The Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova was established in 1991, but can trace its roots back to a faculty of education established in 1953. The university is based in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital city.
The university has declared its purpose to "enable integration of higher economic education and scientific research" and to "not only develop specialised professionals, but also build a new mentality in the spirit of freedom of thought, action, pragmatism and life efficiency".
The MACIP Business Trade Centre was created in 1993 was an early exemplar of training for entrepreneurship in the new nation.
There are six faculties following a reorganisation in 2002 include – business management and administration; economics and law; international economic relations; finance; accountancy and economic cybernetics, statistics and informatics. Nearly every course is taught in Romanian, with some also in Russian. Some courses, in particular international economic relations, are offered in French – a double degree is offered with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry – and English.
Alumni have dominated recent national politics. Valeriu Strelet was prime minister of Moldova in 2015 and in 2016. Two alumni contested the presidency with Igor Dodon narrowly defeating Maia Sandu. In June 2019 Sandu became prime minister, but was succeeded in November 2019 by Ion Chicu, a former management faculty classmate.
The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial center, and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bâc. The city is Moldova's largest transportation hub and there are several museums too.The three national museums are the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, the National Museum of Arts and the National Museum of Archaeology and History.
