Projects

International Projects

• 2012 – 2014 – The international project „Moldovan Peace Scholars and Practitioners Network (MPSPN), implemented by the Department of International Relation, FIRPAS in collaboration with Centro Studi Difesa Civile of Bologna, Italy and with the participation of universities and NGOs in the Republic of Moldova and of Transnistria (Moldova State University, Free International University of Moldova, University Perspectiva INT, University of Comrat, University of Bălţi) also representatives of the non-governmental sector (Institute of Law and Civil Society of Tiraspol, Hilfswerk Austria in Moldova, etc.).

The project format concluded a series of scientific events among which should be mentioned: methodological inter-university seminars on peace and conflict studies, conferences, contests for the most successful scientific research carried out based on bachelor and master final thesis.

The project main outcomes include the development of national researchers and practitioners of peace studies network in the Republic of Moldova; launch of the web portal on peace and conflict resolution studies www.peacebuilding.md; elaboration of new curricula in the field of peace and conflict resolution studies; publishing the scientific edition “Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies in the University Curriculum. A theoretical and methodological guide”.

• 2013 – 2017- Framework programme (FP7) Project “Support for researchers training and career development (Marie Curie), International Research Staff Exchange Scheme” EU-PREACC: Possibilities and limits, challenges and obstacles of transferring CEE EU member states best practices and experience on research to Moldova and Georgia, financed by the European Commission, representing a strong and benefic collaboration between four universities: Moldova State University, Tbilisi State University Iv. Javakhishvili, University of Tartu and University of Vilnius, under the coordination of Prof. Gheorghe CIOCANU, Rector of MSU, and management of Dr. Prof. Valentina Teosa.

The main fields of research included political science, international relations, economics, law and humanitarian studies. A special area of collaboration focused on curricular development, enabling better understanding of reforms need in the MSU education system. Notable results were achieved in areas such as: Development of human capital and knowledge transfer; Cooperation and networking between higher educational institutions; Increasing of quality of teaching and learning in the target countries;     Enhancing the research capacity and language proficiency; EU policies development through proposals and working papers for internal use of political, social and economic policy making actors and stakeholders; Medialization and visibility of the EU and FP7 programme in particular.

During four years of implementation the project developed significant outcomes, identified a series of research issues, organized a variety of scientific events, and published numerous articles in prestigious journals. The most important result was the training of young researchers, thus, should be mentioned the internship of 11 doctoral students and 5 experienced scholars of FIRPAS, MSU at Tbilisi State University to research the Central and Eastern European states experience on reforms and to analyze the possibilities and limits of transferring CEE EU pre- accession best practices and experience to Moldova’s and Georgia’s pre-accession process.

A Consortium Meeting of FP7 Project Marie Curie IRSES was held in April 1-5, 2014. Also, should be mention that out of 17 doctoral students participating in the project most of them started the thesis delivery process, as well, considerable results achieved Ms. Svetlana Cebotari proceeding to final stage of postdoctoral thesis in political science.

The project equally contributed to English language specialists’ training and offered the Department of International Relations the possibility to advance the process of studding international relations in English language, confirming by achieved results that it embodied a viable solution for study modernization. The experience gained in the framework of FP 7 Marie Curie project is an efficient platform for future projects and plans and further development of the initiative requires an open and continuous cooperation with external partners.

• 2013 – August 2014 – Project „Good governance as an essential tool for economic development.” implemented by the Eurocollege University of Tartu, (Estonia) in cooperation with the Department of International Relations and The Romanian Center for European Policies in the Republic of Moldova. The project aimed to promote good governance in the Republic of Moldova and supported the organization of a spring school for students and young specialist. It offered the opportunity to five master students to study Political Sciences and European Studies during one semester at Eurocollege University of Tartu (Estonia). Also, to exchange experience and to consolidate the capacity of high education in promoting good governance, lecturers of the Department of International Relations – Morari C. and Cujba A. carried out a study visit to Euro College, Tartu, Estonia.
• May – October 2015, – International Project „Peaceful Conflict Transformation from Academic Perspective”, supported by the Austrian Development Agency and implemented by the Institute for Democratic and Social Development CIVIC in collaboration with the Moldovan-Austrian Center for Peace Initiatives, Democracy Changes and Conflict Resolution of the Faculty of International Relations, Political and Administrative Sciences, Moldova State University.

The main goal of the project was to build confidence between young people from both banks of the Dniester River in promoting peaceful conflict resolution and Europeanization of the Republic of Moldova. The project mission focused on two dimensions: On the one hand, the project concentrated on bringing closer youth of the Republic of Moldova, including Transnistria, through research programs and civic activities, inspiring the sense of mutual respect and tolerance and proving that to overcome differences through dialogue not by confrontation, is possible and necessary for the European future of the Republic of Moldova. On the other hand, the project established a successful platform that demonstrated the positive impact of youth contribution to scientific and civic initiatives on existent issues related to conflict resolution, peacebuilding and social integration.

Project activities included: Training “Conflict sensitivity: international experience” with the participation of Austrian professors, national and international experts; Essay contest „Engaging Youth in Building Peace“; Scientific Conference „If You Want Peace, You Have to Plan for It” September 18-19, 2015) and launch of the edition “Moldovan Peace dialogues: societal integration, accommodative policies and strategies, from an academic perspective“.

• 2016 – 2018 – Project „Soutien aux formations francophones” developed by The Department of International Relations, FIRPAS in partnership with the University of Szeged, Hungary abd University Babeș-Bolyai of Cluj, Romania, supported excusably by the Francophone University Agency. The project objective was to develop professional and linguistics capacity and promote French language and culture at the Department of International Relations. The project framework provided four academic mobilities for learning and researching, as well, two for professional training.

2017 – 2020 – ENACTED – EU and its Neighborhood. Network for enhancing EU’s actorness in the eastern borderlands, financed in the context of Jean Monnet activities through ERASMUS+ and implemented in cooperation with partners from Romania, Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. The ENACTED Project combines scientific activities, teaching, debating, and disseminating in the field of European Studies within a network of 12 partners (8 universities and 4 NGOs) of 6 countries: 3 EU member state (Romania, Hungary and Poland) and 3 eastern neighboring (Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus), and focusses on EU’s actorness in the eastern borderlands. Imple