Ambassador Vasiliu: High quality of Romanian higher education could also be judged after brain-drain's scale

The high quality of the Romanian higher education could be also judged by the brain-drain's scale, by the huge number of specialists who go work in other countries, said Romania's ambassador to Switzerland Vlad Vasiliu. 

Attending the events organized by the National Council of Rectors in Geneva, at the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference where a pavilion was opened under the name of "Study in Romania" that promotes 30 universities countrywide, the diplomat said that the higher education in Romania has certain traits that could boost it internationally. 

"I believe that one of the traits is the fact that the Romanian higher education has adapted to the requirements, and another one is the high academic level of the professors and, not least, the students' desire. In a nutshell, the best evaluation of the high level of professionalism of the Romanian university education is, after all, an indicator that is not socially encouraging, namely the <> of highly qualified professionals we have and of whom other economies, other societies take advantage of. Of course, corroborated with other factors, per global, but if we weren't molding and not only peaks, because it is obvious one cannot only mold peaks, but it is a solid, high median, our specialists wouldn't be that looked for on the international market," Ambassador Vlad Vasiliu told AGERPRES. 

The diplomat believes that the participation of a delegation representative for the Romanian higher education in such events is paramount, given that the information level that could be accessed in three days of the conference is very high. 

"Absolutely, Romania's presence with a national pavilion in Geneva at this exhibition is an added value for the Romanian higher education. Both to see where it stands from the international competition's point of view, because big universities come here and the trends and orientations are seeable. This not about copying, but getting inspiration, knowing one's territory, reassessing one's competencies and orientations. They are from all over the countries, we stand between the Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, Poland - so these are the immediate neighbours of our pavilion, after all our competitors in the global fight, not only from the university viewpoint, but from the viewpoint of our universities' capacity to mold specialists who are eventually contributing to the growth of Romania's economic competitiveness. Education, there is no point in repeating a well-known fact, is essential for a society's development," the Romanian diplomat added. 

Vasiliu also brought to mind Switzerland's performance in education and deemed that it could serve as a not-so-large country model, non-EU country, but which makes it to promote its vision of higher education. 

"Here, in Switzerland, it is normal to be present, Switzerland is a country which, a few are aware of this in Romania, for seven years in a row, has been ranking first in development and research. Having two extremely strong poles - the Zurich and Lausanne polytechnic universities. Zurich, ranking 7th at world's level, is first on the European continent after the four from the United States of America and the two of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the classic leaders. And I believe that one can also learn learn from the Swiss experience when it comes to promoting, from a small, non-EU country, the priorities of higher education," Vlad Vasiliu asserted. 

Not least, the diplomat stresses that given the current global competition's conditions, not to attend such events could be similar to not existing for the ones around you. 

"CNR has shaped this consistent participation, it is admirable and there is another thing of which we should be more and more aware of - if one is not seen and is not participating in such events, one doesn't exist for the rest of the world. One has to participate properly, efficiently, by displaying their offer, capacities and perspectives," Vlad Vasiliu added. 

From 11 to 14 September, over 100 representatives of Romania's academic milieu are present in Geneva, at the 30th edition of the EAIE. As many 30 Romanian universities are thus represented, and also the CNR (the National Council of Rectors, ed.n.), the National Education Ministry, the Erasmus National Agency, the UEFISCDI, alongside the Permanent Mission if Romania to the UN and the Romanian Embassy in Switzerland.