On September 24, as part of the “Refugee Support Initiative” project, “Women’s Empowerment” component, the partial qualification (micro-qualification) program “Modeling and styling women’s haircuts – professional techniques,” hairdressing profession, was launched. The event took place at the Center for Excellence in Light Industry in Chisinau, the institution that will carry out the training, with the first group of beneficiaries consisting of 15 refugees from Ukraine.

The event was attended by representatives of the funding organization and the project implementation team, teachers, and students. In her opening remarks, Violeta Terguță, gender-based violence program analyst (UNFPA), emphasized the importance of such training programs for the faster professional and social integration of young women and women refugees. Lilia Nahaba, project coordinator (PRO DIDACTICA Educational Center), highlighted the importance of institutional collaboration in the development and implementation of this short-term learning program—one of the first micro-qualification programs in the Republic of Moldova, which will enable trainees to obtain a profession or complete their studies, thus facilitating their access to the labor market. Tamara Crețu, deputy director of the Centre of Excellence in Light Industry, emphasised that the institution she represents is honoured to be part of this partnership, as the host of a pioneering programme for the country.

The partial qualification (micro-qualification) program “Modeling and styling women’s haircuts – professional techniques,” the hairdressing profession, will be conducted offline and online from September to December 2025. It includes three modules (“Preparing the hairdresser for professional activity,” “Modeling women’s haircuts,” “Practice in production”), which will contribute to the development of specific skills for employment in the labor market or starting one’s own business. At the end of the course, graduates will receive a vocational training certificate issued by the Center for Information and Communication Technologies in Education, approved by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova. They will also be given a set of basic professional tools. The qualification obtained will enable the 15 graduates to find employment in hairdressing and beauty salons, as well as to provide services for special events (fashion shows, weddings, etc.).

Micro-qualifications are certifications that attest to the acquisition of a set of specific skills through short, stand-alone, concentrated training programs, in accordance with uniform qualification and quality assurance standards, for a certain level of the National Qualifications Framework, with the issuance of a certificate of professional competence (micro-certificate). Micro-qualifications play an important role in upskilling and reskilling in response to changes in the labor market. They create conditions and opportunities to make lifelong learning more accessible and flexible, to help people respond promptly and adapt quickly to social, economic, and technological changes. Possessing recognized micro-qualifications increases the chances of employment or career advancement by demonstrating up-to-date skills and interest in professional development.

The “Refugee Support Initiative” project is implemented by the PRO DIDACTICA Educational Center, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as part of the Humanitarian Response in the Republic of Moldova.