Higher education is organized in universities, study academies, institutes, higher education schools, hereinafter referred to as higher education institutions or universities, which have obtained provisional operating authorization or accreditation.
Higher education institutions are education-providing organizations that carry out educational activities based on study programs authorized to operate provisionally/accredited according to the law, for initial and continuing university-level training, programs that operate on the principle of quality and alignment of the educational offer with the labor market.
The national higher education system includes all accredited higher education institutions. A higher education institution authorized to operate provisionally, according to the current legal procedures, becomes part of the national higher education system only after accreditation. For more information, you can also access the website of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education - www.aracis.ro .
Higher education institutions can be state, private or religious. These institutions have legal personality, are nonprofit, and are apolitical. Higher education institutions are public law legal entities or, as the case may be, private law legal entities and of public utility.
University autonomy is guaranteed by the Constitution. Academic freedom is guaranteed by law. Public accountability is also regulated for any higher education institution, whether state or private.
Through an annual government decision, the following are validated:
The nomenclature of fields and university study specializations/programs for the Union
The structure of state and private higher education institutions that are accredited or authorized to operate provisionally, with:
- university bachelor's study fields and accredited or provisionally authorized specializations/study programs,
- geographical locations of activities,
- the number of transferable study credits for each university study program,
- form of education and teaching language,
- the maximum number of students who can be enrolled
The mission of higher education is to generate and transfer knowledge to society through both initial and continuing university-level education, for personal development, professional insertion of individuals, and satisfaction of the skill needs of the socioeconomic environment, as well as through scientific research, development, innovation, and technology transfer, through individual and collective creation, in the fields of sciences, engineering sciences, arts, letters, by ensuring performance and physical and sports development, as well as valorization and dissemination of their results. All these are carried out with respect for the following principles:
a) the principle of university autonomy;
b) the principle of academic freedom;
c) the principle of public accountability;
d) the principle of quality assurance;
e) the principle of equity;
f) the principle of managerial and financial efficiency;
g) the principle of transparency;
h) the principle of respecting the rights and freedoms of students and academic staff;
i) the principle of independence from ideologies, religions, and political doctrines;
j) the principle of freedom for national and international mobility of students, teaching staff, and researchers;
k) the principle of consultation with social partners in decision-making;
l) the principle of student-centered education.
Structure of the academic year (according to Law no. 1/2011 – art. 136)
The academic year usually begins on the first working day of October, includes two semesters, and ends on September 30 of the following calendar year.
A semester usually has a duration of 14 weeks of teaching activities followed, typically, by a minimum of 3 weeks of exams.
The structure of the academic year is approved by the university senate.
When assigning transferable study credits in a semester, a minimum period of 17 weeks is taken into account.
The university senate of each higher education institution annually approves, at least 3 months before the start of the academic year, the regulation regarding the professional activity of students, as well as the calendar of the educational activities specific to the academic study semesters.
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