
helps to develop unique and clear indicators at the Ministry/Agency for
Quality Assurance level for internal and external evaluation of study
programmes;
helps training future QA experts and assessors of the Agency;
prepares universities for the evaluation and accreditation by the new Agency;
trains local experts in Quality Assurance through the exchange of
experiences between national and international, included students etc;
will focus on the evaluation process of 4 selected programmes and all 6
universities can benefit from the assistance of the QUAEM project in the
process of elaboration of self-evaluation reports.
After implementation of the QUAEM project, all HEIs will continue our common
activities and the following dimensions should be of major concern:
▯ Fortification of the structures meant to assure quality in higher education;
▯ Promotion of the synergy of education and research;
▯ Finalizing the National Qualification Frameworks;
▯ Promotion of Life Long Learning;
▯ Improvement of procedures of qualifications’ recognition;
▯ Transparency and Quality Assurance in the reform process.
MiNiStry of eduCAtioN: refLeCtioN
Nadejda Velisco, PhD
Head for Higher Education Department
impressum:
Published by: Project Consortium - “QUAEM”
Coordination: Dino Mujkić, Jana Čarkadžić
Design: Agencija LOGO
Lector: Christina Harms
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Partner institutions:
