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2000 SOROS FOUNDATION-MOLDOVA 2000 ANNUAL REPORT Editor Varvara COLIBABA DesignMihai BACINSCHI Photography Iulian SOCHIRCÃ Produced by ARC Publishing House Printed by Polygraphic Printing House TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 7 Higher Education Support Program 9 Invisible College Moldova 15 Educational Advising Center 20 Scholarships 22 Pro Didactica Educational Center 24 Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Program 30 Step by Step 31 National High School Debate League 34 Youth Development Center 35 Youth Initiative Fund Program 37 Secondary School Student Exchange Program 38 East East 38 Library Program 45 Internet Program 50 Publishing Program 53 Public Health Program 55 Economic Development Program 60 Arts and Culture 62 Visual Arts Program 67 Center for Contemporary Art 68 The Independent Journalism Center 71 Local Government Program 76 Law Program 83 Womens Program 89 Civil Society Program 92 Participation at Scientific Conferences 98 2000 Expenditures 101 Auditors Opinion 102 SFM Boards 104 SFM Staff 105 Contact Information 106 List of Abbreviations 108 7 In 2000, the Foundation continued to focus its activity on the priority directions aimed at deve- loping an open society in the country. The term open society, introduced by the philosopher Karl Popper, is based on the recognition 2000 REPORT ANNUAL that we are all different, have different views, interests and that no one is in possession of the Soros Foundation-Moldova ultimate truth. Consequently, each of us has the right to a personal opinion, which may be expressed freely and openly. In these terms, the mission of the open society and its institutions -- which are based on a democratic political system, market economy, the rule of law, separate powers, and a developed civil society -- is to take into account and ensure respect for this diversity. Unfortunately, the end of the millennium was not a turning point in the economic development of the country. The year 2000 was marked by a political feud between the Parliament and the President, whose confrontation resulted in the modification of the governance system in the coun- try -- from a semi-presidential into a parliamentarian one. Probably the most significant feature of this transformation was the fact that it took place within conditions that we would like to call democratic, i.e. dictated only by the rule of law. The mounting parliamentary crisis, followed by the anticipated elections, whose results are still to be analyzed, were held according to the same democratic rules and principles. On the other hand, the lively political activity had no positive effects on the economic development. The economic growth was too insignificant to influence the living standards of the population. The living conditions are progressively deteriorating and this fact has profound social consequences. In this context, the Foundation concentrated its efforts on the areas that, in our opinion, are decisive for the future of the country. A special focus was put on the support for educational activities in a broader sense -- to include not only educational programs as such but other pro- grams that have an educational or training component as well. We believe that under present conditions human capacity development is a crucial factor in ensuring the future of the country. Programs targeting support for local government reform, building of a state based on the rule of law, development of a thriving civil society, which could guarantee sustainable democratic reforms, were set as priority areas by the Foundation. A whole series of projects were focused on support for agricultural reform and rural economic development. The anticipated presidential elections, as confirmed by the international election monitoring mis- sions, met the international standards. It indicates the establishment of a democratic election system in the country and a democracy building process in progress. Although it is difficult to invent a tool, which could evaluate with great precision the Foundations contribution to this democratic process, I would like to believe that this contribution is substantial. