NEEDEDU4.0 – Enhancing Mechanical Engineering Education in Moldova for Industry 4.0 project was among the featured ERASMUS+ initiatives showcased at the national event “Innovation in Education: ERASMUS+ and STEAM Without Borders in Moldova”, hosted by the Technical University of Moldova (TUM).

Held under the umbrella of the “Youth for Europe” initiative, the event brought together over 250 pupils, students, educators, and public officials for a forward-looking dialogue on the modernization of education, cross-border cooperation, and the importance of STEAM fields in the digital era.

As part of the exhibition of impactful ERASMUS+ and Interreg projects organized at the Open-Air Museum Park of UTM, NEEDEDU4.0 stood out through its vision of transforming mechanical engineering education to meet the needs of Industry 4.0.

The project highlighted how Moldova’s technical universities can:

• integrate competency-based learning in line with European trends

• support the digital transformation of engineering education

• and promote gender inclusion in technical and industrial fields

The dialogue continued with an inspiring exchange between ERASMUS+ project representatives and key stakeholders such as H.E. Roxana Mânzatu – Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Dan Perciun – Minister of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, Prof. Dr. habil. Viorel Bostan – Rector of TUM, and members of the academic and student community.

Through its participation, NEEDEDU4.0 reaffirmed its role in building a skilled, future-oriented workforce, prepared to contribute to Moldova’s integration into the European innovation ecosystem.