Higher Education Reform in Romania: Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Abstract

It would be difficult, if not impossible to discuss post state-socialist higher education in Central and Eastern Europe without mentioning Romania. Not only because it is one of the largest countries in the region, with a population of 23 million and a territory of 237,000 sq. km, but also because Romanian higher education faces many of the obstacles experienced by other countries in the area. Romania seems to have an international reputation for being a country in great difficulties. This is only partially true. While compared to its neighbors in post state-socialist Central Europe and the three Baltic states of the former Soviet Union, it is a country with great difficulties. If compared with the greater part of the rest of the post state-socialist region, particularly the countries of the former Soviet Union, Romania is in many respects a representative case. The position one takes in considering the Romanian situation also depends on the direction from which one approaches it. For example one problem in higher education in neighboring Moldova—with whom Romania shares a common language—is that many of its university faculty have left for Romania, apparently for a better life. Furthermore, in relation to the Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Belarus, and others, Romanian difficulties in launching economic reforms and reforming higher education do not appear particularly exceptional.

Romania, which is going through a full process of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, is interested in passing rapidly through the preliminary stages.

Ion Iliescu, president of Romania