”Nicolae Testemitanu” University - represented at the first international forum of francophone trainings

Students and teaching staff members from Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Republic of Moldova, Francophone University Branch, represented the institution at the first International Forum of Francophone trainings and employability on 25-27 May this year. They interacted with students from the country’s high schools interested in continuing their studies in French at our university.

Thus, medical students were the protagonists of a practical workshop entitled ”Providing first aid: the right actions in case of emergency”, inciting the interest of young people and challenging them to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation manipulations in adults and children.

Caterina, a student in the 10th grade, participating in the workshop, mentioned that she is considering the idea of ​​studying Medicine in the future, and the skills acquired during the workshop encouraged her even more in this regard. ”You can find the theory on the Internet, but practice gives you a certain technique on how to resuscitate a person who needs emergency medical help on the street.”

For her part, Iana, a 12th-grade student, said that the training was highly informative: ”I'm at a point in life when I'm thinking about my future calling and I might opt ​​for the medicinal profession.”

On the last day of the forum, two students from Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy shared their experiences during their studies in medicine at the Francophone University Branch, at a round table, as beneficiaries of various international programs supported by the Francophone University Agency ( AUF), along with other colleagues from other local universities.

Heba Verebcean, 5th year student at the Faculty of Medicine no. 1, spoke about her experience, from July 2019, at the 8th edition of the Festival of Francophone Students from Central and Eastern Europe held in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. "Along with 78 students from 16 countries, I participated in many workshops to develop skills in photography, music, theater, dance, travel and the French language. The exchange of ideas enriched my knowledge and gave me the opportunity to build new friendships", added the medical student.

Mihaela Rotari, a sixth-year student at the same university, also completed a one-month internship at the dermatology department of Erasmus University Hospital at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, in the summer of 2021, with the financial support of AUF. "At the hospital I had access to medical documents, I was able to attend and participate in consulting patients, taking skin biopsy samples - I had everything at my disposal to feel fully involved. In addition, I had the opportunity to work with modern equipment, including the most accurate device - the confocal microscope, which allows you to view the contents of the skin down to the cellular level, in real time. This internship was not only a unique professional experience, but also a month of spiritual transformation. In addition to the fact that I got to know the medical system in a European country, I overcame the internal barriers, meeting different people with broad visions ", added Mihaela enthusiastically. The young woman found that mobility is beneficial for the training of future specialists, expressing her gratitude to the Francophone University Agency which offers students the opportunity to grow, learn, discover and set goals and aspirations in another environment.

In the opinion of Veronica Ichim, Deputy Head of the Department of External Relations and European Integration of Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, responsible for the Francophone University Branch, the forum is very beneficial, because students from high schools of the republic were able to get acquainted with the educational offer of the University and they found out that the students from the Faculty of Medicine can also study in French. "We like to be close to young people, and this event offered us the opportunity to interact with them and to present all specialties directly," said Veronica Ichim.

University Assistant Ala David, Academic Performance University Center, Nicolae Testemitanu University, specified that students at the Medicine program are highly proficient in French and are very active, participating in various activities supported by AUF. "We offer them the opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities in order to develop their professional and communication skills, beneficial for their professional career. There are many initiatives, they should just be willing to get involved ", concluded Ala David.

 The Forum on Francophone Training and Employability was organized by AUF National Office in the Republic of Moldova, the French Alliance in Moldova, France Moldova Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Campus France Moldova, with the support of the French Embassy in Moldova and the French Institute in Paris, the initiative being welcomed by the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova.