Burnout among university professors in the Republic of Moldova: from silent exhaustion to the crisis of the higher education system

Abstract

Academic burnout represents one of the most underestimated challenges of higher education systems in transition. This study investigates the prevalence, determinants, and consequences of professional burnout among university teaching staff in the Republic of Moldova, within a context marked by structural economic constraints, administrative overload, and insufficient institutional recognition. Although university professors appear to hold an "elitist" status, they are exposed to a toxic mix of administrative burden, modest salaries, research pressures, and adaptation to modern demands (digitalization, internationalization, student retention). This leads to chronic exhaustion that threatens the future of universities in the Republic of Moldova.