At the end of March 2025, the Government of the Republic of Moldova approved, for the first time, the Regulation on the Organization and Implementation of Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Studies in Distance and Part-Time Learning Formats — a major milestone in the modernization and diversification of the national higher education system.

This regulation provides a clear legal framework for distance learning as a distinct form of study, facilitating access to quality education tailored to the needs of a digital society and a rapidly evolving labor market.

Distance education is one of the core themes of the Erasmus+ DEFEP project – Developing Digital and Entrepreneurial Skills for European Teachers, implemented by Moldova State University (MSU). Within the project, MSU experts played an active role in the working group established by the Ministry of Education and Research, contributing concrete proposals for shaping the content of the regulation, inspired by European best practices and insights gained through DEFEP activities.

Through its actions, the DEFEP project directly supports the institutional capacity building of MSU to deliver distance learning in a relevant, engaging, and student-centered way. Key contributions of the project include:

• developing the digital and pedagogical skills of academic staff,
• digitalizing educational content,
• promoting modern teaching and assessment methods,
• supporting the infrastructure needed for effective online delivery.

The adoption of this regulation confirms and reinforces the efforts of DEFEP and of higher education institutions in the digital transformation of education in Moldova.

More information about the project is available at: https://defep.usm.md