On March 26, in Chisinau took place both the official launch of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research and "Crystal of Quality" Awards given to educational institutions and people who contributed to the promotion of quality culture in Moldovan education. The event marked the transfer from the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education (ANACIP) to the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC) through the absorption of the National School Inspectorate and the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation.

The event was attended by Monica Babuc, Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, Aliona Grati, Vice President, National Council for Accreditation and Attestation, Galina Crainic, Deputy Director, National School Inspectorate, Andrei Chiciuc, President of National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research, members of the ANACEC Board, rectors and representatives of Higher Education institutions, VET and continuing education, as well as the Agency's assessors (academics, business representatives and student representatives).

"It is a truly memorable and historical event, when we actually open a new page in the evaluation of the quality in the education of the Republic of Moldova, and not only in education, but also in research. I am convinced that the reforms that are being made today in the Republic of Moldova, including the quality assurance in education, are meant to connect us to the most important European international practices in this field. Today's action fits perfectly into the European approach of our country and I would like to congratulate all those present here and express my absolute trust in you, because I know the work that has been done and I am sure that this fusion and absorption will be materialized into a beautiful collaboration," declared Minister Monica Babuc.

Today's event marked not only the official transfer from ANACIP to ANACEC, but it also aimed to ensure the beneficiaries of the services provided by the Agency about its functionality without any transition period or delays. "Today we are witnessing a historic event. Three institutions, all with a focus on quality assurance, meet in a new agency: The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research. All three entities had the same objective - promoting quality culture at various levels of education. We are confident that this change is a new challenge for the system and we will be able at more rapid pace to adapt the guides, methodologies, procedures to the European standards and practices in the field of quality assurance in education "- said President of ANACEC Andrei Chiciuc.

During the event, as a sign of gratitude and appreciation, the "Crystal of Quality" awards were given to educational institutions and to those who contributed to the promotion of quality culture in education in our country. Among the prizewinners, there was a student representative who was involved in several external evaluation committees. "When I first went to ANACIP to be trained to become an expert evaluator, I had a lot of questions, but in the long run I understood that it was not enough to show what I knew and what I could do, but that it was also the right time to get new skills. We have enough students, but if we want more, we have to be better and more attractive for foreign students. "concluded Dmitri Popa, PhD student at USM.

In accordance with Government Decision no. 201 from 28.02.2018 on the organization and operation of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research, it was decided to change the name of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education (ANACIP) Education and Research (ANACEC) and its reorganization through the absorption of the National School Inspectorate and the National Council for Accreditation and Attestation. The National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research is the successor to the rights and obligations of the absorbed legal entities. The mission of the Agency is to implement state policies and to contribute to the development of international standards in the field of quality assurance in general, technical professional, higher education, continuing education and research.