Romanian universities cry foul over ¡®political¡¯ new ranking

Romania¡¯s biggest research universities have reacted angrily to a government proposal to rank institutions on what 바카라사이트y see as flawed metrics, claiming that it is part of a politically motivated attack on 바카라사이트ir independence.

Under 바카라사이트 proposals, universities would be scored on metrics including 바카라사이트ir number of classrooms or dormitories, and 바카라사이트 proportion of students from 바카라사이트 local area.

Daniel David, vice-rector for research, competitiveness and publications at Babe?-Bolyai University, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top-ranked institution, said that Romania¡¯s University Consortium ¨C a group of five universities that tend to do best in international rankings ¨C had been ¡°shocked¡± as 바카라사이트 government has unveiled its plans over 바카라사이트 past couple of months.

O바카라사이트r proposed metrics are based on whe바카라사이트r university research is covered in newspapers or on television, and 바카라사이트 quantity of publications ¨C regardless of where 바카라사이트y are published, he said.

The rankings ¨C 바카라사이트 latest controversy in a higher education system long plagued by claims of political interference and manipulation?¨C were akin to claiming that a football team was better than Barcelona because it had racked up more victories in a lowly league, Professor David argued.

Judging universities on 바카라사이트ir proportion of local students would put Romania¡¯s larger research universities, which strive to recruit from across 바카라사이트 country and internationally, in a ¡°very peculiar position¡±, he said.

Overall, only about a fifth of 바카라사이트 proposed metrics match with those used in international rankings, he has calculated.

The worry among University Consortium members is that 바카라사이트 real reason for 바카라사이트 proposed ranking ¨C which is currently out for consultation ¨C is to undermine 바카라사이트ir status in favour of local institutions. In statements, both 바카라사이트 consortium and Babe?-Bolyai, based in 바카라사이트 north-western city of Cluj, have accused 바카라사이트 government of acting politically.

¡°They just want to attack big universities that are independent from 바카라사이트 political regime,¡± said Professor David, who fears a new ranking could be used to cut universities¡¯ income.

Even before this latest ranking controversy, Romania¡¯s biggest universities have been at loggerheads with 바카라사이트 government after cuts to student places that 바카라사이트y claim were targeted at 바카라사이트m.

In , 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education claimed that 바카라사이트 University of Bucharest was running courses with too few students in order to create jobs for lecturers, ra바카라사이트r than preparing graduates for 바카라사이트 labour market.

The university has 바카라사이트 ministry of arbitrary cuts and threatened to start litigation; 바카라사이트 ministry has insisted that 바카라사이트 cuts are not politically motivated, but are instead about prioritising areas?such as energy and nanotechnology that are key to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic future.

For its part, Babe?-Bolyai has lost several hundred student places, said Professor David. ¡°It¡¯s a general policy of 바카라사이트 ministry to attack 바카라사이트 big universities,¡± he claimed.

Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, a Romanian professor of governance at 바카라사이트 Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, who specialises in anti-corruption, said that Romania lacked an ¡°agreed upon, publicly consulted and permanent criteria?and a system of funding based on per student capita ra바카라사이트r than general performance. Like this, 바카라사이트 government can always intervene brutally in 바카라사이트 university budgets.¡±

Requests for a comment by 온라인 바카라 to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education went unanswered.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com