The problems of higher education funding : the case study of “Babes-Bolyai” University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract

Our study is intended to analyze: a) the issue of higher education under funding; b) the “disguised subsidizing” of higher education based on tuition fees; c) the supplementary revenues sources for universities; d) the funding mechanisms of higher education. We aim to incite debate on the relation between the educational policy and the funding strategy of higher education at both national and operational levels, instancing the case of the Babes- Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca. The fundamental guide marks of this analysis are: the average cost per student, the budgetary allowance and the tuition fee. What sources of supplementary revenues for universities are there? What kind of scientific research provides incomes? Which university services generate supplementary resources? How can the university infrastructure be “exploited”? In what measure the cooperation and partnership opportunities with the economic and social environment are being identified? Which are the facilities, the steering directions, the conditions and the benefits of accessing European Structural Funds? With the purpose of answering these questions we have conceived a funding strategy model, entailing: regulations, institutional infrastructure, working instruments, budgetary allowance distribution models, educational costs estimation methods, funding mechanisms, all these operating in a gearing meant to attain, by solving the problems, the objectives of higher education policy.