The missing students: Why does Romania have few university graduates and what are some of the hurdles they face?

Romania has few tertiary education graduates relative to the general population while seeing high dropout rates among those who are enrolled in university studies. Two reports from the Education Ministry and OECD have highlighted the issue and offered suggestions for policy changes that could improve the situation.

Only 16% of the country's adult population has graduated from higher education, compared to a European average of 30%, the Diagnostic Report on Education and Research in Romania (The QX Report) explains. Among young people aged 24 to 34, the percentage is between 23% and 26%, significantly lower than the 40%-43% at the European level.