Over 90 second and third year students of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the State University of Moldova (USM) participated on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in an open lesson where the topic "Transparent Procurement for Involved Youth" was addressed. The event was organized within the "Open Governance for Engaged Citizens" project, implemented by IDIS "Viitorul" with the support of the European Open Government Partnership (OGP EU) through the "EU for Integrity" Programme under the Eastern Partnership initiative, financed by the European Union (EU).
"You, the young people, are the generation that can change the way integrity, accountability, and good governance are viewed. Understanding public procurement is no longer just for civil servants and specialists; it is also for citizens who want to actively participate in community life and improve the way public money is spent," said Maria Cojocaru, PhD, associate professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, at the beginning of the open lesson.
"I proposed that during this open lesson, we talk about how you, the students, can contribute, through knowledge and involvement, to a fair and open procurement system. I came not only with a presentation, but also with practical applications that will make you better understand what public procurement is, what public institutions procure, and where you can find data about these procurements," said Diana Enachi, the public procurement expert at IDIS "Viitorul".
Carolina Ungureanu, deputy director at IDIS "Viitorul", told the students that public procurement is essential for the effective management of public funds and for the development of a responsible society. "Thank you for agreeing to come and learn how a culture of transparency can be built," said Carolina Ungureanu.
The young people mentioned that, following the open lesson, they understood that public procurement influences the quality of public services, and that transparency in procurement procedures is a principle that must be respected. The young people appreciated that the discussion was not only about laws and procedures, but also about the role of citizens in monitoring public money. The young people also said that they better understood how corruption risks arise in procurement and what society can do to prevent them.
This press release has been produced within the "Open Governance for Engaged Citizens" project, implemented by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives "Viitorul" (IDIS), with the support of the Open Government Partnership Europe (OGP EU) through the "EU for Integrity Programme for the Eastern Partnership", funded by the European Union. The contents of this press release are the sole responsibility of IDIS "Viitorul" and do not necessarily reflect the views of OGP EU or the EU.
