A Trip to Romania

Vice-President Dr Julian Ng went to Oradea in Romania recently to attend the conferment ceremony of Professorship upon Urs Hauenstein by Agora University. Professor Hauenstein has been a visiting professor at Warnborough since 2015, and has held similar responsibilities at many other universities including Agora. Dr Adriana Manolescu addressed the packed Blue Room and referred to the institution’s mission in the information society, the universality of ideas and values in the current European educational system.

Guests in the Blue Room at Oradea University awaiting Prof Hauenstein's speech — Guests in the Blue Room at Oradea University awaiting Prof Hauenstein’s speech

The important members of the Senate at Agora University

Professor Hauenstein’s inaugural professorial address was titled “The Art of Education and its Transformation Toward Sustainability” during which he spoke about the need to radically change the ways in which we teach and learn.

Prof Urs Hauenstein receiving his Hon Causa Professorship from Dr Misu-Jan Manolescu

Prof Urs Hauenstein giving his inaugural speech

Receiving a Token of Appreciation from Rector Dr Misu-Jan Manolescu at Agora University — Receiving a Token of Appreciation from President Dr Misu-Jan Manolescu at Agora University

During the visit, Dr Ng took the opportunity to discuss partnership options with Agora University Founder and President, Prof Dr Misu-Jan Manolescu, and the Founder Dean, Prof Dr Adriana Manolescu. The Rector of Agora University, Dr Ioan Dzitac, spoke about their highly-respected journals and their work in IT and computing. Some wonderful ideas about cooperation emerged, and talks are progressing.

At Emmanuel University, Dr Ng and Prof Hauenstein met with Dr Sebastian Vaduva, the Director of the Griffith School of Management and IT. It was an interesting morning of story-swapping about the joys and pitfalls of resource management, accreditation, and adding value to student experiences.

L-R: Dr Ng, Sonja Hauenstein, Prof Urs Hauenstein, Teodora Chifor, Dr Olivia Ligia Burta, Dr Adriana Borza

Dr Ng met with representatives of the University of Oradea: Dr Olivia Ligia Burta (the University Pro-Rector) and Dr Adriana Borza (Director of the University’s Career Advice Service). Dr Borza had been working within an ERASMUS+ project application which included WCI, and it was a fantastic opportunity to meet face to face.

Dr Julian Ng meeting some of the talented and motivated youth at Edubiz Romania

Edubiz, the brainchild of Teodora Chifor, is a superb example of community-driven engagement. Founded only a few years ago as a result of feedback from teenagers who felt there was a great need for support and scaffolding structures into adulthood and careers via internships, student-led activities, and professional guidance, Edubiz is now operating across various cities and towns in the region. Their youthful charges are even in the midst of setting up their own media channel encompassing TV, radio and social media.

Dr Ng sharing some useful tips about setting up a TV channel at Edubiz

Dr Ng spent an afternoon with a group of talented, motivated and creative youths talking about critical and creative thinking, and answering questions with regard to the setting up of the media channel.

WCI, through Professor Hauenstein, is involved in the planning of an interesting forum which will be run in July, that will bring together schools, universities, industry and the government to highlight the need for a seamless and necessary integration in order to propel the future of the country forward.

Details of the Forum are forthcoming.