On June 17, 2026, the fifth Monitoring and Quality Assurance Advisory Group virtual meeting within the ERASMUS+ project NEEDEDU4.0 – Enhancing Mechanical Engineering Education in Moldova for Industry 4.0 was successfully held via MS Teams.

The meeting brought together members of the Quality Assurance Board, the Advisory Group, and the project management team. The discussions focused on the activities implemented during the first and second quarters of the third project year, as well as on the progress achieved in relation to the quality assurance and monitoring framework.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed the current status of several key project activities, including the delivery of the NIMP master programme, the organization of co-teaching sessions with EU partner institutions, and the evaluation and refinement of training materials. It was noted that the teaching activities are progressing according to the established academic schedule, while the planned co-teaching sessions have been successfully completed.

Particular attention was given to the feedback collected from students after the first and second semesters of the programme. The results confirmed a positive level of satisfaction and provided useful input for the continuous improvement of the teaching process and training materials. A separate feedback survey for academic staff is also planned in order to further assess the implementation of the programme.

The project team also reviewed the continuous activities related to the project website, dissemination of results, publication of articles, and management coordination. The participants emphasized the importance of maintaining updated information on the project platform and ensuring the visibility of project achievements at institutional, national, and international levels.

An important part of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the fourth external evaluation report by Mr. Alexander Krauss. The report highlighted the high quality of project implementation, the positive evolution of most quality indicators, and the strong cooperation among the project partners. According to the external evaluation, the project continues to make a substantial contribution compared to the baseline situation, while the quality of cooperation, communication, and coordination remains at a high level.

At the same time, the evaluation underlined several aspects that require continued attention, particularly the administrative and accreditation-related challenges connected to the implementation of the inter-university master programme. The participants discussed possible solutions, including stronger promotion of the programme, closer cooperation with industry partners, and further coordination with relevant national authorities.

The management team emphasized the importance of increasing the visibility of the NIMP programme among potential candidates and companies. In this context, the role of industry partners was highlighted as essential for promoting the programme, supporting its relevance to labour market needs, and ensuring the sustainability of project results.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining the quality of project implementation, strengthening cooperation between universities and industry, and ensuring the long-term impact of the NEEDEDU4.0 project. The next Monitoring and Quality Assurance Advisory Group meeting is planned for October 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed by the consortium.