Austria's education system as a model for Moldova's reform course
On the initiative of Austria's Education and Internationalisation Agency (OeAD), Moldovan Minister of Education Dan Perciun and a delegation visited Vienna and Linz on a study trip from 3 to 6 March 2026. The focus was on in-depth exchanges on initial teacher training, particularly on pedagogical practice. The Republic of Moldova is one of the committed candidates for accession to the European Union. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, the OeAD has been supporting sustainable educational reforms in the young republic since 2003 through its cooperation office in Chișinău. These include systemically relevant and sustainable projects in areas such as inclusion and vocational training.
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr welcomed his Moldovan counterpart to a working meeting. Wiederkehr emphasised the strategic importance of more than 20 years of bilateral cooperation: "Austria and the Republic of Moldova are linked by successful, long-standing cooperation in the field of education. In addition to the new Austrian School in Moldova, educational cooperation in the pre-university sector is an expression of our long-term commitment to sustainable reform partnerships. The further development of teacher training not only strengthens the quality of teaching and education and improves opportunities for the young generation locally, but also promotes integration into the European Education Area."
The talks with Moldova and the OeAD focused on digitalisation, inclusion and innovation models, and in particular the EU's Erasmus+ programme and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). ‘The OeAD is an important force for cooperation and innovation in the field of education, not only in Austria but also beyond. Moldova is in the process of joining the EU, and our activities not only support the reform process but also have a positive impact on stability and sustainable educational development,’ explained OeAD Managing Director Jakob Calice.
Education Minister Perciun emphasised: ‘The systematic anchoring of school practice in theoretical training is key to the professionalisation of prospective teachers. The important cooperation with Austria as our long-standing partner in the field of education provides important impetus for the sustainable further development of our training system.’
Educational cooperation with Moldova
With its programme ‘Educational Cooperation with Eastern and South-Eastern Europe’ (BIKO), the OeAD is making an important contribution to the EU accession process on behalf of the Ministry of Education. The aim is to strengthen dialogue and long-term partnerships in the field of education. To this end, consultations are also held with the EU agency European Training Foundation. In Moldova, more than 37,000 pupils, 6,000 teachers and 350 educational institutions have benefited from the BIKO programme to date. Twenty multi-year projects have been developed and implemented by the OeAD with Moldovan partners.
The current programme priorities for educational cooperation in the Republic of Moldova include the I-VET project for the sustainable strengthening of inclusive vocational education and training and the VET-CONNECT project, which intensifies cooperation between vocational education and training institutions and companies by training business coordinators.
The Moldovan delegation also visited the University of Education Upper Austria and the European School Linz. For Moldova, dialogue with Austria is a key driver for modernising teacher training. Since September 2024, there has therefore been an intensive exchange of expertise between the University of Education Upper Austria and the Moldovan Ministry of Education, initiated by the OeAD. Host Rector Walter Vogel was delighted with the study trip: ‘This visit is a sign of the deepening of the good partnership with the Republic of Moldova. We are pleased to share our experience in teacher training with local policy makers and experts, while at the same time broadening our own perspective.’
Since autumn 2025, Austria has also been present locally with the new Austrian School Moldova (SAM). On 1 September 2025, the eighth Austrian school abroad in Chișinău opened its doors as a technical college for electronics and technical informatics with 48 students. The students benefit from high-quality, innovative education with a strong practical focus. They are taught by Austrian and Moldovan teachers according to the Austrian curriculum. In addition to sound practical and theoretical training, particular importance is attached to the acquisition of the German language.
The Moldovan delegation held further talks with Teach For Austria and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
Link to the OeAD folder ‘Moldova’: oead.at/moldau-folder
