2026

Recent policy developments further strengthen equity, quality, relevance and internationalisation of higher education in Romania. 

Improved access and equity

Improved access and equity through:

• stable funding for student housing and meals, 
• expanded scholarship schemes, and 
• dedicated state funded study places for underrepresented groups, including Roma students. 
• The First Student in the Family programme entered implementation, with major EU funding directed to less developed regions.

System level reforms Bologna 2.0

“Bologna 2.0”, introduced:

• mission based differentiation of universities, 
• national evaluation of research and innovation units, 
• operational regulation of postdoctoral studies, 
• academic concentrations and alliances, and 
• the relaunch of bachelor programmes with double specialisation (subject and pedagogical training).

Expansion of dual higher education

Expansion of dual higher education, including:

• 18 dual bachelor programmes implemented from 2024/2025 and 
• the development of a full dual education route (ISCED 3–8) through 29 regional consortia and integrated campuses, upported by NRRP funding.

Digital transformation and data driven governance

Digital transformation and data driven governance, with:

• large scale investments in university digital infrastructure, 
• development of RUNIDAS platform (Single National Integrated Register of Diplomas and Study Documents) and interoperable national registers, and 
• new early warning mechanisms to prevent academic dropout.

Stronger internationalisation and European alignment

Marked by: 

• increased participation in Erasmus+ and 
• European University Alliances, 
• progress towards OECD integration (PIAAC 2024–2029), and 
• continued support for Ukrainian students and international learners.

2025

The Ministry of Education and Research continues to implement policies aimed at improving access, equity, quality and relevance in higher education, with a focus on disadvantaged students, evidence based policymaking and dual higher education. 

Access to quality education 

The programme The First in My Family to Go to University, funded under the Education and Employment Programme, supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education and contributes to reducing urban–rural socioeconomic gaps.

Key measures include:

• Bridging measures to support the transition from high school to university, targeting:
  • students at risk of failing the Baccalaureate
  • graduates from previous cohorts. These measures include counselling on university programmes and promotion of higher education opportunities in schools with low participation rates.
• Dropout prevention measures, implemented through:
  • mechanisms for identifying and monitoring student needs within university Counselling and Career Guidance Centres
  • remedial programmes for students with learning difficulties
  • financial support for accommodation and meals.
• Improving accessibility for students with disabilities, through:
  • IT equipment and accessible digital learning tools
  • physical and digital accessibility easures
  • support services such as interpreters, assistive technologies and tailored counselling.

In September 2024, contracts began to be concluded for 68 selected projects. 

Public policies in higher education 

In 2024, the Executive Unit for Funding Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, launched three strategic projects under the Education and Employment Programme. These projects support policy development in the areas of equity, internationalisation, employability and evidence-based decision making. 

1. Internationalisation of Higher Education 

Project: Romania on the Horizon of 2030: Increasing International Relevance through the Internationalisation of Higher Education

• non competitive call, covering all development regions
• targets at least 30 higher education institutions
• aims to improve the quality, efficiency and relevance of higher education through a national internationalisation programme.

Implementation started in July 2024 (one project). 

2. Preventing and Reducing Academic Dropout 

Project: Interventions for Tertiary Education: Systemic Measures to Prevent and Reduce Academic Dropping Out

Key actions include:

• development of an early warning system to monitor transition to higher education and dropout
• support for the implementation of PNRAU (National Programme for the Reduction of Academic Dropout)
• coordinated counselling, mentoring and tutoring services
• need based support (grants, accommodation, meals, transport reimbursement).

Target group: university students

Implementation started in July 2024 (one project). 

3. Aligning Higher Education with Labour Market Needs 

Project: Adaptation of Educational Provision to Labour Market Demands through Evidence Based Policies

The project supports:

• development of systemic and digital tools for policy design
• improved mechanisms for skills anticipation and graduate tracking
• analyses supporting the development of programmes aligned with labour market trends (e.g. AI, digitalisation, big data, green skills).

Implementation started in July 2024 (one project).

Strengthening dual higher education 

Strengthening Dual Higher Education New regulations and funding under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) support the expansion of dual education in both VET and higher education. 

1. Regional Consortia and Integrated Vocational Campuses 

• 29 regional consortia and 29 integrated vocational campuses are being developed.
• Each consortium must include: 
  • accredited higher education institutions
  • accredited or temporarily authorised VET/technical schools
  • administrative territorial units (ATUs)
  • economic operators.
• Funding:
  • 16 campuses financed through the NRRP
  • 13 campuses financed from the state budget.
• Training levels offered:
  • basic level (ISCED 3–5)
  • advanced level (ISCED 6–8).

Each campus will include digital workshops adapted to the profile of technological high schools and universities. 

