Globalization of the Contemporary Higher Education. Example of ULIM, the Republic of Moldova
Report presented at the World University Presidents Forum, Shenzhen, China,August, 12-14, 2011
The contemporary world, including the university community, especially from Europe and North America, has to solve very important problems, such as the elimination of consequences of the global economic crisis.
The global crisis has influenced the emergence of new trends in the internationalization of the higher education, the forms and the methods of globalization. Thus, in some highly developed countries such as China, South Korea, Japan and others, simultaneously with the advancement of the economy, there are radical innovations concerning the new technologies for the universities of these countries. The preceding information technologies are outdated and the higher education requires a deeper impulse to valorize new more dynamic directions in order to accelerate the national, continental and global economic boom.
After the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education held in Paris in October 1998, many universities in the world, especially those from industrially developed countries, have started reforming the higher education system long before the crisis hits.
The implementation of the new information technologies, which represent a real revolution for the evolution of the contemporary scientist and include nano- and biotechnologies, laser television, optical and quantum computers, depend largely on the quality of resources and the knowledge the contemporary specialist has in the field of technology. In this way, the graduates in real sciences from the Free International University of Moldova (ULIM) as well as those from the Technical University of Moldova, are not only appreciated in the United States and Canada, but are privileged to be employed in universities, enterprises and intercontinental companies, principally in centers for scientific researches.
The process of globalization has changed the economic, political and cultural structures of the world by increasing the importance of the strategy of higher education internationalization and the importance of human capital for the competitiveness of countries. In this context, the recognition of diplomas of higher education at national, regional, continental and global levels is very important.
Internationalization Model of ULIM
The greatest success of a university represents the formation of specialists coming from other countries and the recognition of their diplomas. It should be noted that every year, approximately 3500 foreign students at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s Degrees study at ULIM and more than 800 young people from the European Union, the member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Asia, Africa and North America get their diplomas. As for the international dimension of the university management, the process of organization is not so complicated. For this, we have managed to sign agreements of cooperation between universities and ministries of the countries from where the foreign students come from, collaboration agreements with diverse economic agents for recruiting the candidates, being followed by our discussions with public administration of the
the Republic of Moldova to stamp and sign documents concerning the recognition of diplomas issued by the institutions of higher education from Moldova for international citizens. We know that it is very difficult to realize this mechanism, because it varies depending on the country, the region or the continent. For us, people from the Republic of Moldova in general and those from ULIM in particular, it was very complicated to develop and realize this mechanism. Our institution is almost as old as the Republic of Moldova. It is normal that the system of international educational relations at the country level starts from zero and little by little progressing due to the establishment of official and diplomatic relations of our country with the states around the world and the international organizations. Furthermore, in our country, the diplomas of an institution of higher education, such as ULIM, and other higher education institutions are issued on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Therefore, the responsibility is twofold, not only at the institutional level but also at the national one. That is why, the full range of inter-university relations at ULIM level, having decision-making factors from abroad, are coordinated with the Ministry of Education. As a private educational institution – ULIM, part of the national education system, has made all efforts to establish and develop multidimensional international educational relationships between the Republic of Moldova and the countries around the world, the international organizations, being aware that in such a way we promote our country’s image and the image of ULIM. We have worked hard to strengthen and develop these relations in strict accordance with the national and international law. As a result, young people from European countries, Asia and Africa are studing at ULIM. This phenomenon is less common within the institutions from Eastern Europe. This reality is not by accident but it is a result of a consistent policy in promoting this form of education as a pillar which takes place within our university. Realizing the impact of globalization on countries, we consider it is very important to expand and deepen the process of internationalization of higher education.
