Bilateral agreements  

The priorities of the Republic of Moldova in the field of education are determined by the country’s European integration agenda. The Republic of Moldova applied for European Union membership in March 2022 and was granted candidate status in June 2022. Accession negotiations were formally opened in June 2024. The European Union and Moldova also cooperate in the context of the Eastern Partnership

The Republic of Moldova collaborates with a range of international and regional organisations, including the Council of Europe, UN specialised agencies, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the Central European Initiative (CEI), and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

The Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova has established bilateral agreements with several third countries to promote cooperation across all levels of education. These agreements aim to facilitate academic exchanges, joint research, mutual recognition of qualifications, and the development of joint educational programmes. Moldova has signed agreements in fields ranging from pre-university education to higher education and vocational training, covering partnerships with countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Key areas of collaboration include teacher training, curriculum development, student and staff mobility, and capacity building of educational institutions. Such agreements support the internationalisation of the Moldovan education system, enhance the quality of learning, and strengthen cultural and scientific ties with partner countries, providing opportunities for Moldovan students and educators to gain international experience and expertise.

Cooperation and participation in worldwide programmes and organisations 

The Republic of Moldova actively participates in multilateral cooperation within global education programmes and organisations. Regional cooperation represents a complementary dimension of the Republic of Moldova’s European integration agenda. The Republic of Moldova collaborates with a range of international and regional organisations, including the Council of Europe, UN specialised agencies, participates in the Central European Initiative (CEI), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP), and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). These platforms facilitate political dialogue, economic collaboration, and the development of joint initiatives, including in the field of education and professional training. Through these structures, Moldova supports projects on academic mobility, exchange of best practices between educational institutions, teacher training and development of professional skills, thereby contributing to the improvement of educational quality and the integration of European and global dimensions into the national education system.

Thus, the PISA assessment, conducted every three years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), evaluates the competencies of 15- to 16-year-old pupils in three core areas: reading, mathematics, and science, as well as in the innovative domain of learning in a digital world. PISA results provide key data and indicators to inform education policy. The Republic of Moldova has participated in five PISA cycles: PISA 2009+, 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2025.