2. Dual Higher Education Programmes 

Government Decision No. 1030/2024 and Order of the Minister of Education No. 4,275/2024 approved 18 dual bachelor programmes, starting with the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Universities involved include:
  • Politehnica National University of Science and Technology of Bucharest
  • Babeș Bolyai University of Cluj Napoca
  • Politehnica University of Timișoara
  • Ovidius University of Constanța
  • Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava.

Programme details are published on each university’s website. 

• Current Status 
  • 2024/2025 academic year: 
    • 18 accredited dual bachelor programmes
    •  implemented in five universities.
  • 2025/2026 academic year: 
    • 10 dual master programmes accredited by ARACIS,
    • 3,495 students expected to enrol.
• Example:

The University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest will launch the dual master programme “Circular Engineering and the Green Transition” in 2025/2026. 

2024

Access to quality education 

Several programmes support students during key transition moments and aim to prevent university dropout:

1. Support for the transition from high school to university, through:

• grants for bridge summer programmes
• learning centres and student support services for first year students at risk of dropout, funded under the Romanian Secondary Education Project.

2. First One in the Family Going to University call for proposals (Education and Employment Programme), which funds:

• prevention, intervention and compensatory measures
• actions ensuring fair access to quality higher education regardless of socioeconomic background
• support mechanisms to prevent and address university dropout.

3. Interventions for Tertiary Education – Systemic Measures to Prevent and Reduce University Dropout, aimed at:

• developing an early warning system to monitor transition to higher education and dropout risks
• focusing interventions on increasing access to and participation in tertiary education.

4. Participation in Erasmus+ projects involving Romanian and Ukrainian higher education institutions, supporting:

• the integration of learners and staff from Ukraine into new academic environments.

Aligning Higher Education with Labour Market Needs

Measures aim to ensure a closer correlation between educational provision and labour market demand:

Project: Adapting the Educational Provision to Labour Market Needs through Evidence Based Policies (Education and Employment Programme), focused on:

• developing systemic and digital tools
• strengthening institutional mechanisms within universities
• supporting public policies on graduates’ employability.

Traineeships for University Students, implemented through:

• 10 projects funded under the call Promoting the Development of High Quality Tertiary Programmes Aligned with Labour Market Needs
• targeting less developed regions.

Pilot full dual education route (NQF levels 3–8), implemented under the NRRP call A Pilot Programme for Developing Regional Consortia for Dual Education:

• 23 higher education institutions involved (11 as partnership leaders)
• participation across all development regions: Bucharest Ilfov (2), North East (3), South East (2), Centre (2), South West (1), West (5), North West (6), South Muntenia (2).

Internationalisation of the higher education system  

Actions to increase the international visibility and attractiveness of Romanian higher education include:

• increased participation of Romanian universities in European University Alliances, with four new institutions joining such networks
• involvement in Erasmus+ cooperation partnerships and mobility projects with programme and third countries
• implementation of the call Romania on the Horizon of 2030: Increasing International Relevance through the Internationalisation of Higher Education (Education and Employment Programme), aimed at improving quality, efficiency and relevance.

Additional promotion measures include:

• participation in international education fairs under the Study in Romania umbrella
• cooperation with Study in Europe
• participation in the competitions European School and Made for Europe.

Romania has also:

• received a positive endorsement for accession to OECD education programmes
• adopted a memorandum on participation in the second cycle of the OECD PIAAC programme (2024–2029).

Improving the capacity of academic management to implement national policies  

1. Strengthening Academic Governance and System Capacity 

Key measures to improve universities’ capacity to implement national policies include:

• ensuring the sustainability of the project A Career Start with a Master’s Degree in Teaching, by:
  • allocating state budget funding for teaching master’s programmes
  • covering eight partner higher education institutions.
• Digitalisation of universities under the NRRP, aimed at:
  • upgrading digital infrastructure
  • developing digital competences of students and academic staff
  • establishing innovation centres, laboratories, digital libraries and hubs for emerging professions
  • strengthening entrepreneurial skills in the digital sector.

2. Modernisation and Digitalisation of Study Documents

Recent measures enhance transparency and efficiency in the management of academic records:

• Modernised study documents, including:
  • QR codes for validation and conformity checks (introduced from 2024)
  • bilingual diplomas (Romanian and English) from the 2024/2025 academic year
  • Europass fomat diploma supplements.
• Single National Integrated Register for Diplomas and Study Documents (RUNIDAS):
  • a national digital system for managing academic documents
  • funded under the 2021–2027 Education and Employment Programme
  • ensures traceability and administrative efficiency.

Development of university infrastructure  

Investments focus on improving student living and learning conditions: 

• NRRP funded projects for:
  • student hostels
  • canteens
  • recreational and reading facilities, with priority given to disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, ethnic minority students and students from single parent families.
• continuation of the Ministry of Education’s student hostel construction programme, funded under the National Programme for Constructions of Public or Social Interest, implemented by the National Company for Investments.