Moldova is preparing national rules for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in universities

The Republic of Moldova is working on a set of ministerial recommendations for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education, following two national seminars organized in 2024 and 2025 and involving a working group at the ministerial level.

In short, two national seminars dedicated to artificial intelligence in education and academic ethics laid the groundwork for the development of recommendations for universities in the Republic of Moldova. Members of the network of experts for higher education reform participated in the ministerial working group that contributed to drafting these recommendations. Based on institutional autonomy, universities are expected to develop their own regulatory frameworks for the use of artificial intelligence. The Technical University of Moldova is mentioned among the institutions that have already begun to develop their own strategy in this field.

The Republic of Moldova is preparing a guidance framework for how artificial intelligence can be used in universities, at a time when higher education institutions are trying to integrate new digital tools without losing control over academic and ethical rules.

According to the analyzed documents, the recommendations were developed after two national seminars. The first, held on March 14 and 15, 2024, was dedicated to how artificial intelligence can influence programs, disciplines, and teaching methods. The second, held on September 23 and 24, 2025, focused on academic ethics and the development of ethical codes in higher education and research institutions.

The process involved a working group created at the ministerial level, which also included experts in higher education reform. Their contribution focused on both organizing working activities on the topic of artificial intelligence and formulating recommendations that will guide universities.

The practical change is that universities do not receive a single model imposed centrally, but are expected to build their own internal rules. The documents show that, based on university autonomy, each institution will need to establish under what conditions artificial intelligence is used in study programs and in academic activity, including in relation to ethical and integrity requirements.

The Technical University of Moldova is indicated as one of the institutions that have already taken steps in this direction by developing its own institutional strategy. The documents also show that training sessions have been organized for university staff in the Republic of Moldova regarding the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in higher education programs.

For the university system, the stake is the transition from the sporadic use of AI tools to clear rules about how they are integrated into the educational process. This means that the debate concerns not only the technology itself but also how universities manage institutional responsibility, transparency, and academic standards in a rapidly evolving field.

The experts HERE are part of a network supported by Erasmus+ that works with ministries and universities in neighboring EU countries on reforms in higher education. Their activity report for 2025 shows that, in the Republic of Moldova, the contribution to the recommendations regarding the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence has been among the examples of direct influence on public policies. The documents place the initiative in connection with European objectives regarding the digital transformation of education and with the commitments of the Bologna process.