Romanian Education Ministry Drafts Premier Student Statute

The draft statute was developed by the ministry after discussions with students' organizations and was posted Monday on the ministry's website.

The statute comprises all the rights and obligations of students, respecting the principles of equality in education, student participation in academic governance through representation structures, academic freedoms, employability and student-centered education.

The principle of equality states that citizens of Romania, of the other European Union member states, of states belonging to the European Economic Area and of Switzerland have the right to education entirely subsidized by the state, according to availability and Education Law 1/2011. Candidates from socially disadvantaged areas may be allotted a number of subsidized seats, according to law.

Students from socially/economically disadvantaged areas, graduates of rural high schools or of small towns will receive free educational and professional counseling from the university, to enable their academic, social and cultural integration in the community.

Discrimination, either direct or indirect, according to gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnic background, religion, political beliefs, social background, disability, family situation, union association or activity, is forbidden in universities.

Students may not be punished or discriminated against for grounded private or public criticism of a university, or for expressing such a personal opinion, as long as they observe the law. Political or religious propaganda, as well as any form of individual or collective discrimination is forbidden in a university.

According to the draft, Romanian higher education is focused on the student and their needs, ensuring the right to choose freely between courses and majors.

Students may transfer from one university to another only with the agreement of the university where they wish to study, keeping their subsidized place.

In the first two weeks of school, the students will be informed on the curriculum, the course's structure and objectives, the skills it provides and evaluation methods. Any subsequent amendment to these elements may be carried out only with the students' consent, says the draft.

Students will be required to evaluate their teachers' performance, with results published on the university's website.

They also have the right to receive a "student's guide" in the first year of studies, with information on their rights and obligations, details on the classes and services provided by the university, evaluation methods, fees, equipment, student associations, access to scholarships or other financing methods, mobility and other incentives. They also have the right to request and receive access to rules, decisions, reports and other university documents, as well as to vote and be represented in the school's decision-making structures.

Student organizations have access to university grounds to run projects or internal activities. Also students are entitled to be informed about any decision of the institution's management, to have their requests registered and receive responses.

Students may receive financial aid for accommodation on or outside campus, as well as for local public transport and internal travel by car, rail or ship. They may be eligible for loans and scholarships through contracts with economic agents or other legal or natural persons.

Also, students benefit from a 75% discount at museums, concerts, theater plays, opera, films and other cultural or sporting events organized by public institutions.

The draft statute says every certificate issued by the university (including academic record, diploma and appendixes) as well as documents certifying the status of student are issued free of charge.

Students may take part in volunteer work and earn school credit, registered in an appendix to their diploma. Skills earned through formal or non-formal means, before or during their studies will be recognized.

Furthermore, students are entitled to know the ways through which tuition and other fees charged by the university are set and spent. Tuition contracts may not be amended for the duration of a university year.

Students are bound to respect the charter, rules and decisions of the university, the teachers and auxiliary personnel, as well as the university's quality standards. They are required to inform of any problems during the education process and associated activities, to refrain from taking part in academic activities while under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances, to use appropriate language and behavior in the university.

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