The document provides an overview of the development and implementation of a new Master's program in "Family-centered social policies" at Moldova State University. It describes the objectives, structure, courses, faculty, students, and resources for the program. The program aims to train specialists in social policy development and implementation related to families. It will consist of 120 credits over 2 years and include courses taught by habilitate doctors and PhDs at MSU as well as visiting professors from partner universities. Students will gain skills in social policy analysis, evaluation, and design to qualify them for careers in government, NGOs, and research organizations. Infrastructure and resources at MSU including classrooms, libraries, and centers will support the new program

1. Moldova State University
project coordinator – Maria BULGARU
habilitat doctor, professor

2. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (1)
 Status quo report
The master programme “Family centered social policies”
 List of objectives of the MA
The objectives of the Master Program "Family-centered social policies":
o training of specialists in social field for participation in the development
and implementation of the family-centered social policies;
o deepening of knowledge in the areas: centered on family European
social policies, on family law, management of social services addressed
to family, social inclusion, appreciative parent education, etc.
o development of skills for the analysis, evaluation and elaboration of
social policies.

3. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (2)
List of generic competencies to be
achieved by graduates of the MA
 knowledge of the main types of social policies;
 identification and consulting in social problems
at local and regional levels;
 social policies monitoring;
 social costs of social policies establishment;
 evaluation of the impact of social policies on
population quality of life.

4. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (3)
List of specific competencies to be achieved by
graduates of the MA
 identification and analysis of problems faced by the family, at the
local and regional level, based on the methods of social analysis;
 predict the evolution of family behavior;
 developing of recommendations for family-centered policies improving;
 acquiring of diverse modalities of working with various
governmental and nongovernmental institutions for the
development of coherent social policy to solve the family issues;
 knowledge of techniques for accessing the European funds for the
development of family-centered social policy;
 management of social services addressed to family and child.

5. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (4)
Target-groups for recruitment
 On master program will be admitted the graduates for the first cycle
with bachelor's degree, who has studied in the fields of social work,
sociology, public health, law, political science, psychology and other
related areas.
 On master program are admitted both: the graduates without work
experience and persons engaged in professional activities.
Accreditation and approvals necessary documents:
 The accreditation of the higher education institution is a condition for
opening the master program (Moldova State University is accredited in
accordance with the evaluation procedures and the academic
accreditation).
 The necessary document for the master program approval is the
authorization request to the Ministry of Education accompanied by the
dossier of evaluation of institutional capacity for the implementation of
master program

6. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (5)
The establishment stages of a new master are:
 Elaboration and approval of the master program at the department
level;
 Approval of the master program at the Faculty Council;
 Approval of the master program by the University Senate;
 Submission of the authorization request to the Ministry of Education
accompanied by the dossier of evaluation of the institutional capacity
for the implementation of master program (file is attached). The
request must be submitted no later than 6 months before the master
program starts.
Decision of the University to start the MA
 The MSU Senate approved the master program "Family centered social
policies" on December 27, 2011. Currently, the dossier is at the
Ministry of Education for the authorization.
Academic and administrative person in charge of the MA
 Maria Bulgaru, habilitat doctor, university professor, dean

7. Initial assessment of the
Master Program (6)
Assessment of existing infrastructure resources for the MA
 Study building of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work with
37 classrooms, two computer classes (28 desk computers);
 Several resources centers with literature and ICT equipment: Republican Social
Work Resources Center (opened in collaboration with UNICEF), Center of
Excellence (opened within the Tempus Project “Professionalization of the education
in social work”), Sociological Research Center (opened in collaboration with IOM),
Learning Class (opened within the Tempus Project “Master programmes in public
health and social services”);
 Over 3,700 titles of the latest literature in social sciences (textbooks, papers,
methodological guidelines, specialized periodicals, etc.) at the mentioned centers.
 Branch of MSU Central Library, specialized in social sciences.
Assessment of existing teaching human resources for the MA
 The teaching of master courses will be achieved by 2 habilitate doctors
and 7 PhDs, holders of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, and by
professors from other faculties MSU

8. Status quo report (1)
List of existing Master programs at MSU
 Currently 73 master programs are performed at the MSU.
 Faculty of Sociology and Social Work perform four master programs:
"Studies of childhood and children rights" (120 credits), "Management
of the social services" (120 credits), "Administration of justice in the
community" (120 credits), "The methodology of social research" (120
credits).
Analysis of the existing National Legislation
 The legal framework regulating the organization of higher education
at the Master Level refers to the "Law of Education"
No 547 from 21.07.1995, and "Regulations on the organization of
higher education at Master level, Cycle 2", approved by
Government Decision No 1455 from 24.12.2007.

