Lower Danube University branch in Cahul is closing

The Dunarea de Jos (Lower Danube) University based in Galati, Romania, will close down its branch in Cahul, because after Romania joined the EU a written agreement with Moldova was required to continue the activity of the cross-border Faculty. Thus, during the first admission session at the University, which takes places this month, no places were reserved for the branch in Cahul. According to the rector of the Lower Danube University, Viorel Manzu, the faculty in Moldova undergoes liquidation. The dean of the cross-border Faculty in Cahul, Iulian Barsan considers that because of the lack of interest by the Ministry of Education, the students from Moldova do not have any places at the university. “I see that the Ministry is totally ignoring the situation. If it wanted the Moldovan students to study in our university, everything could have been settled. But because the agreement with Moldova was not signed, the branch in Cahul will be closed”, Iulian Barsan says. Established in 1999, the Lower Danube University provided education to 700 Moldovan students, being guided by 160 teachers, both from Moldova and Galati. 260 Moldovan students were admitted to the Lower Danube University in 2006. This year only 46 Moldovan students will be admitted to the places specially reserved for them. Moreover, the Moldovan students do not have the right to apply for those 1.800 places with scholarship or for the 2500 full fee places.