The 41st ICOHTEC symposium:Technology in Times of Transition,Brașov, Romania 29 July - 2 August 2014

Transilvania University of Brașov, Romania

CONFIDENCE AND EXCELLENCE

Transilvania University of Braşov is a public institution of higher education with a tradition of over half a century and declares the mission of providing and developing the resources and instruments for high quality teaching and scientific research, aiming to ensure its competitiveness in the European Higher Education and Research Area. The University was founded in 1948, as a Polytechnic Institute and developed as a comprehensive university starting with 1990.

The university evolves within the dynamics of today's knowledge-based society, relying on its dedicated teaching staff which coordinates numerous multi-disciplinary national and international projects, both scientific and educational, and organizes high-class international conferences and forums. 

Education

Every year the University is the chosen destination of hundreds of students and teachers participating in academic exchange programs, coming from all EU countries; at the same time the university is represented by its students and teachers in educational and research activities at more than 200 universities from Europe and other cultural spaces, partners in various collaboration agreements.

Transilvania University of Braşov includes 18 faculties (9 technical faculties, like Mechanics, Materials Engineering, Forestry, etc., as well as other profiles like Languages and Literatures, Medicine, Music, Law, Mountain Sports, etc.) and over 20 000 students. Its educational offer consists of over 100 Bachelor study programs (full time, part time, distance learning), over 60 Master study programs (full time, part time, distance learning) as well as 18 domains for PhD studies.

The fundamental development objectives for 2012 - 2016 are the consolidation of Transilvania University of Brasov as a key national and international institution for generating and conveying advanced knowledge, as well as the harmonious integration in the European Higher Education and Research Area.

The current study programs are the result of extensive restructuring focused on ensuring educational process quality and competitiveness, as well as compatibility with the demands of the European labor market. The syllabuses underlying the study programs were developed according to the needs of the economic, social and cultural environment and correspond to related study programs offered at well-established European universities.

The continued adjustment of Bachelor, Master and Doctoral studies to the requirements of society has yielded flexible integrated Bachelor-Master-PhD (BMP) study routes, accessible to students from the very moment of their admission. This innovative offer of study programs certainly allows secondary education graduates to choose the path which suits best their capacities and aspirations.

All faculties have developed modern laboratories endowed with high-tech equipment, updated IT infrastructure and specific software. The University's direct cooperation with companies from the economic environment has resulted in their investing in well-equipped teaching laboratories. The development of these facilities ensures specialized training and development of highly qualified human resources for the investing companies and the wider labor market.

In recent years, the university has significantly invested in infrastructure quality as required by the teaching process (23 auditoriums were modernized and over 300 teaching laboratories built up). The university provides modern teaching – studying - evaluation instruments by its e-Learning platform launched in 2008. Access to this platform is facilitated by the 6 computer rooms opened for students as well as by free internet made available in all student halls of residence. Modernization of residences, that fully cover student accommodation needs, represents yet another permanent concern of the university.

A modern, highest standard learning space is the Transilvania University Library, fully automated, with open shelf access and ample reading rooms is a frequent destination for both students and teachers, open for learning, and broadening the knowledge extent.

Research

Research in the university has been structured upon interdisciplinary priority fields, capable of ensuring the attaining of a top position at national level and full integration in the European Research Area. Upon an internal evaluation process, the university defined 21 research departments, self-managed and operating with their own staff and infrastructure, conducting research of excellence targeting the development of innovative high-tech products.

A significant contribution to developing and ensuring the human resources required for research is made by the university's Interdisciplinary Doctoral School and the research – oriented master programs coordinated by the research departments.

Efficient and synergetic deployment of the existing resources and of those in progress represents a key feature of university strategy, materialized by the major development project of the R&D Institute for High-tech products for Sustainable Development, PRO-DD/ICDT, opened in 2012. The R&D Institute groups its high-performance infrastructure in 12 specialized laboratories, available to the 21 research departments as well as to cooperation with national and European research facilities and research divisions of various companies.

Located in the new Green Energy Independent University Campus - GENIUS, the institute will be completed with an area dedicated to the training of highly qualified human resources by master and doctoral programs, as well as with an area made available to international companies invited to establish branches directly collaborating with the Institute.

The Institute will also represent the main component of a research pole of excellence for the 7th – Centre Development Region of Romania in the field of sustainable energy and environment.

The university as a promoter of sustainable development

Transilvania University, located in the heart of the city at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, the city that has been a binder of culture and civilization from both sides of the Carpathian Mountains enjoys significant prestige in education and research. It has an active, beneficial and dynamic presence in economic, social and cultural community life.

Through its personalities and achievements the University is able to offer a competent and coherent vision of the regional development perspectives (in 7th – Centre Region of Romania) and to significantly contribute to the effort of promoting and strengthening European values.

The university promotes sustainable development by partnerships with local and regional bodies, involving: the participation in devising the Strategy of Sustainable Development of Braşov county, city and Metropolitan area, and coordination of the work groups for Economic, Environmental and Cultural Development and Urban Endowment by  experts from Transilvania University; a substantial contribution to materializing the Integrated Urban Development Plan that includes the new GENIUS University Campus, a major municipal development project; development of the ABMEE Energy Agency (SAVE Project), the University being a founding member since 2006; the active promotion of sustainable energy systems in the Centre Region (FP7 projects, RenErg EUReg 2008-2010) and development of research - industrial clusters in this field; development of human resources: training of trainers in cooperation with the Braşov Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the County School Inspectorate; development of university-industry structures for promoting new/innovative high-tech products: PRO-ENERG Technological and Business Incubator within the University (2008); new teaching and research laboratories in cooperation with international companies like INA Schaeffler, Viessmann, Oracle, Motorola, Horiba, LMS, Festo, Kronospan; joint projects with the economic and social environment.

A welcoming institution

Transilvania University of Brasov has a rich patrimony of buildings in the city area, both old and new. Its truly iconic building, situated in the old city center, is the remarkable Rectorat, a neo-Renaissance masterpiece, built in 1886, decorated with sgrafitto panels along the upper part of its three imposing facades. Two guardian angels, not yet restored, welcome the academic staff and the visitors at the entrance, beyond the two ionic columns supporting a loggia.

The R&D Institute, the most recent building (finished in 2012) displays daring architecture and luminous, spacious laboratories.

The University is looking forward to the 41^ST ICOHTEC Symposium, happily preparing to welcome all participants and guests in a friendly academic atmosphere at the University Aula, a modern and functional building, situated in the city center.

The city of Brasov, the most livable city of Romania, will discreetly show its major attractions in the beautiful summer days of July 2014.