Moldova minister pitches his country as education destination; recalls 'Jimmy Jimmy' song's popularity

To position Moldova as a prime education destination for Indian students, Dan Perciun,Moldova'sMinister of Education and Research, has highlighted the numerous benefits of studying in his country. Speaking exclusively to WION in Chișinău, Perciun emphasisedMoldova’shigh-quality, English-based education system."We have excellent teachers here who speak English fluently. An English-based education is a tremendous opportunity for any young person today, and you can receive that here in Moldova at a very high level,"he remarked.

Perciun pointed out the cost-effectiveness of Moldovan education compared to that in the European Union.

"The cost for a medical degree here is about ten times less than in an EU country. On average, studying in Moldova is three to four times cheaper. For instance, while an IT degree in Holland might cost 15,000-20,000 euros, in Moldova, the same degree would be about 2,500-3,000 euros.Thisis a highly competitive offer, even compared to Indian prices,"he stated.

Currently,there are about 2,000 Indian students in Moldova,mostlyenrolled in medical courses.However, Perciun is keen to diversify this trend.

"We are expanding our programs to include software engineering, veterinary medicine, psychology, and business. We havea wide array ofsubjects and are working to increase our offerings. We also have a significant number of students from Israel, but the Indian market is a major focus for us right now,"he said.

Perciun believes that Moldova can help meetthehigh demand for higher educationin India.

"India is a vibrant, young market with a huge demand for higher education. We hope to be part of that solution. We plan to visit India this summer, bringing our universities to meet with Indian authorities and address accreditation issues, particularly for veterinary medicine,"he announced. He assured that Moldovan degreesare recognizedin India, with the exception of veterinary medicine, which requires special accreditation.

Reflecting on his connection to India, Perciun shared his experiences from a decade ago.

"I spent a month and a half in India, working at a cancer hospital in Kolkata. It was an incredible experience. India is a country with enormous potential and vibrant energy,"he said.

Perciun also highlightedMoldova'scultural ties with India, recalling thepopularity of theHindi song"Jimmy Jimmy Aja Aja"in Moldova."You can still hear it in discotheques, especially among the older generation who grew up watching Indian movies in the 90s,"he reminisced.

Additionally, hepromoted Moldova as a wine destination, noting thecountry'srichwinemakingtraditionthat spansover 2,000 years.

"Our wine sector is growing and highly regarded in Europe. We have many small, niche wine producers, andwine-makingis deeply embeddedin our culture.We'reeager to expand our exports to new markets, including India and China,"he added.