ABSTRACT
This chapter describes research and development in Romania leading to legislation, draft accreditation standards, and a proposed Commission of Academic Assessment. Since 1989 the criteria and procedures of quality assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions have been widely discussed in Central and Eastern Europe, alongside the need for bilateral recognition of studies, diplomas, and degrees. The Ministry began with a large research study which made an inventory of the main systems of quality assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions in other countries, their methods, procedures and means of implementation. The accreditation system proposed for Romania is specific to a country with an explosive development of public and private higher education, and it takes into account that Romanian legislation concerning education as a whole is still being elaborated. Following this study, a draft law concerning 'the accreditation procedure in higher education institutions and the national recognition of diplomas' has been submitted to the Romanian Parliament.