the Republic of Moldova to stamp and sign documents concerning the recognition of diplomas issued by the institutions of higher education from Moldova for international citizens. We know that it is very difficult to realize this mechanism, because it varies depending on the country, the region or the continent. For us, people from the Republic of Moldova in general and those from ULIM in particular, it was very complicated to develop and realize this mechanism. Our institution is almost as old as the Republic of Moldova. It is normal that the system of international educational relations at the country level starts from zero and little by little progressing due to the establishment of official and diplomatic relations of our country with the states around the world and the international organizations. Furthermore, in our country, the diplomas of an institution of higher education, such as ULIM, and other higher education institutions are issued on behalf of the Ministry of Education. Therefore, the responsibility is twofold, not only at the institutional level but also at the national one. That is why, the full range of inter-university relations at ULIM level, having decision-making factors from abroad, are coordinated with the Ministry of Education. As a private educational institution – ULIM, part of the national education system, has made all efforts to establish and develop multidimensional international educational relationships between the Republic of Moldova and the countries around the world, the international organizations, being aware that in such a way we promote our country’s image and the image of ULIM. We have worked hard to strengthen and develop these relations in strict accordance with the national and international law. As a result, young people from European countries, Asia and Africa are studing at ULIM. This phenomenon is less common within the institutions from Eastern Europe. This reality is not by accident but it is a result of a consistent policy in promoting this form of education as a pillar which takes place within our university. Realizing the impact of globalization on countries, we consider it is very important to expand and deepen the process of internationalization of higher education.
I have been working as a professor and then as a rector, since 1975. I started my activity as a teacher at the faculty responsible for training students from abroad, preparing students from the first year within a public university from the former Soviet Union. The experience we have gained and the reality of European countries and other states that we know by collaboration, has given us the opportunity to build a new form, which is not so spread. Today not only the institutions from Moldova but also those from Europe express there interest in the internationalization model of ULIM. Our experience has been studied, appreciated and proposed as a model of good practices for the institutions of our country, by the Council of the Ministry of Education – the Supreme Consultative Forum of the institution that monitors the state educational system. It is significant that on September 20-21, 2007 , ULIM, represented by Mrs. Ana Gutu, Prime Vice-rector of ULIM, signed Magna Charta Universitatum at the University of Bologna, Italy. This important document was adopted by 660 universities from 78 countries worldwide. The ULIM is the only signatory institution from the Republic of Moldova. As a signatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum ULIM pleads for academic freedom, plenipotentiary exercised from the point of view of the cognition and research. Or, the university is a meritocratic entity, a community of scholars and the moral identity of the university is based on teaching commitment and research effort, scholarship and search for truth, whatever the immediate applicability, the political priorities and the economic benefits. The university is meant to serve the society and contribute to its sustainable development.
ULIM is one of the few institutions from the Republic of Moldova, which became a full member of many university academic bodies: International Association of Universities (IAU), Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), European Universities Association (EUA), International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), European Association for Quality Assurance (EAQA). In this context we should mention that on 05.06.2008 ULIM was certified with European quality, confirmed by ISO 9001: 2001. The implementation and the development of regional educational principles such as Europeanization and internationalization have an outstanding role for the status and the activity of these international university bodies. For this purpose, for the first time in the Republic of Moldova, ULIM gained approval and support of the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova, the Council of Rectors of the Republic of Moldova to organize, in December this year, the International Conference on the problems of Bologna Process in Eastern and Southeast Europe. We intend to invite our colleagues, rectors of the 70 universities of the world placed on all continents, with which we have a fruitful cooperation.
In a short period of time ULIM managed to reach such results thanks to a joint effort: the contribution of the Rectorship, University Senate, professors, the support of the central authorities, of the national public opinion, of our partners from abroad and the foreign graduates leaving our country but always being our messengers. We think that all these things and other successes gave us the possibility to be ranked today in the first third of the universities worldwide (the position 4398 on Ranking Web of World Universities), having a better position than our Moldavian colleagues and our colleagues from Eastern Europe having a rich experience. Our experience has boosted the Resort Ministry to undertake a series of actions and radical reform of higher education system, culminating previously with the quality of active membership within several international academic organizations. Thus, the internationalization has become a priority not only for our university, but for all the institutions of higher education from Moldova, being a key indicator of international competitiveness.