9. Status quo report (2)
Curricula of existing MA
 All master programs at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work are
assured with curriculum / program.
Internal regulations of the University regarding MA
programs
 The studies at the second cycle (Master) is regulated by the MSU
"Regulation on the organization of master studies, second cycle,"
approved by the University Senate in 2008.
Analysis of the Political Framework
 The political, social and demographic information was analyzed in
the Status quo Report. They are amiable for the education
processes.

10. Status quo report (3)
Analysis of existing resources in the university
MSU has a technical and material well-equipped base to ensure all
areas of university activity:
 11 study buildings
 16 student residences
 6 research centers with 26 laboratories
 MSU Central Library and its branches at faculties
 Center of Information Technologies
 Editorial Center
 12 Cultural and Language Centers
 Palace of Culture, Orthodox Church, Palace of Sports, 4 sports
halls, 3 student canteens, 6 bases of practice and 3 recreation
centers etc.

11. Curricula characteristics (1)
Curricula and syllabus of all courses
developed
The syllabuses are developed for all modules/disciplines of
the curricula (curricula is shown below, on the next
slide).

13. Curricula characteristics (2)
Methods of teaching used in each course
The following teaching methods will be used:
 problematical teaching,
 discussion,
 brainstorming,
 teamwork,
 projects development,
 case studies,
 computer based teaching,
 simulation,
 modeling, etc.
Grading scheme to be used
10 points based (30%-individual work; 30%-seminars; 40%-exam)
Number of ECTS per course
Master's program is planned for two academic years and is quantified in 120 credits: 30 credits
per semester and, respectively, 60 credits per academic year.
The number of credits for each discipline is calculated depending on the total number of hours,
based on the proportion: 30 hours = 1 credit.
In the total number of hours are included direct contact hours (lecture, seminar, laboratory)
and hours for the individual work. For specialty practice stage are provided 10 credits in
semester 3, for master thesis - 30 credits in semester 4.

14. Students of the new Master Program (1)
Entrance requirements
On master program can be admitted graduates of the first cycle
with bachelor degree, and graduates of higher education from
pre-Bologna (until 2005), in the base of the admission contest
organized according to "Regulation of organization and
development of admission to higher education of Master, second
cycle," approved by MSU Senate.
The Ministry of Education determines admission plan, which
contains the number of budget and contract places for each
master program.

15. Students of the new Master Program (2)
Selection criteria for new students
Selection of the candidates for master programs is carried out during the admission
session that is held in July-August of each year. The contest requires three
writen samples (tests):
 complex exam on profile discipline (thus, for admission to the master programs
offered by our faculty, the candidate must pass the exam on “Theoretical and
methodological concepts of studying the social processes”, which contains
common and specific, adapted for each master program subjects);
 testing the knowledge of one of foreign language (not russian);
 testing the competences of computer use
(these competences can be recognized on the basis of certificates TOEFEL, DALF,
Europas, DAAF, ECFL, ECDL, etc.)
The admission to the master is made in decreasing order of general media obtained
by the candidates, in the limit of the number of offered by Ministry of Education
places.

