Moldova is actively pursuing the strengthening of its educational relations with India as part of its broader efforts to improve bilateral relations. Education and Research Minister of Moldova Dan Perciun, accompanied by high-ranking officials from four of the country’s leading universities, met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi on 26 November 2024. It is considered a precursor to the actual inauguration of the Moldovan embassy in India in December-a step that would mark the progression of the two nations into new diplomatic relations.
Moldova has not hesitated to seek India’s academic institutions in seeking to develop joint educational and research programs. Minister Perciun emphasized Moldova’s interest in attracting more Indian students to the country. Currently, about 3,000 Indian students are enrolled in Moldovan universities, mostly in medical programs. But, according to Perciun, many students face a challenge in practicing medicine in Moldova because they cannot practice their profession due to the language barrier, since proficiency in Romanian is usually required. This issue is less prevalent in fields like software engineering, which could offer a promising area for further collaboration.
The Moldovan government aims to explore joint research initiatives and educational programs that allow students to split their academic time between Moldovan and Indian universities. These partnerships could involve shared research funds and the mutual recognition of qualifications. Minister Perciun highlighted that Moldova is willing to invest resources from its state budget into joint research projects with Indian institutions. He also mentioned ongoing discussions between Sharda University in India and the Technical University of Moldova to offer specialized courses, including winemaking and veterinary medicine.
The Moldovan delegation is also engaging with Delhi University and other Indian universities to assess the potential for further academic collaboration. With Moldova having recently obtained European Union “candidate” status, there are opportunities for joint research funding through EU programs, which could benefit Indian universities as well.
Perciun indicated that Moldova is not yet considering the establishment of campuses in India but is focused on attracting more Indian students to study in Moldova. Additionally, the Moldovan government plans to offer scholarships to Indian students, with a reciprocal arrangement for Moldovan students to study in India. These initiatives reflect Moldova’s commitment to building a mutually beneficial educational relationship with India.
