New Realities and Challenges for Intercultural Education in Universities. A Needs Analysis Study based on Strategic Planning Documents

The study presents the results of qualitative research into the promotion of intercultural education (IE) in 7 universities with pedagogical profile in the Republic of Moldova, as seen at strategic development documents level. The study has revealed that intercultural education is only partially and sporadically reflected in such documents, thus affecting both the overall quality of the initial training of future teachers and their intercultural skills, which are inherent for personal and professional development in a multicultural social environment. Recommendations are made in order to optimize the promotion of IE through strategic and operational planning documents in a higher education context, which is facing multiple challenges.