International Students and Academic Staff, Studies Funding
For ULIM it is important to increase the number of foreign students, but this strategy does not seem to be a simple one. Analyzing in space and time, the offers of ??many universities from different countries and regions in this area, it seems that our only solution is the low cost for studies and services related to the status of foreign students on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. In order to facilitate the learning process of higher education, the young foreigners has the priority to follow access courses preceding the academic training. The interest of our university for an influx of international students means developing and restructuring the campus, implementing all the programs and activities in English. The flexibility and the institutional autonomy developed by the process of reform, have allowed our university to provide various types of contracts with increased benefits for professors. This fact increased the competition and has attracted many foreign professors and researchers in our university, especially from China, Canada, United States of America, Italy and others. Of course, teachers and scholars from abroad are paid better, according to the performance of their professional activity. Another advantage for foreign specialists is the fact that the knowledge of the Romanian language is not required because the courses they teach to students from upper classes, students at Master’s and Doctor’s degrees are performed in the language of international communication. In the same time, the high degree of professional responsibility and the general culture of professors selected from abroad, give them the opportunity, after a short period of time, to communicate in the official language of our country.
It should be mentioned that the internationalization of higher education in the Republic of Moldova remains heavily regulated by the State, which limits opportunities for internationalization of ULIM and other universities from our country. This right is established by the agreements signed by the Moldavian authorities with international bodies, including the respect of the rules set up by the UN and the Council of Europe. Monitoring the international relations, they fight against international terrorism and other global issues, govern the admission to studies in different countries and regions, a little known mechanism for countries from the group of 20 or other states which have a greater influence on international arena.
New Paradigm of Internationalization of Higher Education
Nowadays the contemporary university cannot survive in a limited space. The process of regionalization and globalization requires creating a new type of educational system, which could become a new stage in the development of innovative national and continental economy. The contemplation of this phenomenon involves the need to modernize curricula and university curriculum as a whole, the launch of new disciplines and specialties. Without these changes, it is not possible to develop a competitive higher education. In this respect, at ULIM they use the Internet with its multifunctional possibilities, including online scientific conferences organized between national departments and international universities. ULIM, through its collaborators, represented in the central public administration of the Republic of Moldova the executive and legislative power, has launched an appeal to update the Classificator of field of studies in Higher Education by introducing new specialties such as Nanotechnology, Information Security, Petroleum and Gas Engineering. The proposition was adopted by the Moldovan Parliament. This year the process of admission to these new specialties has already started. We have to realize the study program for the 2nd Cycle /Master Degree, with experts from academic centers with which our institution has signed collaboration agreement, such as Russia, Ukraine, Romania, USA and other countries.According to these contracts we expect not only to achieve the academic mobility by exchange of teachers, but also the assurance of education process for some specialties or fields via professors from universities where these specialties are well done in comparison with our country. In the near future we plan to engage in these process specialists from oriental universities such as South Korea and China. In this context, ULIM adapts models of university internationalization which are successfully implemented at regional and continental levels.
In our opinion, higher education must exceed the evolution of society and economic relations as a whole. New forms of preparing the contemporary specialist have to be implemented as soon as possible and in a flexible way. Therefore, the university must go beyond the evolution of society, and not to follow it. Internet confirms that in the near future we will face more advanced generation of young people, raised under an early pre-university education when information technologies are already acquired at the age of 4-5 years. The Internet has internationalized the world, that is why it requires radical renovations and reform the higher education in all countries.
In this regard, ULIM developed an ampler and deeper practice, common in the United States at Georgetown University. Yet in 1994, during a work visit, I got acquainted at this American educational institution with a unique formula of internationalization, in any case for me at that time. It was the engagement of ambassadors accredited in several states and present in Washington in the educational process. But at that time they came before the young students with different public lectures about stringent problems of the contemporary world or presented general information about their country. We took this idea and implemented it at ULIM, we developed it, adding a new content based on the major phenomena which take place today in the world such as Europeanization, globalization and internationalization. Thus, today, ULIM managed to sign cooperation agreements with all the embassies accredited in the Republic Moldova of different countries such as USA, China, South Korea, Indonesia, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Israel, Chile, Sudan and others. These collaboration agreements are not typical legal documents, it also contain important segments to boost the process of internationalization. In this context, according to the conditions stipulated in these agreements, they intend to engage the ambassadors in the education process, by providing specialized public lectures equal to 2-4 academic hours, as noted in university curricula, facilitating the procedure of academic mobility of students, professors and not ultimately opening of study rooms having the names of countries with whom we have signed cooperation agreements. These lecture rooms represent the symbol of the territory of this or that country inside ULIM, being furnished, equipped with technological educational equipment and teaching materials by the signatory countries. In every room there is the state emblem and the flag of the concerned country and on the door there is an inscription with the symbols specific to the signatory country. Within these auditoriums take place different national events of the signatory state to which belong the room according to the contract. The Thesaurus of National Days and remarkable events of signatory countries was developed. This Thesaurus is approved by the Rector’s Office in agreement with the ambassadors. Thanks to these actions ULIM acquired the image of an authentic international institution. Thus, monthly approximately 5-6 international events take place at ULIM. These events involved not only students from our institution, but also students from other universities, including schools, civil society, representatives of central public administration and ambassadors accredited in the Republic Moldova. These lecture rooms are part of the educational process and a part of the institutional auditorial fund. In this way, the countries and peoples became closer, the regions situated dar away and those in the neighborhood, contributing to a better real knowledge of the peoples and countries of the world community.
