The Minister of Education, Daniel David, continues the series of issuing orders aimed at leading to a rethinking of the education system in Romania, and this is because it has prepared a new one regarding the completion of the Regulation on the organization and functioning of the National Commission for the Attestation of University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates (CNATDCU), approved by Order no. 5760/2024 and published in the Official Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 799 of August 12, 2024.
Minister of Education stresses that, based on this order, significant changes are made to the existing regulation. In Article 28, after paragraph (1), a new paragraph is introduced, namely paragraph (2), with the following content: "(2) By way of exception to the provisions of paragraph (1), in exceptional situations, the president of CNATDCU may propose to the minister of education and research the completion of the nominal composition of the general council and the specialized commissions of CNATDCU with new members."
This measure offers the possibility of adapting the composition of the general council and the specialized committees in special situations, ensuring flexibility in managing problems that may arise in the higher education system. Also, in article 30, after letter d), a new letter, letter d^1, is introduced, with the following content: "d^1) for valid reasons, extends once and for a similar duration the period allocated for the evaluation of doctoral files and habilitation theses."
The Minister of Education specifies that this provision supports those who face exceptional situations in the evaluation process, allowing an extension of the evaluation deadline for doctoral files and habilitation theses, but only under well-motivated conditions.
In Article 39, paragraph (1) has been amended so that the procedure for the termination of the CNATDCU membership, including the quality of president of the specialized committee, before the end of the mandate, shall be carried out as follows: upon the written request of the person who wishes to terminate this quality; in case of death; upon the request made by at least half plus one of the total number of members with voting rights in the General Council of CNATDCU, of the president of CNATDCU or of the minister of education and research.
The Minister of Education also established that in the event of inactivity for a period of more than 6 months; in situations of incompatibility; in the event that the president of the specialized committee does not prepare the summary report within the deadline provided by the applicable methodologies; as well as in the event of failure to comply with any extensions granted to members for exceeding the deadlines for evaluating doctoral files and habilitation theses.
This regulation details the conditions under which a member or the president of a specialized committee may cease to hold office before the expiration of the mandate, contributing to maintaining a high standard of accountability and efficiency within CNATDCU.
The General Directorate of University Education within the Ministry of Education and Research, the Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education and Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI) and CNATDCU will implement the new provisions of the order, which reflect the authorities' effort to modernize and adapt the organizational and procedural framework of the higher education system to current challenges.
Daniel David emphasizes that these measures are essential for guaranteeing transparency, rigor and efficiency in the process of evaluating university degrees, diplomas and certificates.
