Moldovan-Romanian collaboration aimed at obtaining European funds

Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy was visited by a delegation of local authorities from Arad County, Romania, represented by Andrei Ando, ​​executive director of the County Council, and Lazar Faur, vice mayor of Arad municipality, and Iurie Calestru, director of programs at the Project Development and Expertise Institute (IDEP) of the Republic of Moldova.

The dialogue between the parties focused on the identification of fields and sectors of collaboration, the development of joint projects to attract European funds, especially thanks to the new status of the Republic of Moldova - that of a candidate country for joining the European Union.

After a foray into the history of Nicolae Testemitanu University, rector Emil Ceban gave an overview of the institution and the university infrastructure and expressed his willingness to establish a bilateral cooperation to increase the quality of higher medical education, strengthen the research and innovation activity, improve healthcare and health services.

For his part, Andrei Ando has mentioned that constant efforts will be made to expand the partnership with Nicolae Testemitanu University: "We came here to see how we can widen our cooperation and we will be happy to create common bridges in the future and let's build beautiful things together."

In the same vein, Lazar Faur spoke about the opportunity to organize academic mobility for students, resident doctors, and teaching staff through the Erasmus+ program, as well as exchange of experience through research programs for young researchers, doctoral students, etc.

Moreover, the emphasis was placed on the organization of internships for Nicolae Testemitanu University specialists to transfer the knowledge and experience of colleagues across the Prut River as regards drafting projects for obtaining European funds.

At the end of the meeting, Iurie Calestru invited Nicolae Testemitanu University Rector and the Romanian guests to participate in a high-level conference under the patronage of the president of Maramures County Council, organized in partnership with IDEP, regarding "Boosting the absorption of European funds by the Republic of Moldova” – EU candidate country. The purpose of the event is to create the necessary framework for the adoption of good practices by guests from the Republic of Moldova starting in 2023, in mixed Moldovan-Romanian teams, with the aim of establishing partnerships by delegating members for internships to Romanian counterparts’ institutions, in the Projects Division, and developing draft projects. These actions will create the necessary conditions for a faster European integration of the Republic of Moldova due to increased absorption of European pre-accession funds.