Shaping the future of higher education in Romania: challenges and driving factors

Abstract

The paper summarizes the main challenges that the Romanian higher education will be facing during the years to come, in terms of its responsibilities for both the individual development and community evolvement. These challenges are revealed as gaps against the European and international tertiary education system, but also as opportunities as well as threats. In addition, the article explores the changing factors that shape the future of higher education in Romania, with a focus on those factors that build the entrepreneurial process throughout the university and sustain its performance on long term. By using the expertise provided by a team of knowledgeable experts from academia, government and various business fields, we explore the future provocations that universities should address in order for them to be sustainable and increase their impact on local or regional community; furthermore, we discuss the key driving factors that shape the future of educational market in Romania as well as influence the labour market trends. The changing factors addressed in the paper were determined based on a PESTEL analysis conducted for higher education by an interdisciplinary team.human capital development, higher education challenges, learning, changing factors, educational market trends, PESTEL analysis, community development.