Leadership and the Evolution of Study Programmes in Romania: Insights from 15 Years of Higher Education Transformation

This paper analyses how higher education in Romania has changed over the course of 15 years, examining how academic leadership has facilitated the adjustment of study programmes in line with regional socioeconomic dynamics. The research is based on a mixed methodology, combining trend analysis for bachelor’s degree study programmes between (2010-2025) and master’s degree study programmes (2014-2025), structured according to the International Standard Classification of Education hierarchical levels and grouped geographically according to the Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics for basic regions. At the same time, the study explores the transition from a quantitative growth of undergraduate education to a consolidation of the educational offer at the master’s level, highlighting the role of different forms of education in promoting equal access to education. The results reveal substantial differences between traditional university hubs and emerging regions, suggesting that institutional leadership has evolved from a volume-based strategy to one focused on smart specialisation. The conclusions provide insights into the degree of sustainability of the school network in the context of demographic decline and the demands of a constantly changing labour market, proposing a model for regional analysis of the agility and resilience of the current educational offer.