This year the tendency continues for fewer students to seek university education in Moldova, statistics released by the Rectors’ Council show.
Whereas in the academic year 2006/07 a total of about 130,000 students were enrolled in the first year in both undergraduate and graduate cycles, in 2016/17 their number dropped to nearly 75,000 students, by more than 40%. The biggest declines were for economic studies (54%), law (50%), and engineering (36%).
Negative demographics, the large number of university places offered by foreign governments, particularly Romania, the high numbers of young people leaving abroad, either for studies or other purposes, such as family reintegration, are among the factors to blame.
The Rectors’ Council is warning that the dramatic decline in enrollment numbers, compounded by the significant number of students who choose not to return after completing studies abroad, will have a big impact on future social and economic activities in Moldova.
