Erasmus + in Higher Education: A Step beyond Mobility

The Moldovan-Romanian Conference entitled "Erasmus + in Higher Education: A Step Beyond Mobility" took place in Bucharest, October 10-12, 2018, attended by the representatives of the Academy of Public Administration - Dinu Manole, Head of Relations International Department, Rodica SOBIESKI-CAMERZAN, Chief Scientific Library, and Ina MACOVEI, Methodist, International Relations Department.

The purpose of the conference was to strengthen and develop professional skills on the concept of "My University in 2025", valorisation of the results of Erasmus + projects in higher education in the Republic of Moldova and Romania.

The conference was organized by the Erasmus National Office of the Republic of Moldova and the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training in Romania (ANPCDEFP). The conference was attended by about 120 representatives of higher education institutions from both countries: rectors, vice-rectors, international relations chiefs, Erasmus + project coordinators from both countries.

The plenary session of the Conference addressed the situation of higher education and the implementation of Erasmus + projects in the field of strengthening higher education in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The rapporteurs are notorious personalities, namely DECA Ligia, State Councilor, Education and Research Department, Presidential Administration ; Doina USACI, Policy Department for Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova; Ovidiu FOLCUŢ, Vice-President of the National Council of Rectors (CNR); Cristina GHERMAN, administrator of the National Erasmus + office in Moldova, and Monica CALOTĂ, director of ANPCDEFP.

During the two days of the cluster meeting, the successful projects, funded by the Erasmus + Program, implemented in the Republic of Moldova and Romania, were analyzed. This exchange of experience will be the basis for future joint projects in the Erasmus + Program.

Increased attention was paid to the strategy of institutional internationalization, focusing on institutional promotion, developing a regulation on promoting the institution at international level.

This event was a good opportunity to establish new contacts and partnerships between Romanian and Moldovan higher education institutions, which already have experience in Erasmus + projects or will implement new projects funded by the European Commission, which will lead to the signing new collaborative agreements, joint projects, academic mobility, exchange of best practices.