Search

Moldova traditionally relies on the agricultural sector, rural population representing one third of labor force. The agricultural education and research system in Moldova is characterized by the aging of the teaching and research staff, the reduction of the number of students below the critical level, unattractiveness of science and education for the young generation, the weak connection between education, science and production, but also the inefficiency of the institutional activity. All these represent a major danger for the sustainable development of the rural areas. The aim of this paper is to analyze the major factors affecting the academic performance of research and teaching staff in agricultural higher education of Moldova. The study is based on field surveys of academic personnel of State Agricultural University, the only agricultural higher education institution in Moldova. The data set includes 120 respondents. Main analyzed indicators are related to academic performance as: professional motivation, research activity in projects, published research results and achievements, main problems and challenges within the institution related and other relevant factors. As result, income level remains an important factor for staff motivation in achieving higher performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally thought that in order to start a business, it is necessary for the entrepreneur who proposes to do so to have some native skills. For this purpose, we have designed a study in three European countries (Romania, Lithuania and France) to show to what extent this statement is perceived as conforming to reality. The methodology used was based on the responses obtained in a survey conducted in the form of questionnaires, distributed to target groups which manifested their interest in starting an innovative business in life sciences. Thus, even if the education system and the economic context are completely different from the three countries participating in this study, the survey showed that in all cases some native abilities are indeed necessary for a potential entrepreneur of success. The affirmative answers obtaining at some questions such as: the capability of being independent, the ability to work independently and hard, to judge on the basis of insufficient information, to lead projects holistically, to use their creativity imaginatively, to looking forward and think positively, to feel the profitability of an innovative business, to take the initiative, to organize / attend meetings in professional business networks, indicate that these are just a few of the skills needed and important for entrepreneurs of the 21 century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the fact that the term „marketization” is relatively new in the academic language of the Republic of Moldova, market laws have been functioning for some time in the educational market, especially through competition in attracting potential candidates to study. This investigation is focused on the following objectives: a) synthesizing the conceptual approaches of higher education marketization; b) analyzing Moldova's higher education market through the evolution of supply and demand; c) identifying the basic factors determining the attractiveness of higher education institutions for potential candidates. In order to achieve the stated objectives, the following research methods were used: the synthesis of theoretical approaches regarding the marketization of higher education, opinion survey, comparative analysis and generalization .In conclusion, there were identified and ranked the attractiveness factors of the higher education institutions and there were made recommendations in order to increase their competitiveness in the market of educational services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the acute competition in the market of educational services, it is obvious that focusing on students' interests represents a factor of performance and, implicitly, of the competitiveness of each higher education institution. In this context, we can highlight the partnership with students as one of the most effective instruments, which can be used both to diagnose the problems of professional training and to solve them through joint efforts. This investigation is focused on the following objectives: a) assessing the quality of engagement with students in order to increase the effectiveness of vocational training in higher education institutions in the Republic of Moldova and b) experimenting with the method of partnership with students, evaluating the obtained results. In order to achieve the purposes, the following research methods were used: the synthesis of the conceptual approaches of the partnership, the opinion survey method, the interview, the case study. The main conclusions of the investigation reveal the current state and the deficiencies of the students' engagement in the higher educational institutions of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the advantages of the partnership (proven by experimentation) as a factor of effectiveness of the professional education as well as a factor of institutional competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]