Report of the rector of UMFST. Leonard Azamfirei: “The desire to be paid by the hour should not be greater than the desire to have young people” – Mures News, Targu Mures News

The presentation of the Annual Report of the Rector of UMFST GE Palade Târgu Mureș took place on Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 12:00, in the Senate Hall, during the open meeting of the University Senate. In the first part of the event, the doctoral degrees were handed out to the graduates of the doctoral schools within the university. Then, Leonard Azamfirei, rector of the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology “George Emil Palade” from Târgu Mureș, took the floor.

Almost 13,000 students at UMFST

“In total, at the university level, we have 8779 undergraduate students, of which 1566 are international students. There is growth in both categories we were talking about. Regarding the master’s degree, there is a consistent increase at the Faculty of Engineering, at the Faculty of Economics and Law. We notice a revival of the interest of local children and students in the programs that take place in Târgu Mureș”, said Leonard Azamfirei.

According to the data presented, the total number of students, bachelor’s and master’s, in 2023 was 9,810, increasing compared to 2002, when there were 9,422. To them are added 449 people pursuing doctoral studies and 2,639 residents, in total being 12,898.

Hemorrhaging residents

“At the level of residents, the situation is dynamic. There is a slight increase in the number of residents at Medicină, 2193, in Târgu Mureș – with a very high transfer pressure from Târgu Mureș to other centers. That’s why we will come up with a proposal today in the second part of the Senate meeting, to regulate this”, the rector told his colleagues.

Vacancies and hourly pay

In the section regarding the situation of vacant positions, Leonard Azamfirei made a comment addressed to the management of the faculties. “I am asking the deans, the heads of departments and the heads of subjects to understand that we also understand what is happening in each of these departments. Vacancies are the means of hourly payment, and hourly payment is a legal form whereby additional pay is added to overtime work. But these things must be perceived in a balanced way, so that the desire to be paid by the hour, in a department or in a faculty, is not greater than the desire to have young people, assistants, whom we bring them to the university for the vacancies that already exist.”

According to the data presented by the UMFST rector, there are 498 vacant teaching positions within the UMFST. While in 2023, 41 teaching staff ceased their activity.

The budget, on the plus side by more than 7 million euros

Next, Leonard Azamfirei spoke about the situation of research activities, the financial situation of the university and the investment projects. According to the presented balance sheet, UMFST’s revenues for 2023 were over 301 million lei, and expenses were slightly over 268 million. Considering that the university has to recover sums worth approximately 4 million lei, which were spent on projects financed from European funds, according to the Rector, the real balance shows an increase of over 37 million lei, approximately 7, 5 million euros.