Over five months, from October 2025 to February 2026, professionals from local government, civil society, and the private sector participated in the second edition of the Strategic Communication Course, held under the slogan “Citizen-Oriented, Crisis-Ready!”

Organized by the Moldova School of Journalism, an ICDC partner, the program offered over 100 hours of training across 31 sessions, combining theoretical insights with hands-on practice.

The course was built around four core modules led by experienced trainers:

• Strategic Communication
• Crisis Communication
• Marketing and Content Creation
• Public Speaking

In addition, participants attended three thematic workshops covering pressing topics: disinformation and propaganda, interpreting sociological surveys, and political communication.

A key component of the program was four days of mentorship, where participants developed citizen-focused communication campaigns under the guidance of Ludmila Bogheanu, founder of UnBox Communication.

Participants included mayors, district presidents, deputy mayors, secretaries of district councils, lawyers, local administration communicators, as well as representatives from NGOs and the private sector.

Beyond technical skills, the course fostered a strong professional community. Participants formed connections, exchanged experiences, and laid the foundations for future collaboration.

Mihaela Cimbriciuc, a communicator from the NGO sector, described the course as highly practical:
“I learned how important it is to understand your audience, segment it, and tailor messages for each group – something I knew in theory but now saw explained step by step.”

Ina Moraru, a communications specialist from the south of Moldova, highlighted the strategic insights gained:
“The most valuable lesson was about communication strategy. We all know how to create a post, but now I understand how to plan steps, identify target groups, and truly reach them.”

Lucia Aprodu, trainer of the Strategic Communication module, emphasized the importance of strategic thinking:
“I presented the main steps of strategic communication, from campaign planning to audience research. It was a joy to work with dedicated people from across the country, who travelled long distances to learn and improve their skills.”

Through this edition, the Strategic Communication Course has reaffirmed its role as a platform for developing professionals who want to communicate more effectively, responsibly, and closely with citizens – even in crisis situations.