Request for Expressions of Interest Analysis and Updating of the Tools and Mechanisms of the Quality Assurance System

Request for Expressions of Interest Analysis and Updating of the Tools and Mechanisms of the Quality Assurance System

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST 

Republic of Moldova

Name of the sub-project "Ensuring the quality and relevance of the professional training of future pedagogues through innovative study programs and related to the labor market" ( ACRVP )

No. Sub-financing agreement : MD-MOED-6542-ASF-U-02 of October 24, 2022 

No. Reference : MD-PEDAGOGUNI-353979-CS-INDV 

Task title: Analysis and updating of the tools and mechanisms of the quality assurance system

The Moldovan Higher Education Project (PÎSM) is a project financed by the World Bank, which is to be implemented between May 2020 and December 2025.

Within the implementation of the Higher Education Project in Moldova, financed by the World Bank, "ION CREANGĂ" STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY IN CHISINAU obtained funding for the sub-project "Ensuring the quality and relevance of the professional training of future pedagogues through innovative study programs related to the labor market ” , signed the financing contract with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and intends to apply part of the sources for consulting services.

The subproject is part of the objectives of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, of interventions aimed at ensuring a better alignment of the higher education system with the requirements of the labor market, as well as creating functional mechanisms, which increase the employment chances of university graduates on the national and international labor market.

The field  of Educational Sciences  is one of the national priority fields of the Republic of Moldova, established in the strategic documents and national policies. The sub-project will contribute to increasing the positive impact on the initial training of teachers in the university education system through strategic interventions, anchored in the framework of national and institutional priorities in the educational sector.

The general objective of the sub-project consists in the reconceptualization of pedagogical study programs from the perspective of integration, praxeological approach and digitization of the professional training process, in accordance with the requirements of the labor market. 

The proposed sub-project is aimed at achieving the following specific objectives as follows:

1. Improving the quality of pedagogical study programs in order to adapt them to the needs of the labor market .
2. Digitization of the professional training process of student-pedagogues .
3. Facilitating the transition of graduates from the university academic environment to the labor market .
4. Increasing the attractiveness of the teaching profession among potential students, general education graduates .
5. Strengthening resources and institutional capacities of UPSC .

Consulting services include the analysis and updating of the tools and mechanisms of the institutional quality assurance system for monitoring the quality of study programs from the perspective of connecting to the demands of the labor market; analysis of current and future labor market requirements in the field of teacher training; the development, application and processing of the satisfaction questionnaires of the educational actors participating in the education process: students, teaching staff, graduates, school managers, employers; organizing two training sessions for quality assurance officers and institutional managers regarding the application of quality assurance tools and mechanisms and monitoring the study programs of future pedagogues from the perspective of connecting to the demands of the labor market. Estimated period of completion of the task – 5 months, start of activity – August 2023.

The terms of reference (TOR) are attached to this request for expressions of interest or can be found on the following website: www.upsc.md 

https://upsc.md/2023/08/15/analiza-si-actualizarea-instrumentelor-si-mecanismelor-de-functionare-a-sistemului-de-asigurare-a-calitatii/

The "Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical University in Chisinau invites eligible consultants ("Consultants") to express their interest in the provision of analysis and updating services of the tools and mechanisms of the institutional quality assurance system for monitoring the quality of future study programs pedagogues from the perspective of connecting to the demands of the labor market.

            Interested consultants will submit information/documents demonstrating that they have the necessary qualifications and relevant experience to provide the Services of:

1. Analysis and updating of the tools and mechanisms of the quality assurance system (system and operational procedures) for monitoring the quality of the study programs of future pedagogues from the perspective of connecting to the demands of the labor market. The time allotted for the pregnancy – 2 months.
2. Elaboration and application of satisfaction questionnaires of educational actors participating in the education process: students, teaching staff, graduates, managers, employers; analyzing questionnaire data and formulating recommendations to improve the quality of study programs. The time allotted for the pregnancy – 2 months.
3. Organization of 2 training sessions for quality assurance officers and institutional managers (deans, heads of departments) regarding the application of quality assurance tools and mechanisms and monitoring of study programs from the perspective of connecting to the demands of the labor market. (2 groups of 15-20 people each, each session – 8 hours of direct contact). total hours worked – 20 (including 4 hours preparation time).

The consultant to be selected must possess the following qualifications:

1. Higher education in one of the following fields: Educational sciences, sociology, statistics or related fields;
2. Scientific-didactic title (doctor/ habilitated doctor and university lecturer/ university professor);
3. Professional experience of at least 10 years in the field of higher education;
4. Experience of at least 5 years in university management and at least 5 years in the field of quality assurance in higher education;
5. Proof of holding the qualification of an international expert in the field of quality assurance in higher education;
6. Minimum 5 years of experience in internal evaluation activities of the quality of higher education;
7. Relevant experience in external evaluation at institutional level or in external evaluation of higher education programs (minimum 5 evaluations).

Abilities:

1. Excellent communication skills in Romanian (both written and spoken);

1. Ability to work in a team;

3. Ability to observe, process, analyze and synthesize data;
4. Ability to organize evaluative research activities;
5. Ability to communicate and report research and documentation related to research projects.

It constitutes advantages:

1. Scientific publications in the field of higher education quality analysis;
2. Experience in the development of documents and tools to ensure internal and external quality (standards, procedures, methodologies, regulations, questionnaires, etc.);
3. Experience in institutional, national/international projects in the field of education and research;
4. Participation in the development of normative acts in the field of higher education.

The attention of interested consultants is drawn to section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" July 2016, revised in November 2017 and August 2018 ("Procurement Regulations"), which sets out the World Bank's policy on conflict of interests.

The consultant will be selected in accordance with the "Open competitive selection of individual consultants" method provided in the Procurement Regulation.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during business hours 08:00-17:00,achizitii.bm@upsc.md , 1 Ion Creangă str., MD-2069, Chisinau city, Republic of Moldova.

Applications should include: Letter of Expression of Interest; Curriculum vitae in Europass format, signed and dated on each page, (the CV must necessarily contain information about the candidate's compliance with the established requirements, as well as valid contact data - e-mail address and telephone number); two letters of recommendation.

Upon request, the candidate will present documents proving the studies and experience/expertise declared in the CV (copies of diplomas, certificates, other confirmation documents).

Proposals must be sent to the address below (in person, or by post, or by fax, or by e-mail) by September 5, 2023, 11:00 a.m. (Moldova local time), indicating the title of the task for which applies.

Address:

MD-2069, Chisinau city, Republic of Moldova

Str. Ion Creangă 1, Block no. 2, office no. 30

Purchasing manager Guțu Mihaela

Goal. +373 (22) 24-07-91

Email: achizitii.bm@upsc.md

https://upsc.md/proiect-invatamantul-superior-din-moldova/ 

Signature of the Project Manager

Name First name: Lucia sava