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This chapter introduces the higher education system (HES) in the Republic of Moldova and discusses the changes it underwent between 1991 and 2015. The case of Moldova is characterised by competing forces such as the oscillating political priorities of often-changing governments, labour market changes, emigration and demographic decline. Political blockades and interdependences in such a small country have only allowed hesitant consolidation of the higher education system.

The Bologna process aims at creating a European higher education area with more comparable, compatible, and coherent higher education systems in Europe.Indeed, students, staff, and research teams are increasingly mobile within that area. In addition, a growing number of institutions are offering their study programs across borders. The most common form of such cross-border provision of higher education (CBHE) are joint or double degrees. Branch campuses, franchising or validation arrangements are less frequent but have lately stirred controversy in European higher education. EUROPEAN LEGISLATION HAS CREATED A COMMON MARKETThe European common market guarantees that European citizens have their qualifications recognized in any EU member state in the same way they would be recognized in their own country. At the same time, it allows any European business to offer their services in any other EU member state. A holder of a Spanish diploma is therefore allowed to work in their profession in Germany or any