Except these forms of collaboration, ULIM organizes extracurricular courses of studying languages of international circulation as well as the languages of countries requested by the embassies. So during several years, besides studying specialties in four languages ??of international communication, admitted at ULIM: Romanian – the official language of the Republic of Moldova, Russian, English and French, they can also study Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Turkish, German, Polish and others, totally 28 languages ??as preparatory language courses. These courses are taught by professors from countries of origin, invited to ULIM through embassies or universities with which we have cooperation agreements. ULIM allocates considerable resources in order to offer living space for invited teachers that usually have a room in the university hotel „Europe” or they can rent an apartment that is paid by us. Therefore, the Free International University of Moldova contributes to the realization of the internationalization process through concrete actions, which require considerable investment.
Another form of internationalization of educational process at ULIM is the foundation and the activity of cultural and scientific centers of many countries that operate independently from the content of cooperation agreements signed with embassies. Thus 10 years ago was founded the British Centre, then the Branch of Cervantes Institute from Spain, China’s Confucius Institute, Center of Korean culture and language and others. The palette of educational services provided by these centers is extensive. The young people from pre-university institutions wishing to study, all the institutions of higher education, the NGOs, the businessmen and others are involved in the work of these centers. The extra-curricular educational activities comprise also the organization of cultural events, watching movies, followed by discussions and debates.
In this context, the Communities of Foreign Students are organized. They include students and teachers from countries where they study or work as teachers at ULIM. Through an autonomous structure within the university – Museum of Peoples’ Friendship, they organize different cultural manifestations on the occasion of national holidays or days, including the familiarization with the customs and traditions of the countries represented at ULIM. These societies were more numerous until 2002 before other political forces come to power. Until then, young people from more than 50 countries had been studied in our institution. After 2002, this number has decreased considerably. Today, young and older people are studying at ULIM at all the three academic cycles – Cycle I Bachelor’s Degree, Cycle II Master’s Degree and Cycle III Doctor’s Degree. They came from 36 states – from the countries of the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Africa, Asia and North American countries. Till now, we have no students from Australia, Oceania and South America. Instead, through the International Association of Students AISEC, we got for practice /training students at master’s degree from Brazil and Venezuela.
An aspect of great importance in international activity represents the academic mobility of teachers. Every year, teachers of ULIM participate in didactical and scientific activities with their colleagues from a lot of European countries, including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Romania and others as well as the United States and Canada. Thus every year about 30 professors participate in the programs of academic mobility. Only in the current year of study, professors and scientists from the USA, Canada, France, Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Germany, China, South Korea and other countries deployed their activity within different departments and institutes of research from ULIM, in accordance with the cooperation agreements signed with the universities of the abovementioned countries.
ULIM with other universities from the Republic of Moldova as the Technical University (UTM), the Academy of Economic Studies (ASEM), Moldova State University (USM) and the Ministry of Education, have made tremendous efforts to join in May 2005 the European Higher Education Area – Bologna Process. If other countries from Europe, initiators of Bologna Process in 1999, represented this organization on its own, then new comer countries have been accepted under certain hardship criteria, and the Republic of Moldova, with other five countries, before being admitted to the system in June 2005, had been carefully evaluated. Today ULIM together with its colleagues from the abovementioned institutions, contributes the most activily in promoting the national European system of higher education and the values of the international world community. In this regard we proceed to the Europeanization of the university curriculum and program of studies. As for the area where other academic centres that cooperate with us are integrated, we proceed to the internationalization of curricula at the specialty level and then at the university one.
