self evaluation report - Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină ...

4. The demographic decrease trend with a negative impact on the dynamics of the students number and the
gradual increase of the cost of living, leads to a decrease of the living standards and lack of interest of high
school graduates for University;
5. The current economic context, with few medium-sized and large economic agents who can execute and
support the placing of students in internships, which affects the training of future graduates who will not
have a minimum experience in the profession gained;
6. The significant reduction of national research funding during the last 3 years, concomitant with the
increase of the standards for minimum eligibility criteria, for attracting research grants at national level as
a project director;
7. Lack of an active research market in Romania (which is inducing the decrease of doctoral and postdoctoral
studies);
8. Unable to promote the teaching staff based on the strong performance criteria imposed by the law,
especially for young teachers;
9. Payment of state employees does not allow financial incentives for the research activity;
10. The downward trend of revenues from students (study fees), the high abandon rate of students in the first
years of study.
7. CONCLUSIONS
Over the 143 years of history, USAMV Cluj-Napoca has developed as a major academic institution, at regional
and national levels. After 1990, and especially after the acceptance of Romania as EU member, major changes
in the Higher Education Area were adopted and therefore, USAMV Cluj-Napoca adapted its strategy for
development.
The Bologna and Lisbon processes supported the university didactic and research restructuring; increasing the
quality and the efficiency of all the academic processes is now understood as a continuing action, prerequisite
for international recognition and competitiveness.
The university strategy is formulated for four years, and the targets set for the next years are considering
Excellence, Competitiveness and Societal Integration, placing USAMV Cluj-Napoca as an advanced research
and education university, according to the Law of Education No. 1/2011. The requirements stated by this new
law open opportunities for the university restructuring, strengthening the already existent strong points: in
education, research, academic community and management. Accessing the highest ranking at national level is
supported by a set of results that individualize the university in Romania, and are in good agreement with the
developments in EU universities of reference.
The Integrated education (at all levels) and advanced research, giving and efficient and effective use of the
existent, and developing resources (human, infrastructure, documentation, etc.), further developments,
considering that the teaching lines can bring significant changes in the university faculties/education/
departments structure.
The integrated approach linking high-tech products’ development (Sustainable Energy), environmental issues
(Natural Resources Conservation and Use), Quality of Life and Education and Economic Development, gives
the possibility for complex approaches in large projects, actively involving the RTD departments. Specific
structures for strengthening the role of the Institute in promoting RTD of excellence and technology transfer
are now under consideration.
The student facilities for learning and living open new opportunities in the next years, including a training offer
for horizontal competencies (e.g. entrepreneurship, didactics).
The large number of projects for human resources development that are now running in the university,
further support this trend and enhance the knowledge and skills of our graduates. Strong involvement in the
community and economic area of the region, resulting in academy-industry partnerships - considering in the
future the development of these partnerships under the new law of public-private partnerships.
Page 24 SELF-EVALUATION REPORT, March, 2012