The “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University opening ceremony of the 2013-2014 Academic Year was held during a festive Senate Session on the 27th of September. The solemn ceremony began at 10 o’clock, in the T Wing Conference Hall.
Gheorghe Nichita, the City Mayor, and Romeo Olteanu, the prefect were invited – as special guests – both being graduates of TUIASI. On this occasion, Ph.D.Prof.Eng Ioan Giurma presented the state of the University, speaking about its achievements and activities, as well as approaching economic, didactic and administrative topics. He also announced the organization of special events dedicated to the 200 years anniversary of the Engineering and Cadastre School. Ph.D.Prof.Eng. Anghel Stanciu – the President of the Senate – also held a speech underlining the challenges of the technical higher education, as well as stating the role of the University in youth education. The Rector of TUIASI granted the outstanding students 1000 RON worth awards, at the event’s finale.
The TUIASI management chose a low profile solemn opening of the academic year. Alongside the honorific guests, the Vice-Rectors, the Administration and Senate members, and students alike attended the event. “We have discussed whether to approach the academic year opening in the UMF (the “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy) style, or to hold an Academic Senate session. We have chosen the later, bearing in mind the incoming 200 years celebration”, stated Ph.D.Prof.Eng. Anghel Stanciu at the inauguration of the event.
The state of the University
The Rector of the institution presented, chapter by chapter, the state of the University, underlining the fact that TUIASI is a top higher education institution in Romania, as it holds the “High Trustee Grade” granted by ARACIS and it is situated among the top 12 advanced research and education universities according to the National Education Law. The research and doctoral programs of the university also benefited of a homogenous classification according to the National Research Evaluation Exercise. Furthermore, TUIASI has been accredited since 2009 by ANCS as a national interest research and education institution. Last but not least, the university benefited from a favorable report from the European University Association (EUA) as a result of an evaluation process undertaken in 2012.
Concerning this year’s admission situation, Ph.D. Prof.Eng. Ion Giurma stated that “we have registered a slight setback in the Bachelor degree admission percentage. We were assigned 2950 state subvention places by the Ministry. We managed to fill 2700 places – 250 place less than assigned. However, bearing in mind the national situation as the technical universities are experiencing difficult times, we fared rather well.” He also mentioned that “although we register a small deficit in incoming students as result of this year admission, the quality of high school graduates is quite high, because our university aimed at this.”
Regarding the staff situation, The Rector noted that 89.5% of the TUIASI teaching staff are holding Ph.D. degrees and he underlined the homogenous distribution of the teaching staff on the four tiers (assistant professor, lecturer, senior lecturer, professor). He further mentioned that TUIASI holds 1567 employees, out of which 801 teaching staff and 338 external specialists.
Regarding the study programs, Prof. Giurma noted that since 2006-2007 their number increased from 56 to 64 for bachelor degree and from 1 to 80 for master degree since 2008-2009 up to the present. TUIASI holds 13 doctoral study programs.
As for the financial situation of the University, the Rector asserted that “we hold over 81 million RON at the present, funds assigned according to the institutional agreement signed by the Rector and the Education Ministry. This amount covers the expenses for our staff, utilities and small development programs. Our main development basis, however, are the structural and scientific research programs.” In this particular aspect, Prof. Giurma underlined that during 2012-2013, strategic doctoral and post-doctoral research (POSDRU) projects were developed, as well as nine post-doctoral research projects which won the PNII program competition. In 2012, TUIASI developed 16 international and structural funds contracts, cashing in over 5 million RON. Since 2008, the Technical University of Iasi has developed 30 European funded POSDRU projects, with a total income of almost 22 million RON.
The researchers and teaching staff from TUIASI published – in 2012 – 577 ISI articles, 85 BDI articles, 315 articles in Romanian CNCSIS (B and B+) rated magazines, 23 international acknowledged chapters and books. They were also granted nine invention patents.