From this point of view, ULIM is an innovative institution from Eastern Europe in promoting the principles of internationalization. If, under the conditions of the economic crisis, the United States and the Europe have substantially reduced funding for higher education, the countries from East Asia, vice versa, less hit by the global economic crisis, have invested heavily in education and research, particularly China, South Korea and India. ULIM, as part of the National System of Higher Education and the European System of Higher Education, in a profound economic crisis, has registered a positive economic development. In general, since 1991 until today, it means since the proclamation of its independence, the Republic of Moldova remains one of the least economically developed countries in Europe. At the same time, in the higher education system of our country, there was a miracle. In 1992, the Government of the Republic of Moldova, by the decision 692 since October 16, decided the foundation of the private university ULIM. The overwhelming majority of civil society met with suspicions this document. The fact is that until then for creating a university they had to work very with the authorities and the central public administration. Despite these efforts, in our case, a group of enthusiastic professors managed to achieve a really amazing result. Following the American, Japanese, Western and national models of higher education, the founders of ULIM have created an exceptional educational symbiosis. We have used principally the credits offered by the Moldavian banks and other less important financial activities and we managed to create in a record time, from zero, an entire educational infrastructure, which has now become one of the most important educational institutions in our country, and at the same time, became an example of study for several universities from our country and from abroad.
University Doctoral Studies
For ULIM Senate and for professors, the values of the concept of internationalization of higher education are not something accidental, but rather are major educational principles to promote the spiritual identity of our institution and prospective studies. To this end, the form of achieving the studies at the third cycle – Doctor’s Degree, is carried out in strict accordance with the rules of the educational law, adopted in the Republic of Moldova. We should mention that doctoral studies in the Republic of Moldova are realized differently in comparison with the most countries of the world. If abroad the doctoral studies (scientific researches) are realized within universities and PhD Diplomas are issued by the educational institution, in the Republic of Moldova, the doctoral higher education system is not directed and regulated by the Ministry of Education, but by the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation (NCAA). It should be noted that the Republic of Moldova is one of the few countries in the world that has two levels of Doctor’s Degree: Doctor of Science and Doctor Habilitat (postgraduate). To follow doctoral studies and obtain the degree of Doctor of Science is easier that the degree of Doctor Habilitat. For the first one the NCAA grants this right for more scientifically accredited institutions, according to the scientific staff of the university. With this aim, scientific workshops on specialized areas have been created, involving specialists from many universities. Because the number of scientists holding the degree of Doctor Habilitat is not so large, an adequate solution was found – the acceptance of experts, specialists in the concerned materials, as members of the Specialized Councils, from Romania, Ukraine and Russia that are Romanian and Russian speakers, and have a very rich experience in organizing doctoral higher education. In this regard, ULIM has registered a progress too. Given that the higher education is performed in four languages of international communication, the ULIM Senate addressed to the NCAA a request to allow inviting in Specialized Councils professors and researchers from universities worldwide that we cooperate with, and to admit the sustenance of theses of Doctor of Science and Doctor Habilitat for the following specialties: law, economics, modern languages, psychology, engineering and other fields. Our request was met. The Specialized Councils of ULIM includes professors from European countries and USA. The public defense of Doctor of Science and Doctor Habilitat theses are performed in four languages through a translator. The authority of our institution is appreciated for this in many European countries – Germany, Romania, France, Italy; in Asia – Turkey, Israel, Vietnam, Syria; Africa – Congo, Sudan, Egypt and the United States. The Doctor of Scince and Doctor Habilitat Diplomas are not issued by ULIM, but by the external autonomous institution – National Council of Accreditation and Assessment. The diploma is confirmed by the university administration and the NCAA.
An important role in promoting scientific researches belongs to scientific studies. The scientific researches are performed by means of grants, projects and studies planned by the Directions of Research of ULIM in accordance with the needs of companies and firms from our country and from abroad with whom we have collaboration agreements. The scientific reviews comprising the results of researches are organized and published according to the requirements established by NCAA. The editorial committee is made up of professors and scientists from ULIM and other institutions that represent over 50% and other 50% are represented by professors and scientists from abroad. The institution shares scientific publications and editions with colleagues from academic centers with whom we collaborate and with the most prestigious libraries in the world. Our scientific publications are considered of great scientific importance on the bases of the decision of the superior bodies responsible for this.