16. Students of the new Master Program (3)
Potential career paths on the labor market for graduates
Graduates of the master program "Family-centered social policies" will be
able to work as analysts, servants, advisers, experts, program
coordinators, researchers, etc., in the following areas:
 Central Government institutions (the ministries of Labor and Social
Protection, of Education, of Youth and Sports, of Health, of Justice, of
Internal Affairs, National Bureau of Statistics, National House of Social
Insurance, Department of Migration, Bureau of Ethnic Relations,
National Agency of Labor Force Employment etc.) etc.;
 Local Public Administration (regional Departments of Social Work and
Family Protection, Directions of Social Work, Directions for the Child
Rights Protection, the territorial Houses of Social Insurance, Labor Force
Offices, etc.);
 Academy of Sciences of Moldova, sociological research centers (OPINIA,
IMAS, CBS-AXA, CIVIS, CCS etc.);
 Social services provided by NGOs, associations, foundations etc.

17. Students of the new Master Program (4)
System of student evaluation (of the courses?)
The evaluation technologies and methods of MA students are adapted to
the specific of the courses. The MA students are evaluated in a written
form, by using tests that require responses at three levels: definition,
application and integration of the knowledge.
The evaluation process at the faculty includes the following forms:
 Initial evaluation, that establishes the knowledge level of MA students
at the beginning of a new discipline;
 Continuing or formative evaluation, provided in various forms: essays,
debates, development of research projects, case studies, tests, etc.,
which help to provide to the teacher and to the student a feedback
about the knowledge they have accumulated and some met difficulties;
 Summative or final evaluation at the end of a sequence of study
(control works, certification, annual thesis, promotion and licensing
exams, etc.), which provide information about the general and
professional level of the student's education.

18. ICT
Installed ICT resources
All procured equipments (12 laptops,
server, LED projector, wall screen,
local WiFi network etc.) are installed
and are ready to be used. We plan to
provide several workshops on ICT
utilization for courses development.
Project website
 Information about the Project activities
is available on the Faculty WEB page
on the MSU site, http://usm.md/assf
 Now we are working to elaborate the
project WEBsite and it posting on the
resources center server.

19. Cooperation with TEMPUS Partners
List of professors from other TEMPUS partners to teach at
the MA
It is expected the involvement in the teaching process of teachers from the:
 Faculty of Sociology and Social Work – 9
 Faculty of Law – 1
 Faculty of Economics – 1
 Faculty of Psychology – 1
 State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu“ – 1-2.
Student mobility plan involving the other TEMPUS partners
Currently it is premature to plan stages of MA students’ mobility, because the
mobility is achieved, usually on a competitive basis. Once we will start the
master program, the students will be encouraged to participate in the
academic mobility programs, which are part of MSU (e.g. Erasmus-Mundus
Program).

20. Training the trainers course – UK
Partner report
The MSU team report on the study visit at the University of Cumbria was presented.
Analysis of acquired knowledge:
In the UK the discussions have focused on the modality of master curriculum elaboration in
accordance with Bologna Process and in the specific national context; on opportunity to
include in the future programmes some courses related to domestic violence, gender
equality, interethnic relations and conflict mediation, various methods of working with
beneficiaries and other. A particular interest has presented by the visit to the Center of
social services for families in risk in the Carlisle city, where the MSU team exchanged views
with the managers and workers regarding the work collaboration between the community
center and university. These activities have permitted to achieve some knowledge and
clarify the problems regarding the structure and content of master programme.
Analysis of acquired skills
Some practical skills were formed in the field of advanced technology using for courses
development.
Plan to include training results in the MA
The accumulated knowledge and skills will be used in the teaching process.

21. Training the trainers course – Sweden
Partner report
The MSU team Report on study visit at Royal Institute of Technology KTH was presented.
Analysis of acquired knowledge
The MSU participants at study visit have been familiarized in the topics, from which some
knowledge has been acquired. These are: the use of new informational technologies in the
training process, the active participation of students in the learning process using special
computer programs, flexible learning, sustainability in higher education, evaluation models
of students activity, etc. At the professional level, the visits to the Faculty of Technology and
Health of the Royal Institute of Technology and to the University Hospital also have been
interesting, because there was evidenced the essential link between research and
education.
Analysis of acquired skills
There were acquired some practical skills in online learning organization. In this sense, it
was useful the demonstration of online methods of learning in Sweden.
Plan to include training results in the MA
Knowledge and skills accumulated will be used in the teaching process.