Skytte Institute receives funding for the new ESTDEV project - CONNECT4MORE

The project builds on previous successful collaboration established between the University of Tartu (UT) and Moldova State University (MSU) through the experience of “Enhancing Moldova's Europeanization through innovative teaching practices” (Best4ME) and “Estonia's Best Practices for Enhancement of Moldova's Higher Education Capacities” (EST4MORE) by expanding the scope of the activities to new areas and reaching wider audiences to ensure sustainability.

The project “Connecting Estonia and Moldova for European Readiness and Innovative Education” (CONNECT4MORE) has received funding from the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and will run from March to December 2025. The project – led by our Institute – will involve directly Moldovan universities, lecturers, and stakeholders and will be locally coordinated by Dr. Cristina Ejov and her team from Moldovan State University.

Over the next ten months, CONNECT4MORE will address challenges in Moldovan higher education institutions by engaging several key target groups. The project aims to:

• equip educators in Moldovan HEIs with digital skills and provide open educational resources (OERs) to support innovative teaching practices.
• enhance students' understanding of European integration and their competitiveness in the future job market.
• connect Moldovan and Estonian students through a joint study experience, fostering intercultural understanding and raising awareness of the EU accession process and the EU’s role in promoting a secure, resilient, and democratic Europe.

In particular, within the framework of CONNECT4MORE, the Johan Skytte Institute, together with our local partners, will:

1. deliver a teacher training program on developing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), including an online co-design workshop and a one-week intensive training in Tartu and Tallinn.

2. Create a joint MOOC titled Moldova and EU Integration (1 ECTS), accessible to both learners and the general public in Moldova.

3. Develop Open Educational Resources (OERs) to support Moldovan educators in improving digital teaching practices.

4. Organize a blended intensive program on European Studies and the EU enlargement process for MSU and UT students, consisting of a webinar series and a one-week study visit to Estonia.

5. Host a final multiplier event to assess the project's impact and disseminate its outcomes to stakeholders in Moldova.

According to Dr. Stefano Braghiroli, Associate Professor of European Studies at the University of Tartu and academic coordinator of the project, “CONNECT4MORE reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting Moldova’s European path through education, innovation, and meaningful partnerships. By combining digital innovation, academic excellence, and bi-lateral dialogue among young people, this project will not only empower Moldovan educators and students but also strengthen the bridges between our countries. We are proud to continue this journey with our partners working together towards Moldova's full European integration.”

According to Ms. Anna Beitane, Head of Digital Education Projects, “At the heart of CONNECT4MORE is the belief that quality education must be inclusive, future-oriented, and adaptable. By supporting Moldovan educators in developing digital competencies and co-creating open, accessible learning resources, we aim to foster sustainable change in teaching and learning practices. This project is an opportunity to inspire innovation in the classroom and beyond as well as to make Moldova State University a hub of online learning in Moldova and the broader region.”

The project is supported by ESTDEV - Estonian Centre for International Development

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