University Extensions
The academic extension is another eloquent example in the process of globalization. In collaboration with prestigious private economic agents from Moldova and from abroad, who have missions to achieve business abroad, we have signed a cooperation agreement with two oil companies from our country and from France, with whom we began the process of founding and building a university of European style in Southern Sudan, especially near the city of Juba. The new institution was founded in collaboration with the public authorities from Southern Sudan. Two university campuses were built, and the educational process is realized with the colleagues from our institution and experts from seven European universities from Germany, Norway, Russia, Italy etc. and the United States. Although it is very difficult to realize such a project, we are very enthusiastic by the fact that we can participate with concrete actions in the process of internationalization and globalization through a so important system as the education and the preparing of specialists for a unified better society in future that we could leave a heritage for our children and our descendants. The model of internationalization of higher education launched by ULIM raised a particular interest to colleagues and decision making factors from China, Indonesia and India. We do not exclude that in the future our colleagues from tropical Africa and Oriental Asia can be also involved in our project, as well as the creation of a Euro-Asian Consortium on the African territory. To achieve this goal, we take into account the efforts of countries from Southeast Asia, evolving on the road of creating academic consortium depending on the areas of interest. Thus, we hope to bring our contribution to the welfare of young countries, just as we were helped in the Republic of Moldova. Therefore, we want to intensify the process of internationalization through concrete actions, together with colleagues of good faith from other universities.
Simultaneously, we rely on the creation of a national university consortium in Moldova, which would develop academic relationships initiated with universities of South Korea and China. It is a very daring project, still at the institutional negotiations, but it is feasible. As far as we know, it may be one of the first consortiums at intercontinental level.
No less important is the joint Moldovan-Korean plan to found a mixt university on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, together with the consortium of universities from South Korea. It is a tempting and ambitious but achievable plan, according to the fructification of joint actions of two models of higher education – the European and the Asian one.
A special chapter in the development of the international relations is the cooperation of ULIM with the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (the Association of Universities of the Francophonie). Since 1997 ULIM organizes studies for the specialty Business Administration, License Degree, within the Francophone branch. 1997 is also the year when the Republic of Moldova joined the International Organization of La Francophonie at the Seventh Francophonie Summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
During 14 years about 200 specialists have pursued their studies within the Francophone branch, they have improved their knowledge at the Master’s degree by studying in institutions of higher education from France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Romania, Bulgaria. Many of these graduates decided to work abroad, the others preferred to come back and built a wonderful career in the Republic of Moldova.
The contribution of the university Francophonie is exceptional due to different scientific and educational activities, which were held over the years in Central and Eastern Europe.
Thus, in February-March 2008, ULIM, in partnership with the Bureau of AUF from Central and Eastern Europe, organized the international seminar “the Reform of the Bologna Process and its impact on universities from Central and Eastern Europe”, an important scientific forum with the participation of about 160 rectors and vice-rectors from 45 universities representing 17 countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
On the occasion of this seminar the platform of the Conférence des recteurs des universités membres de l’Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (CONFRECO) (the Conference of Rectors of Francophone Universities) in Central and Eastern Europe was launched – the Declaration of Chisinau, a program document including the activities of the francophone universities in the region. Mrs. Ana Gutu, Prime Vice-rector of ULIM was elected the president of the Pilotage Committee of the CONFRECO.
To the General Assembly of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, held in May 2009 in Bordeaux, France, Mrs. Ana Gutu was elected the member of the Bureau and the Council of Association of the AUF, representing the francophone academic community from Central and Eastern Europe in the administration bodies of the AUF.
Another important aspect for the internationalization of the university relations is related to the double Diploma’s programs and cotutelle doctoral researches. For 5 years ULIM, in partnership with the University of Orleans from France and the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM) performs the study program for License Degree in the field of Business Administration.
Thus, the students of the Francophone branch of ULIM, without visiting France, according to a consortium agreement and recognition of the academic program and according to the courses taught by professors from France, receive two diplomas to the end of studies – the diploma of ULIM and a diploma delivered by the University of Orleans, France. The program is supported by the AUF, and co-financed by ULIM and ASEM.