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all the Foundations beneficiaries, employees, the sub- boards, and the National Board, whose contribution proved invaluable for making all these activi- ties possible. Arcadie Barbãroºie National Board Chair 9 HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT Third Tier Grants $300 PROGRAM Loretta HANDRABURA, SPU, Folk Art and Mythology Liudmila PASCARI, SUM, Institute of Natural Sciences, Certification, Audit and Administration of Quality Cost The mission of the Higher Education Support Program is Lidia ILAªCU, SUM, Institute of Natural Sciences, Urban to contribute to the advancement of higher education in Ecology the humanities and social sciences in Moldova. The Pro- Eugen SAVA, FIUM, Sources and Historiography of Ro- gram aims at influencing systemic changes in higher man and Greek Antique History 2000 REPORT ANNUAL education by launching innovative programs and sup- Serghei PORTÃRESCU, AESM, Strategic Management Soros Foundation-Moldova porting initiatives of the academic community towards democratization of the educational system. Total grants syllabus projects: $5,700 To implement this mission, the following program priori- Internship Program for University Lecturers ties were set up: and Visiting Professors support for the conceptual reform in education curriculum reform design and implementation of The Program offered financial support to university fa- alternative programs, syllabi, etc. culty members from Moldova for their participation in implementation of new teaching/learning technologies programs of different universities from abroad or for support for innovative institutions - pilot-departments, their research in the archives and libraries. The aim of pilot-chairs, etc. this program was to help professors to develop new support for institutional reform of teaching/learning courses or to restructure the existing ones and to imple- faculty development and capacity building in higher ment new teaching technologies, etc. At the same time, education this program supported the invitation of prominent fa- culty from abroad and important personalities from the MODERNIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION academic community. CURRICULUM Internships The program supported projects on restructuring the existing university curricula, on the introduction of new Participation in the course Applied Economic Policy, disciplines, and projects that focused on new methods The United Institute of Vienna, Austria, January 31 May of teaching/learning according to international standards. 26, 2000 All the grants were offered on a competitive basis. Elena MARCOVA, senior lecturer, FIUM $391 Syllabus Design Projects Internship at the Georg Eckert International Institute of Scientific Research of School Textbooks, Germany, Feb- The program supported the efforts of university faculty ruary 14 27, 2000 members that aimed to introduce new courses in the Gheorghe GONÞA, Ph.D., professor, Chair of Romanian curriculum or restructure the existing ones in the field of History, SPU $492 social sciences and the humanities. 15 grants were offered for syllabus projects design. Internship at the Department of Classic Philology, Philo- logy Department, Al.I.Cuza University, Romania, March First Tier Grants $500 25 April 24, 2000 Ion GURGHIª, SPU, Pedagogical Conflict Claudia CEMÎRTAN, Ph.D., professor, Chair of Classic Angela CAMINSCHI, SPU, Evaluation of the Educational Philology, SUM $636 Activity Internship at the University of Warsaw, Poland, History, Second Tier Grants $400 March 27 May 29, 2000 Timofei ROªCA, SPU, The Analysis of the Literary Text Vladimir MISCHEVCA, Ph.D., scientific researcher with Eugen SAVA, FIUM, The Balkanic Palaeolithic Civilization the History Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Marin DOLINÞÃ, FIUM, Philosophy of Law Republic of Moldova $499 Valentina URSU, SPU, Mythology Internship at the Psychology and Education Sciences Rodica URSACHI, SPU, Psychology of Creativity Department, Al.I.Cuza University, Iaºi, Romania, April 3 Dragoº CUCEREANU, FIUM, Issues of Legal Settlement 17, 2000 of the Internet Ina MORARU, lecturer, Chair of Psychology and Peda- Ion GUMENÂI, SUM, Medieval Diplomacy gogy, FIUM $260 Marcela DILION, SUM, Adoption and Foster Parents 10 Internship at the Paris III University, Sorbonne, Nou- Participation in the Seminar The Policy of Family: Prac- velle, The Higher School of Translators and Interpreters, tice and Problems. The Experience of Samara Region, May 1 31, 2000 Samara, July 10 15, 2000 Ana GUÞU, Ph.D., professor, Chair of French Language Iulia IURCHEVICI, lecturer, SPU $426 and Literature, Director of the Foreign Languages De- partment, FIUM $432 Internship at the Regional Center of Social Rehabilitation of Minors, Samara, Russia, July 10 15, 2000 Internship at the Philology Department, Bucharest Uni- Valentina STRATAN, deputy dean of the Department of 2000 ANNUAL 2000 REPORT ANNUAL versity, June 12 26, 2000 Psychology and Psychopedagogy, SPU $426 Soros Foundation-Moldova Vasile PAVEL, Ph.D., professor, Chair of Romanian Lan- guage and Classic Philology, SPU $429 Internship at the Archives of Foreign Policy, MFAs Library, Moscow, Russia, July 15 August 1, 2000 Internship at the International Center of Pedagogical Liudmila ANTONOVA, lecturer, Department of History Studies, Sevres, France, July 24 August 2, 2000 and International Relations, FIUM $500 Ina POPCOV, senior lecturer, Chair of French