How is the ALE-System performing in Moldova? Do adults in the country have enough opportunities to learn? What are the barriers for participation? These were the questions discussed at the National conference on “Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in Moldova: State of Art and Prospects of Development”, which took place in the capital of the country on 15 September 2025.
The event was organised by DVV International Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research and Moldova’s National Commission for UNESCO-Affairs. The conference brought together around 60 participants, including policymakers, experts from the field, representatives of civil society and academia, ALE practitioners, and international experts.
The conference served as an open platform to reflect on the current state of ALE in the country, discuss achievements and ongoing challenges, and explore international experiences that can inspire national strategies in the context of Moldova’s EU integration process.
The event was opened by Dr. Adela Scutaru-Gutu, Country Director of DVV International Moldova. Welcome speeches were delivered by Dr. Ludmilla Stihi, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research, Dr. Verena Zell, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chisinau, Prof. Dr. Sergiu Musteata, Secretary General of the Moldova’s National Commission for UNESCO-Affairs, and Arne Zielinski, Member of the Board of the German Adult Education Association (DVV) and Director of the Educational Campus of the City of Nuremberg. In their remarks, the speakers underlined the importance of ALE for building democracy, emphasised the role of international cooperation, and reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthen ALE as part of the national education system.
The first session, Building ALE Systems – Governance, Policy Framework and Funding Mechanisms, featured presentations from representatives of the Ministry of Education and Research, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The provided inputs focused on the legal framework and ongoing reforms in the sector, description of international commitments of Moldova in the field of ALE and lifelong learning (LLL) and sharing of best international practice regarding existing financing mechanisms.
The second session, ALE and Lifelong Learning in the EU and Prospects for Development of the Sector in the Republic of Moldova, highlighted EU policies on ALE and shared experiences from Romania’s adaptation of its legal framework during the EU integration process. Special attention was given to the sustainability of efforts and the inclusive role played by civil society. The session concluded with a panel discussion on the Prospects of ALE-Sector Development in the Republic of Moldova, with contributions by the State Secretary Dr. Ludmilla Stihi, Magdalena Burtscher from the OECD, Katja Römer from the UIL, Prof. Dr. Simona Sava from the West University of Timișoara, and Arne Zielinski from DVV.
The third session was devoted to case studies, presenting German experiences in ALE alongside examples from Moldovan civil society and private sector.
The final session, moderated by Dr. Adela Scutaru-Gutu and Levan Kvatchadze (both from DVV International), focused on a joint interactive discussion about the development of a national ALE system in Moldova and respective challenges. The session concluded with a set of main points and recommendations put forward by the participants as outcome of the conference:
Adult learning and education is one of the keys to sustainable development, as it contributes to stable democracy and encourages active citizenship.
The governance and development of ALE should be a shared responsibility that involves not only the Ministry of Education and Research, other governmental bodies, local authorities, and civil society, private sector actors, and ALE providers.
There is a need for a stronger coordination and exchange in this area and the participants of the conference suggested to institutionalise the national dialogue in the sector.
It is important to start data collection in the ALE field to launch evidence-based policy making.
To make ALE offers inclusive and accessible to everyone, with special attention to disadvantaged groups.
The conference reaffirmed that ALE is not only an educational priority, but also a driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and a factor for stability of democracy. Building on international experience and national initiatives, Moldova has the opportunity to create a more inclusive and future-oriented lifelong learning eco-system in the country.
DVV International, together with its partners, remains committed to supporting this process by facilitating dialogue in the sector and provide necessary capacity building.
The National Conference was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).