Strategies of Internationalization in ULIM’s Vision
The experience of Free International University of Moldova over the last 20 years of activity, and the author’s personal experience, gained in the multidimensionality of the international academic relations in universities and academic centers on the Old Continent and in Africa, Asia and Latin America impose us to come with concrete proposals for developing the international university relations through several segments and structures that could enrich this phenomenon, and namely:
a) Promoting different types of academic activities, by the mobility of students and professors, upgrading the curriculum of university; exchanges of academic modules – distinct parts of the curricula;
b) promotion of national policies to support the internationalized higher education by financing the professional networks, co-financing of the international associations supporting the academic mobility, the grants for the development of curricular programs, co-financing research projects involving the international public finance and the private sector, facilitating studies for foreign students and the development of international cooperation programs of the three cycles of university studies;
c) promoting the harmonization of higher education systems at regional and continental levels, through such activities as the programs to support higher education in Europe, projects like TEMPUS, TACIS, CEEPUS and others;
d) common criteria and principles to promote the academic content of higher education, such as quality assurance, academic standards, shaping a unique identity and an academic culture, stimulating the international cooperation, developing networks and multidimensional international agreements and the advancement of a unique policy of selection and registration of foreign students;
Reasons and motivations to support the policy of globalization of higher education
Famous personalities in higher education support the idea of globalization of higher education based on three important pillars, and namely:
1. the necessity to strengthen national security through international security;
2. further promotion of market relations and maintaining the economic competitiveness;
3. strengthening relations between people, countries and continents.
The basic pillars mentioned above are supported by the following arguments:
The economic argument – includes the objectives and the long-term effects of the economy where the internationalization of higher education is treated as a significant contribution to the development of human capacities so necessary for the international competitiveness of countries and peoples of the world. The international graduates (the foreign ones) are considered not only simple messengers, but a direct bridge connecting the international economic relations and the relations between countries, etc.;
The social argument – determines the place and the role of language and culture of a country in context of the possibility of integration into a regional or continental foreign culture;
The academic argument – includes recommended requirements in the region or continent, by respecting the tasks of achieving the goals of higher education, including the content of the studies quality and international academic standards in the field of research;
The educational argument – selecting and adopting a unique educational structure, that determines the specific of the educational system of the region or of the continent;
The political argument – determines the political orientation in appreciating the place and role of the country they represent for the promotion of a common security policy, stability and peace, spirituality, political influence etc.;
The argument of government policy – determines the multi-dimensional policy of the country’s government in the context of a common regional or continental strategy. Promoting through education the strategies of economic, social, technological development, etc., the essence of the phenomenon of internationalization of the contemporary world;
The argument of the private sector – supports and facilitates the private sector within the national economy, which is oriented on the development of the technological business and the system delivering services of international education. Harmonization of national and international legal norms regarding the process of internationalization, by creating joint enterprises, expanding the intercontinental trade and developing the common infrastructure between countries.
Conclusions:
1. ULIM is not a simple consumer of values, but a generator, a creator and a producer of innovative forms and criteria in international higher education.
2. The internationalization model of ULIM shows that the private institutions of higher education of a small country like the Republic of Moldova can become equal partners at global level in the process of internationalization and can contribute to the enhancement of the effects of this phenomenon;
3. The internationalization of the university education system is the result of the human creation, so necessary for the present and the future of the world community;
4. From this perspective, the cotutelle researches are also an interesting innovation, even if they haven’t become a major phenomenon, because of some deficiencies in the legislation. The both activities – the double diploma’s studies and the cotutelle doctoral researches represent an original solution for the demographic problems that encountered all the European countries, including the Republic of Moldova.
5. We cannot show countries and peoples with a bigger or smaller influence within this process. All the countries and peoples of the world must fructify their efforts in an equal way in order to achieve a noble purpose – the internationalization and the globalization;
6. The example of ULIM in the Republic of Moldova confirms the idea of ??promoting a new model of university management in terms of internationalization, even if there is an economic deficit of the democratic society;
7. The internationalization and the globalization require the adoption of a work program at institutional, national, regional, continental and global levels.
8. The global economic crisis, the demographic turbulences in the world and media changes impose the community to take immediate decisions.
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