Only 23.2% of young Romanian people between the ages of 25 and 34 have completed a college. This shows the Eurostat data. We are in the last place in the European Union in this chapter. The lack of money is one of the reasons that keep young people away from education, say specialists.
Image from a photo student protest Inquam Photos/ Octav Ganea
Italy and Hungary, the countries at the bottom of the ranking, together with Romania, have even 10% more than us in the number of graduates of higher education. And the Bulgarian neighbors reached 50%. The European average is 44.1%.
Percentage of Faculty Graduates of each European European country of Eurostat
Lack of money, an important barrier
A study by World Vision Romania in 2024 shows that 80% of young people in rural areas and disadvantaged communities want to attend university studies, but financial barriers remain the main obstacle. One in three young people who answered the questionnaire was afraid that the family would not be able to support him.
Another study of the NGO shows that 41% of high school students do not intend to attend a college and prefer immediate hiring after high school.
“Students in the rural area are experiencing difficulties on transporting expenses, but also for educational materials or clothing and food, from the data we collect from young people”stresses Mihaela Nabăr, executive director of the World Vision Romania.
The state vulnerabils even more young people from disadvantaged environments by reducing scholarships
Student organizations say I know the situation. And I think that the new austerity measures, which provide for the reduction of the scholarships, will only emphasize the number of young people who will give up the higher studies.
“The data validates the situation in the territory, we have many inequities that during this period of austerity are accentuated, and the consequences will be negative. Instead of having a support in particular for young people who come from disadvantaged environments, who make additional efforts to have access to higher education, we choose to vulnerability even more by eliminating the forms of support, which were insufficient anyway. ” Believe Sergiu Covaci, president of the National Alliance of Student Organizations in Romania.
The students went out twice this week, to ask for their train tickets with a 90% discount, as well as the scholarships they benefited from.
Program to support rural students and disadvantaged areas
Education NGOs try to increase the desire to study among young people. “I want the faculty” is called the program supported by World Vision Romania and Babeș-Bolyai University in Clu-Napoca, through which financial support is offered, as well as access to counseling, mentoring and educational and professional activities made to prepare young people for the transition to the labor market. In the previous academic year, 68 students benefited from support to continue their studies.
“Each young man has the right to equal opportunities and opportunities that allow them to reach their potential and build a better future, and this can be attin through several directions support programs-on the one hand the financial and complementary support and counseling programs. Professional orientation programs need to be addressed to young high school students, to help them discover their interests, choose their educational route and build a plan for the future. “says Mihaela Nabăr.
The countries with the highest percentage of young graduates of higher education were, in 2024, Ireland (65.2%), Luxembourg (63.8%) and Cyprus (60.1%).
Only two universities in Romania, in the top 1000 Mondial
Romania is not good in the ranking of universities either. Only two universities in our country are in the top 1000 Mondial: Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and the University of Bucharest. In these two higher education units, the educational level increases from year to year. And climbs the top of Qs World University Ranking, the best known international ranking.
Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca reached 761 in the world and 318th place in Europe. Last year, internationally, was 781.
The University of Bucharest is equality in the standings.
The first place in the world is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. Imperial College London, Cambridge, Harvard and Oxford also catch the Top 10.
Babeș-Bolyai University, the best ranked in Romania, together with the University of Bucharest
