On February 7-8, 2025, the 2nd Face-to-Face Consortium Meeting was held as part of the UPGRADE Project – Enhancing Graduates’ Employability Tracking in Moldova (GA number: 101129166). The meeting brought together project partners, institutional coordinators, and stakeholders to evaluate progress and align on next steps for improving graduates’ employability tracking and career support in Moldovan universities.

During the two-day event, participants reviewed project milestones and activities, including presentations from each partner institution on the achievements and challenges of the initial implementation phases. They discussed the development of tools and methodologies under WP2, focusing on designing standardized survey instruments, alumni engagement platforms, and career-tracking mechanisms. WP3 discussions were dedicated to formulating a national legislative framework, with the Ministry of Education and Research of Moldova (MECRM) leading efforts to ensure regulatory support for graduate employability monitoring. The consortium also addressed the institutional reform planned under WP4, including enhancements to university career guidance centers, better integration of employability services, and data-sharing initiatives.

The financial management of the project was a key topic, with presentations of interim financial reports, ensuring that all partner institutions are on track with their budgets and funding allocations. Quality assurance and internal evaluations were discussed, highlighting feedback from the first Internal Evaluation Report and ongoing internal monitoring efforts to ensure project goals are met efficiently. Dissemination and impact maximization activities were reviewed, with emphasis on successful workshops, outreach campaigns, and stakeholder engagement strategies. Partners discussed multiplier activities designed to increase the adoption of best practices and promote sustainable outcomes across Moldova’s higher education system.

Sustainability was a major focus, with partners developing plans to ensure the longevity of the project’s impact through institutional reforms, national collaboration, and continuous monitoring. A key aspect of this sustainability plan included conducting target group satisfaction surveys to ensure ongoing feedback and improvements in tracking systems. To reinforce long-term success, dissemination reports covering key periods of project activities and future dissemination efforts were presented to ensure stakeholder awareness and engagement.

The meeting concluded with all partners agreeing that the upcoming project period will focus on the development of a comprehensive national legislative framework and university-specific tools for tracking graduates’ career outcomes. Institutional reform efforts will also be prioritized, with particular attention given to strengthening career guidance centers and developing robust, scalable employability tracking frameworks in Moldovan universities.