Seeking solutions to enhancing competitiveness of Moldovan universities: implementation of problem-based learning

Abstract

Higher education institutions are considered to be an institutional resource absolutely indispensable for an economy in the process of building a knowledge society and achieving the objectives of redefining the foundations of competitiveness. During the recent years higher education has undergone multiple changes. The number of students worldwide is steadily decreasing due to demographic decline. Therefore, European universities, and not only, are constantly facing a fierce competition in attracting better, more talented students. Under these conditions, boundaries practically have no importance. In order to cope with competition, but also to face the changes in society, Moldovan universities should implement such learning methods that would allow the development of students’ creativity, which would make the able to work in the most complex organizations. We are confident that implementing the student-cantered learning methods in the practice of higher education institutions, including problem-based learning, would allow universities to have a better connection with business environment, become competitive in the regional market and may be even the European one.