Four universities in Moldova will pilot electoral education as optional subject in the academic year 2023-2024. This initiative is supported by UNDP Moldova, in partnership with the Center for Continuous Electoral Training (CCET), within the project “Enhancing democracy in Moldova through inclusive and transparent elections”, funded by the British Embassy in Chișinău through the Good Governance Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The university curriculum, developed with the support of the same project, was presented on 5 May 2023 at the public event “Introducing the electoral education subject in Moldovan universities”. The conference was attended by students, professors, development partners, authors of the electoral education curriculum, and others.

“The British Embassy in Chișinău salutes the initiation of an electoral education course and supports the education and the opinion making process of future generations of voters, centered on correct and transparent information. We are very glad that this curriculum is launched today and we hope that young people in universities will become more involved and will know how to monitor the fulfillment of the elected representatives’ commitments,” stated Steven Fisher, British Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.

Students from partner universities in Chișinău, Comrat, Bălți, and Cahul will gain basic knowledge in the electoral field, will study contemporary electoral systems, will learn about elections and their types, about the electoral management institutions during elections and about the importance of electoral culture as component of the political culture. 

“In Moldova, the active participation of young people in electoral cycles is particularly important in ensuring the legitimacy and transparency of the election process. This is why the development of an electoral education curriculum dedicated to young people in higher education institutions is so important. By promoting an electoral and democratic culture and developing civic skills among youth, we can ensure that future voters are well-educated and equipped to actively participate in democratic processes,” said Andrea Cuzyova, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. to the Republic of Moldova. 

Until now, electoral education was only studied at law or political studies faculties. Thanks to introducing electoral education as an optional subject, students of several faculties –history and civic education, journalism, sociology, philology – will have access to the respective knowledge.

“The Central Electoral Commission encourages the piloting by universities of electoral education as an optional subject, as this contributes to increasing awareness among young people regarding civic participation in the social and political life of the country, and, at the same time, to increasing young people’s participation rate in electoral processes,” said Angelica Caraman, President of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

“Electoral education as an optional subject in universities will expand the knowledge of young people about the decision-making processes of the government, this initiative contributing to strengthening of democracy in Moldova,” added Doina Bordeianu Director of CCET.

The implementation partners plan at engaging more higher education institutions in piloting electoral education as an optional subject, thus contributing to a more active participation of young people in electoral and democratic processes.