There were 400 foreign incoming students in 2012 at TUIASI, compared with 257 in 2008, and 38 teaching staff from abroad, as result of the Erasmus program. Numerous events were organized by the Vice-Rector Office for International Affairs and Academic Public Relations in the previous year, the university receiving numerous visits from foreign delegations as a result. The University also participated to the RIUF education fair with experiments and original presentations and it was a partner in the International Festival of Education (IFE 2013). On the occasion of The Days of the University, 17 professors received the title of “Senior Professor” and other 14 professors got the title of “Professor Emeritus”.
The Rector also mentioned that the University holds the biggest and the most complex campus in the Moldavian region. In Tudor Vladimirescu campus ,there are 21 hostels with 3000 rooms, able to accommodate 8100 students, six open sport fields, fitness and team sports halls, a cafeteria with a capacity of 800 students per day and a medical facility. The Rector also noted that the hostels were included in a rehabilitation program of 67 million RON.
Gheorghe Nichita: “when you see the calculations adding up successfully, you realize the importance of being an engineer”
Ph.D.Prof.Eng. Ion Giurma stated at the end of his speech that the year of 2013 is a festive year for TUIASI. There are to be organized a series of events on the occasion of the 200 years celebration since the establishment of the Engineering and Cadastre School by Gheorghe Asachi, and 75 years since the establishment of the Polytechnic School in Iasi. Furthermore, he thanked everyone present for their help in rewriting the history of the technical education in Iasi.
Gheorghe Nichita, the Mayor of Iasi, graduate of the Faculty of Hydrotechnics of TUIASI, admitted that “I humbly tread this hall now and I own a great deal to this school. I am proud of being a graduate of this university. It made me a driven, balanced man. When you see the calculations adding up successfully, you realize the importance of being an engineer, because in engineering one may quantify the risks and the results.” He invited the Technical University to become an “active partner” in transforming the city of Iasi in the cultural capital of Moldavia. He mentioned that “we started a great deal of projects in the city that are technical in nature and concern your faculties. My power resides in the power this city granted me. If we are to be strong together, this city will see a great future”, stated the Mayor in his speech at the opening of the new TUIASI academic year.
Romeo Olteanu – the Prefect of Iasi – who 40 years ago was a student at the faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, underlined that since then “the university has been transformed, remaining on the other hand, an extremely lively place deeply rooted in the contemporary realty.” He mentioned the need for highly skilled technical specialists and noted that although the technical academic studies are difficult, they worth being attended because the future belongs to the graduates who can actually make a difference in their community. “Romania is in dire need of highly skilled technical specialists. Although you will experience moments where you might question your choice – as the technical studies are everything but easy – the future will prove you right.” He also addressed to the freshmen, mentioning that “as students you must be aware that, alongside your colleagues, you are perhaps the most important image vector of Iasi. Do not forget, however, to enjoy your time as students.”
Ph.D.Prof.Eng Anghel Stanciu, the president of the Senate, stated that in spite of certain demeaning evaluations and opinions regarding the Romanian higher education circulating in the public media space, the university continues to hold a pivotal place in the society. He also told the students that “the time spent in the university is a decisive and definitory moment in your life. “ He underlined that the choice of studying at TUIASI grants them a unique opportunity – not only acquiring knowledge, but being taught how to think in accordance with their hopes and dreams. Furthermore, they will be able “to make friends, to fall in love” – equally important experiences for the youth.
At the end of the ceremony, the president of BRD Romania held a short speech acknowledging the importance of supporting students. The bank sponsored TUIASI in order to grant excellence awards to students with outstanding academic results. The awards amounted 1000 RON each and were granted to the best student from each of the 11 faculties of TUIASI. The prizes were handed to the youth by the Rector Ion Giurma, who congratulated them for their performance.
The opening of the academic year at each faculty is scheduled on Monday, the 30th of October, at ten o’clock, while the classes are to begin on Tuesday, the 1st of October.
