The higher education reform divided university rectors and heads of research institutes into two camps. Some of them say the reform is designed to modernize the institutions, while others say the goal is to take over the lots the universities that will be absorbed possess, IPN reports.

Eduard Coropceanu, the rector of the Tiraspol State University that is to be absorbed by the Chisinau Teacher Training University, considers the reform lacks transparency as the subject hasn’t been discussed with all the stakeholders. The goal of the announced reform is to take under control the property of universities and research institutions.

“It is not a well-thought-out initiative. The stages of the reform aren’t specified. It is not clear what will happen to the employees, to the assets. Owing to this process that was thought up artificially, the bank fraud about which we have spoken for years can turn out to be just a small exercise in comparison with what will happen if this process is managed irrationally. I refer not to equipment, but to lots. There are research institutes that own hundreds of hectares of land and this is huge property that is worth a lot of money. The reform should be well-thought-out, accompanied by public consultations,” Eduard Coropceanu stated in the program “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.

The rectors whose universities will be advantaged by the reform are yet in favor of the merger. As the Ministry of Education and Research announced, the Technical University will absorb the Agrarian University and two research institutes.

“During 30 years, both the research system and the higher education system have experienced chronic sub-financing. We are in a subsistence position. We can no way think about development. The number of students and researchers decreases, because the research system also faces a shortage of staff, and the young people no longer want to study for a doctorate. The average age of many laboratories and institutes is very long. It’s time to combine forces and to address this common problem. Research and higher education should go hand in hand,” stated the rector of the Technical University of Moldova Viorel Bostan. He said that by the merger, they will manage to harmoniously combine theoretical and practical aspects.

The heads of the research institutes, which will be absorbed by the Technical University and the State University of Moldova, said they want to benefit from funds for developing research.

“The researchers’ opposition is due to the way in which the reform is done. We would like the impact assessment to include at least two-three alternative options. We need figures. If they prove that this is the best option, we agree. From what they tell us at the moment, I do not see any necessity of being absorbed. Why can’t we cooperate as part of consortiums? Why can’t we bank on pre-accession funds? In Romania, these funds were used not only by universities, but also by research institutes,” said the head of the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology Liliana Cepoi.

According to the Ministry of Education and Research, 700 million lei will be allocated for doing the higher education reform. The money will go to modernize the infrastructure of universities and to develop programs of study.