Moldova aims to attract more Indian students: Education minister Dan Perciun

Moldova's education minister Dan Perciun, who is on an India visit, is hoping to get more Indian students to choose his country as a destination for higher education. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, minister Perciun said, "What we are offering is high-quality education at an affordable price, in a safe place, in internationally accredited universities...". The minister will be meeting his Indian counterpart very soon.

The Moldovan minister, who visited WION headquarters, explained, "We are looking to welcome more Indian students to Moldova, to make ourselves more known here. And we have to say, there is a lot of interest, and we are very, very glad to acknowledge that." 

The minister is accompanied by chiefs of top Moldova’s universities who are participating in Education Worldwide India - Education Summit 2024.

The country is home to around 3000 Indian students, many of them doing medical education. In fact, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in 2022, Moldova provided refuge to many Indian students. Full interview.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India and Moldova relations?

Dan Perciun: It has indeed been growing very fast. We will soon have a high-level visit, the visit of the foreign minister. We had the agricultural minister, who is visiting India. So we are looking to develop the economic side of the relationship, also the cultural side. And, of course, the educational element is very, very important to us. We are looking to welcome more Indian students to Moldova, to make ourselves more known here. And we have to say, there is a lot of interest, and we are very, very glad to acknowledge that. 

Sidhant Sibal: If you can talk about how many Indian students are there in Moldova, and what are the facilities for these Indian students in Moldova that they are there, and they find Moldova as a place, a good place to study for higher education?

Dan Perciun: So far, we have around 3000 Indian students. But you have to know that Moldova has a population of 2.6 million. So that is actually the largest student population, international student population, that we have. So we are very happy to have that many Indian students already. They have come so far for about 10 years, mostly for medicine. But the purpose of our visit here is also to diversify and see how we can attract more to other specialties, be it medicine, veterinary medicine, be it economics, business, psychology, law and so on. So really, this is the purpose of this visit. What we have to offer is high-quality, affordable and safe education. I have been meeting Indian students recently. I've asked them exactly this, Why have you chosen to come? And they said the main reasons are because it's safe and it's affordable and it's good quality. I really believe there is way, way more that can be done. We've been to an educational fair this week. We will be meeting Indian officials to make ourselves better known and to convince more Indian students to explore Moldova as a very good, very good educational option.

Sidhant Sibal: So your visit is the first visit by a Moldovan minister to Delhi. So what are the key focus areas? And as you pointed out that you want to meet the officials here. So if you can elaborate on the agenda of your Delhi visit.

Dan Perciun: Well, we are meeting the education minister very soon, since I really believe it has to be a two-way street. So yes, indeed, we are looking for more Indian students, but we are very happy to explore how more Moldovan students could come to India as well. I think international education in this day and age, with all the geopolitical strides that exist, is very important to build long-lasting peace, improve cultural relations, and to get to know each other better. That's why it's not only about Indians coming to Moldova. It's also about Moldovans coming here and developing that kind of relationship, which will be the foundation for future growth for all our countries. At the same time, we'll be meeting the department for husbandry. It's another important meeting we are looking forward to, since we are looking to get Indian accreditation for our veterinary medicine, which is in progress, and I'm sure that as a result of these high-level meetings, we will move more swiftly. We have also been to an educational fair, met Indian students, talked to them, and listened to them. We've come with a large delegation. There are 15 of us here. We've brought the rectors, and vice rectors of the largest universities in the country. So that is also very, very important to us. And of course, you're also meeting some recruiters. 

Sidhant Sibal: What are the areas when it comes to higher education, where Indian students can go and study, whether it's STEM or whether it's humanities, if you can talk about that, and particularly universities, if you can point out that how important these universities are for not only Moldova, but if an Indian student goes to a particular university, he will get better opportunities, not only in Moldova but in Europe and in the West. 

Dan Perciun: Well, what you have to know is our universities are internationally accredited by European institutions. Our Medical University has also been accredited by a US accreditation body, something which we're very proud of. Medicine has been a long-standing opportunity that has been out there and is most popular among Indian students. So the testimony from the Medical University is definitely on the map. We are putting now on the map our Technical University for software engineering, animation, for veterinary medicine. They joined us on this trip as well. Also with us here is the Academy of Economic Sciences, our Pedagogical University. So we brought really the best that we have

Sidhant Sibal: When the invasion of Ukraine started by Russia in 2022 your country provided a lot of refuge to a lot of people, including Indian students. Perhaps you can shed light on how Moldova provided a safe place for many of these Indian students. 

Dan Perciun: Well, indeed, when the war started, we had, over a very short period of time, nearly half a million refugees that had passed from Moldova. Many of them stayed. We've all welcomed everyone. We've assisted with housing, food, and travel arrangements for those who wanted to return back to their countries, and Indian students were amongst them, because many of them chose to study in Ukraine, as you well know, and we've catered all to all their needs. There has been very good collaboration with the authorities to assist with travel. Actually, to this day, because of the war, we still have Indian students in Ukraine, who are gradually relocating to Moldova and coming to our universities to continue their studies. 

Sidhant Sibal: What message will you give to many of the Indian students or their parents who will be watching your interview as to why they should choose Muldo as a destination for higher studies? 

Dan Perciun: Indian society is a society that puts a lot of value on education, and it is wonderful to see how much recognition there is of the power of education, social and economic, personal, and family level, but also for the country. What we are offering is high-quality education at an affordable price, in a safe place, in internationally accredited universities, with the possibility to come back to India, of course, for those who wish to do so, or for those who are looking for international careers and opportunities to be able to continue further on. We are investing a lot in our universities. At the moment, Moldova is looking to become a member country of the European Union. By 2030 we are already a candidate country, which means that our standards are aligning to European standards. And there is the financial investment also there to have the laboratories, to have the practical experience, which is so much asked for by Indian students, and actually by Moldovan students as well. You know, one of the conversations we had at the fair with a young Indian girl. She was saying, I really want a very practical higher education, not so much theory, I want to develop the skills which are asked for in the labor market, and that is something that we can provide. 

Sidhant Sibal: So you mentioned affordability, and that is something that many Indians will be watching closely. So in terms of affordability, say, for example, a student goes to study engineering, how much it will cost, including the stay, relative to perhaps other countries? 

Dan Perciun: Well, so for a semester, because obviously this is how you count things. Here it would be about 90,000 local currency, and then in dollars, it would be about $1,300, per semester.

Sidhant Sibal: My last question to you is, while the relationship is growing substantially, your embassy is functioning very well here, India does not have an embassy in your country. It's working from a neighboring country. So what will be your request for the Indian government, because the presence of an Indian Embassy is always helpful for the local Indian population, the Indian students if you can perhaps talk about this issue. 

Dan Perciun: Well, I have to say the Indian authorities have been extraordinary. We have been able to have these high-level visits, and high-level meetings, which we are very grateful for. But of course, going forward, once our embassy here is officially launched in December, we would very much welcome an Indian Embassy in Moldova. As the relationships grow, as more Indians are coming, and as the exchanges intensify, I think there are a lot of shared opportunities.