INTERVIEW MOLDPRES // Valentin Chirita, Vice Dean at the Stefan cel Mare Academy, says budget-enrolled students get guaranteed job

The Stefan cel Mare Academy of the Interior Ministry (MAI) was founded 34 years ago. It is institutionally and scientifically accredited, aligned with the educational standards of the European Union and operates under the MAI and follows the directives of the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC). The Academy trains specialists for the administrative authorities and institutions under the MAI and other law-enforcement agencies of Moldova. We discussed the study conditions, educational offer and admission process for the new academic year with Valentin Chirita, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Administration, Public Order and Security, PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Chief Commissioner.

MOLDPRES: The Stefan cel Mare Academy of the MAI has been operational for over three decades. During this period, its professors have trained personnel for both the MAI system and other law-enforcement agencies. How has the institution evolved, in the context of changes in the field of internal affairs?

Valentin Chirita: The Stefan cel Mare' Academy has always served the Interior Ministry, being its founding entity. Over the years, the academy has aligned its activities with the needs of the MAI, including maintaining public order and combating crime. Thus, with societal transitions, the Academy's staff have always adhered to requirements and met challenges to train qualified personnel for the MAI. The academy has always had a Faculty of Law eligible for various MAI positions, such as criminal investigators, investigation officers, forensic specialists and security staff. Later, the need for new educational programmes emerged.

Thus, since 2019, following the reform of the MAI, several study programmes have been created, in order to remain up-to-date with contemporary requirements. In addition to basic programmes, we offer initial and continuous training programmes. Graduates are welcomed into the system and they also have the opportunity to be employed in central subdivisions of the MAI. In recent years, the Academy has become increasingly attractive to young women and we have very well-trained young ladies.

Young people ruling to study at the Stefan cel Mare Academy are true patriots, caring about social peace and safety. I am proud of our students, appreciating their courage and dedication. We often meet alumni who claim that, aside from their studies, teamwork, uniform dress, and lifelong friendships prevail here.

MOLDPRES: The admission period to higher education institutions in   Moldova is nearing. What educational offer does the Academy bring for the 2025-2026 academic year?

Valentin Chirita: At the Faculty of Law, Administration, Public Order, and Security, training takes place at cycle I (bachelor's studies) and cycle II (master’s studies) in programs within professional training fields. For bachelor’s studies, applicants can choose from the following study fields: Law, Administrative Sciences and Security Services.

In the master’s studies, training is conducted in the general field of Law. Also, a doctoral school, Penal Sciences and Public Law, is operational, with study programmes developed as a component part of higher education - cycle III of advanced studies.

According to the government decision on the state admission plan to state-funded higher education for the academic year 2024-2025, the Academy has been assigned 175 state-funded places, of which 75 are in the general field of Law and 100 in the Security Services field. At the same time, there are 60 state-funded places at cycle II (master’s studies).

The tuition fee-paying places’ limit is determined each time by the institution, considering its technical and material capacity, averaging 350 places at cycle I and 200 at cycle II studies.

The admission process is fully digitized. Documents are submitted online through the government program e-admission, where admission results are later published. This process facilitates document submission and aligns with European standards.

MOLDPRES: Naturally, the Academy, throughout its over thirty years of activity, has sought to develop its infrastructure and modernize its technical and material base. What study conditions do you provide to young people?

Valentin Chirita: The Stefan cel Mare Academy has two academic buildings with a rich technical and material base: forensic and judicial-psychological laboratories; multifunctional practical training polygons; language labs; sports halls and fields endowed with modern equipment; libraries; reading rooms; auditoriums; dormitories and hostels with housekeeping areas and relaxation zones; well-equipped canteens and food blocks. The academic campus is fully connected to the internet network (including Wi-Fi).

Also, students who secured state-funded places benefit from accommodation, meals, uniforms and equipment; free medical insurance and quality medical services; getting a military card, etc.

MOLDPRES: In which fields can young people work after graduating from the Academy and what opportunities open for them? Do you have any program to facilitate graduates’ job placement?

Valentin Chirita: Upon graduating from the Faculty of Law, Administration, Public Order and Security, students with special status, meaning those who opted for state-funded studies, receive a guaranteed job, the officer rank, a diploma offering opportunities in various specialties, and the study period counts towards work experience.

Thus, they become public officials with special status, well-prepared physically, psychologically and intellectually, capable of fulfilling service duties conscientiously under the most challenging situations.

MOLDPRES: The European integration is a priority for Moldova, which is rapidly moving towards the European Union. Are you managing to keep up with this pace? In the context of rapprochement with EU, what prospects open for the Academy?

Valentin Chirita: The Interior Ministry and the Stefan cel Mare Academy foresaw these aspects from the perspective of training quality. Training programmes about policing were developed, including through international projects. The curriculum is similar to the ones of the EU states, like Romania, Lithuania, and aligns with European educational standards. Our higher education institution has successfully achieved this vector.

An institutional evolution priority is promoting cooperation relations with development partners and similar educational institutions for joint projects in strengthening different areas, such as scientific research, training, infrastructure, equipment, etc.

The Stefan cel Mare Academy has signed a string of international collaboration agreements with competent institutions from countries like Romania, Turkey, Germany, Qatar, Austria, Armenia, Estonia, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Spain, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, etc. Also, in line with the country’s European vector and quality standards in training, initiating and perfecting modern languages is an imperative for our institution, carried out through students' participation in national and international academic mobility programmes.

External partners see great potential in achieving best practices exchange on certain topics and are highly receptive to inter-university collaboration. They are willing to support us in improving training quality. At the same time, our institution is prepared to share the accumulated experience, in overcoming potential challenges in public order and security, state border, etc.

We have many areas and topics to share both with MAI colleagues and those abroad, which makes us stronger. Education has no borders. It is an honor for me to work at the Stefan cel Mare Academy, where together with the colleagues, we dedicatedly work daily to train future specialists according to society's expectations.

We have highly qualified staff, with scientific and scientific-didactic titles, who represent the institution's image. The Academy is a modern education institution, capable of training specialists according to the latest international standards. Also, emphasis will be put on strengthening international relations, on the mutual exchange of information in scientific activity and other educational projects of common interest for the benefit of society.

Valentin Chirita, PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Chief Commissioner, has been working at the Stefan cel Mare Academy since 2004, holding various executive and leadership positions, such as Scientific Secretary of the University’s Senate, Head of the Penal Sciences Department, Dean of the Law Faculty, Vice-Rector for Studies and Quality Management, and between 2017-2019, he served as Rector of Stefan cel Mare' Academy. He currently holds the office of Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law, Administration, Public Order, and Security at the same higher education institution.

Many doctoral theses have been successfully defended under his guidance. He is a member of the editorial boards of three recognized scientific-practical journals. Valentin Chirita is the author and co-author of over 80 scientific papers published both nationally and internationally.