The Role of Language Preparatory Programme in Increasing the Participation of International Students in Higher Education in Romania

In the past 40 years, the rationales for implementing internationalisation of Higher Education policies have evolved, with “economic rationales more dominant” (De Wit & Deca, 2020). In the case of Romania, the decrease in student population over the last 15 years due to low demographics, migration, and a high drop-out rate (Alexe-Cotet et al., 2022) has changed the way in which internationalisation of HE is perceived and used, to tackle issues like brain circulation and the decrease in the student population. This paper aims to explore the role of Romanian Language Preparatory Programme (RLPP) for international students as a tool to enhance the internationalisation of HE. The paper analyses the effects of RLPP, including the role governmental scholarships had on international students’ access to the Romanian higher education system. The main research questions are: Does this programme have an influence on student participation in higher education? Are scholarships a mechanism that impacts the success/transition rate of international students in their academic path? The paper will answer the research questions by following international students’ educational paths from enrolment in Romanian Language Preparatory Programme, graduation and transition towards BA, MA or Ph.D. programmes. The analysis is based on the available data from the national platform for collecting statistical data for higher education (ANS) and the Romanian National Student Enrolment Registry (RMUR).