The government published a draft of the relevant decree last week, and comments are being accepted until January 9.
“In a hurry, while people are busy with winter holidays, these two universities are being merged, although the goal is the same and there is no need for such changes”, commented Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban.
Many other politicians and activists also criticized this intention of the authorities. For example, former Prime Minister and MP Ion Cicu said that by joining KSU to TUM and changing the Education Code, “PAS secures a third term of rector” for Viorel Bostan, who, according to Ion Cicu, “served PAS in the electoral campaign”. Before him, his father Ion Bostan was rector.
Currently, the Education Code does not allow the same person to hold more than two rector mandates; the proposed amendments allow for a third mandate to lead the merged university as well.
The Cahul State University was defended by the League of Cities and Communes (LOC) party, which emphasized the university’s strategic role for southern Moldova, the need for an independent audit, investment in infrastructure and educational programs.
And PSRM deputy Alla Ursu-Antoc, earlier in an interview with Logos Press, called the takeover an example of “political irresponsibility”. “The liquidation of the university through a ‘takeover’ will drastically limit the access of the region’s youth to higher education and accelerate their exodus to Chisinau or abroad.”
The local Cahul district councillor Nicolae Dunas, although elected from the ruling PAS party, strongly opposed the takeover of KSU “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu”, emphasizing that an autonomous and strong university structure is vital for the development of the south of the country, for the retention of students and local professionals, for the future of children and the region.
Former Education Minister Corneliu Popović recalled that similar attempts were made in Taraclia – for an institution with a much smaller number of students than Cahul. “Still, Taraclia University was saved, but not thanks to Chisinau, but due to the intervention of the Bulgarian authorities, who transformed it into a branch of the Angel Kinchev Rusen University,” Popovic noted.
Meanwhile, the authorities cite many arguments in favor of the reform. Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun explained that the integration of Cahul State University into the Technical University of Moldova will allow attracting additional resources, investments in infrastructure and opening new faculties.
According to the project, a University Center with the same name will be created, based in Cahul. The decision envisages an annual allocation of at least 10 million lei over four years to invest in its infrastructure and equipment.
According to the project, the students of KSU’s bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs will be transferred to the TUM until August 31, 2026 – for the same specialties and under the same financing conditions. No tuition will be charged for the academic year 2026-2027, until the transfer process is complete.
The teaching and administrative staff of CGU is planned to be transferred to the Technical University of Moldova until September 1, 2026, with the preservation of their salaries and professional rights. During the first three years after the integration, no staff reductions due exclusively to the reorganization are foreseen. In the management structure of TUM, the position of Vice-Rector, elected from the academic community of Cahul, will be introduced.
No official announcements have been made by the leadership of Cahul State University “Bogdan Petriceiku Hashdeu”, but on December 11, 2025, the university was visited by Education Minister Dan Perciun and TUM Rector Viorel Bostan to discuss the merger process. “We thank the guests for their openness to dialog and for their vision focused on the sustainable development of higher education in the Republic of Moldova,” KSU’s official page reads.
According to the university, it has trained almost 6,000 graduates and 702 masters. Currently, according to the former rector, there are 1,025 students studying here.
