STRENGTHENING HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH COHERENT AND SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC POLICIES: JAPANESE EXPERIENCE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Higher education is the main pillar for innovative economic, technological, and social development. Japanese universities have become not only centers of education but also hubs of research and innovation. Although the Republic of Moldova and Japan are in different economic and cultural contexts, the Japanese experience offers a valuable model for the strategic integration of higher education into socio-economic development processes. The purpose of the research is to analyze the performance, policies, and evolution of the higher education system in Japan in order to identify good practices that can be transferred to the Republic of Moldova to improve the quality and efficiency of university education. Methods used: documentary and statistical analysis, comparative-descriptive analysis, policy analysis, benchmarking and policy transfer framework. The research reveals that the success of higher education in Japan is due to consistent performance-oriented policies and universities' commitment to excellence. Transferring Japanese experience to the Republic of Moldova can support the modernization of the university system and contribute to increasing the performance and relevance of higher education in relation to societal challenges.