Irina Elena Neagu

University of Economic Studies, Business Administration Program

UNDER FINANCEMENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN

ROMANIA
In 1860, the first modern university was founded by Alexandru Ioan Cuza,
in Iasi. Since then, Romania has overcame two world wars, different regimes, had
become part of the European Union and now is rated as a country with great
prospects of development. Sadly, the higher education system has remained
somehow stuck in time with facilities and methodologies that are not adapted to
todays society. Financial constraints in education represent one of the main
reasons why Romanian universities do not deliver performant results.
Before 1989, due to the socialist regime, the system permitted a limited
access to higher education and it delivered a great output to the market. After
the change from socialism to democracy in 1989, the system became less
resistant and the number of students grew considerably in only 10 years (from
1989 to 2007, the population of students has increased almost 3 times).
Unfortunately, this growth did not have an impact on the corresponding
allocation of resources, therefore many people working in this domain chose a
career reorientation.
As studies show, countries that invest more in the education system have
a better economic stability.Today, Romania is allocating just 2.5 % out of its GDP
for education whereas other East European countries are appropriating more than
4% out of their GDP. The direct effects of the underfunding of the system are
clearly emerging: degradation of physical assets, outdated facilities in the
classrooms and laboratories, lack of information resources, scarcely any research
projects and mediocre employees.
There are a number of solutions that could be considered. Firstly, the
Ministry of Education could ask the Romanian Government for more resources, by
presenting the status quo of the education system and the long-term benefits of
investing in better higher education programs. Secondly, the Ministry of
Education could better promote how universities can access European Funding
for their programs, help them in the process and monitor their use. As most of
the Romanian universities go on a public & private funding, there should be an
entity who monitors the use of resources and their allocation. These solutions
might solve the underfunding problem but there is a need of internal change too.
Both students and teachers have lost their motivation and are in a state of selfcomplacency. This is why, the funding will only ensure the optimal conditions for
the learning process but will not ensure immediate results in terms of the quality
of the output. Teachers should constantly be evaluated in terms of knowledge but
also in terms of teaching methods and inter-personal skills. As for students, there
should be a clear admission process and rigorous evaluation of their academic
performances. A systematic analysis of the output will redirect a system that is
now oriented towards mass production to a system oriented towards
performance.
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Irina Elena Neagu

University of Economic Studies, Business Administration Program
We must admit that the higher education system in Romania is in need of a
new strategy. In this globalized world that is constantly changing and people are
interconnected, Romania needs to adapt as to not be left behind. Reconsidering
the allocation of funds directed towards education is an important step to assure
the economic development of the country.