Francophone Employability Center opened at “Nicolae Testemitanu” University

Francophone students from all faculties and study programs of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova will have more opportunities and prospects for professional and personal development. This became possible due to the inauguration of the Francophone Employability Center (Centre d'employabilité francophone/CEF) at our university on November 2. 

During the ceremony, Rector Emil Ceban expressed deep gratitude to the office of the Francophone University Agency in the Republic of Moldova (AUF Moldova) for the fruitful collaboration, underlining the fact that "the event completes the series of activities carried out together over a quarter of a century, period in which AUF has become a reliable partner for the development of medical education and research in French".

According to the Rector, the beneficiaries of the Center's activities will be francophone students from all faculties and study programs, guided by teachers, trainers, colleagues, etc. Thus, the Francophone Employability Center will offer support to students who want to develop their entrepreneurial and leadership skills through seminars, training in the conceptualization of a business plan, project presentation techniques, identifying funding sources, etc.

Present at the ceremony, Adriana Cazacu, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, highlighted that Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy is an internationally competitive leading institution that provides high-quality training to specialists in the field of medicine. "The inauguration of the Francophone Employability Center ensures the connection of higher education to the needs of the labor market. CEF will reconstruct a link between the initial and continuous training of students, helping the graduates of your university to have a successful professional path, also encouraging career opportunities", concluded the Secretary of State.

For his part, Mohamed Ketata, regional director of the AUF Office for Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized that the role of the Francophone University Agency is to support the member universities in all the activities carried out: training, governance, research and employability: "In the region of Central and Eastern Europe studying French is a choice: you have chosen to study this language and share the values ​​of Francophonie, even if it is easier for students from the University of Medicine to find a job".

Claudia Visan, director of the AUF Moldova Office, congratulated the University management on this achievement, noting that the team has a persevering spirit. "I wish you successful projects in the future. We hope to inaugurate other similar centers soon. AUF is present in the Republic of Moldova to support you in these efforts, do not hesitate to propose projects and come up with initiatives, because our role is to help you realize these ideas together", added the director of AUF Moldova.

Ala David, CEF coordinator at Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, mentioned "the activities to be organized within the Francophone Employability Center will be oriented towards the development of transversal skills. Through its French-speaking dimension, the CEF will allow the strengthening of oral and written communication techniques, increasing awareness among students as regards topical issues, and encouraging the conceptualization of personal projects".