NEWSLETTER

No. 21January

2014

A festive Aula Magna was the setting

of the second edition of the much-awaited

“Evening of Saint Nicholas”, an event which

brought together members of the University Senate

and Administration Board, along with guests from the

local socio-economic milieu, members of the National

Council of Rectors, and of the National Council for

Financing Higher Education.

The venue accommodated a wide range of thematic

exhibitions, in dedicated areas: “From virtual reality to material

achievements”, “Creativity-Research-Invention”, “From raw wood

to artwork”, “Tradition and respect”, “Our students”, “National and

international recognition”, “Talent, perseverance, cooperation”, and th“Our University's 65 Anniversary”. Among the guests were the

BlueStreamline team, showcasing their latest single-seater racing car, Florin

Năstase, our own mountain climber, who literally took the University banner

to the top, Alexandru Chitic, exhibiting his wonderful sculptures; the exhibition

stands displayed the prizes commending the teachers' and students' outstanding

achievements in science, arts and sports.

The concert staged by the Faculty of Music involved current and former

students and alumni. The opening act featured the performance of two famous pieces

by the Faculty choir, conducted by Ciprian Ţuţu, followed by the Anatoly Quintet, Duo

Universitas (Andreea Voicu and Robert Caloian playing the guitar), along with several

piano and violin pieces performed by Bogdan Costache, Valentin Şerban, Alexandra Fits,

Botond Szöcs and Jozsef Ambrus. Particularly impressive were the voices of Mădălina

Bourceanu (soprano), Corina Purcărea (mezzo-soprano) and Liviu Iftene (tenor). The closing

recital was given by Alexandra Fits (voice and piano), and the final act belonged to the “Gheorghe

Dima” choir of the Faculty of Music, performing two Christmas carols.

In this setting, guests and hosts alike spent an evening to remember, a preview of the

Christmas holidays. Dr. Liliana Rogozea, Dr. Andrea Deaconescu

THE EVENING OF SAINT NICHOLAS, SECOND EDITION,

AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

THE EVENING OF SAINT NICHOLAS

By the close of the year 2013, the “2014 Dacia 1300 Concept” had already

become a hot topic, nationwide.

As early as his freshman year in the Industrial Design programme,

Alexandru was involved in the design group of the BlueStreamline team at

Transilvania University, where he helped design the bodies of BS11, BS12 and BS

13 single-seater racing car.

Initially published on a social network, the “2014 Dacia 1300

Concept” went viral among the thousands of buffs, followed by the

successful impact on the industry media, internet publications,

international television and press (TopGear, ProMotor,

Autoevolution, 4Tuning, Autobook, TV.net, Antena 1).

This concept design revives the Romanians' forgotten

passion for a car which had, for about 35 years, represented the

iconic flagship in the local landscape. Alexandru ingeniously

selected the essential body elements of the 1969 sedan

born at Mioveni, then integrated and reinterpreted them

into a modern concept defined by dynamism and style.

Naturally, Dacia 1300 has been promoted to the next

level, from “people's car” to “luxury car”, a target

class not yet approached by the local car maker,

and where the rivalry is fierce: Mercedes S-Klasse,

BMW Serie 7, Audi A7 and - why not - Porsche

Panamera...

With his impressive creativity and hard

work, Alexandru allows us a glimpse into the

future of Dacia. A scale model is planned as

part of his graduation project. Further

support and hard work over the duration of

his master studies will certainly lead to the

building of the 1:1 scale model.

Dr. Mihai Comşiţ

ALEXANDRU MARIȘ AND THE REVIVAL OF DACIA 1300INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

FIDES ET EXCELENTIA

Transilvania University of BraşovWhat purpose does the university serve if not to pave the way for the society of wisdom?

(Paolo Blasi)

It is not the walls that make a school, but the spirit that reigns within.(King Ferdinand I)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

BEING AN ERASMUS STUDENTTRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY DELEGATION IN BEIJINGUNIVERSITY – BRAȘOV COUNTY COUNCIL PARTNERSHIPCHARITABLE ETNOVEMBER 2013THE MERRY CAMERATA CHOIR PERFORMANCE

“SANTA CLAUS EXISTS... IN ADVERTISEMENTS”TURNING INTO SANTA'S HELPERS

WINTER CONCERTSCAROLLERS AT THE FACULTY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND

EDUCATION SCIENCESON THE AGENDA OF STUDENT ASSOCIATIONSSUCCESSFUL ALUMNI

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

TO BEIJING FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE CONFERENCEth th Between the 5 and the 10 of December 2013, together with Mrs. Gabriela Cusen, director of the

University's Centre for Modern Languages and Mr. Zang Zhaoyu – the Chinese director of the Confucius th Institute at Transilvania University we participated at Beijing in the 8 Global Confucius Institute Conference.

The Conference venue was the well-known China National Convention Center which hosted more than 2,200

participants (presidents and directors of over 400 Confucius Institutes around the world), representing over

400 Confucius Institutes. Two representatives of Shenyang University – our partner university - Mr. Tiemao Shi,

Vice-president and Mr. Quingyong Song, director of Shenyang University Department for International

Relations, joined our delegation in Beijing.

Mrs. Liu Yandong, vice-premier of the People's Republic of China and Mr. Yuan Guiren, the Chinese

minister of education honoured the opening ceremony of the Conference. Both speeches emphasized the

importance of the bilateral cultural exchanges facilitated by the more than 440 Confucius Institutes operational

worldwide and the over 600 Confucius forms set up in elementary and secondary schools.

At the moment there are more than 850,000 students enrolled in Confucius Institutes all over the world.

These Institutes have conducted more than 20,000 activities for the promotion of Chinese language and culture

since the setting up of the first institute, in 2004.

The conference lasted for two days and its programme included sessions of presentations and discussions on the best teaching and learning

practices and issues related to the administration of Confucius Institutes.

The high point of the closing ceremony was the speech by the Chinese writer Mo Yan, 2012 Nobel Prize Laureate in literature.

This event was an opportunity for our delegation to meet and discuss with representatives of universities from all over the world and a

chance to set up partnerships such as the one between our university and Jianzhu University of Shenyang.

Dr. Daniel Munteanu

TH8 GLOBAL CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE

CONFERENCE

By now a recurring event,

the Erasmus Week was hosted by thTransilvania University between 9 and

th13 of December 2013, and consisted of a

series of meetings between the coordinating

professors and the students from all faculties,

interested in study programmes or internship

mobilities in all the EU partner universities.

Just as on all previous occasions, these meetings were attended by students who had already

been enrolled in Erasmus mobilities and who were willing to share their experience with their peers.

Answers were given to questions related to the countries or universities that organize study

mobilities for the duration of a semester or a year, the organizations which can supervise internship

placement mobilities, the actual amount of money a grant consists of, the recognition of studies by the

home country.

Participants were also offered examples of good practice provided by graduates from our

University whose subsequent career was significantly influenced by their Erasmus experience.

The schedule and calendar of Erasmus mobilities for Transilvania University students is posted

at http://www.unitbv.ro/ori/Mobilitatistudenti/ERASMUS/Outgoing.aspx.

THE ERASMUS WEEK AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY

BEING AN ERASMUS STUDENT

th On the 18 of December 2013, the headquarters of Braşov County Council was the venue of a

ceremony within which ten young members of Transilvania University's teaching staff were awarded prizes for

outstanding scientific research results in 2013. The main criterion for the selection of the prize winners was

their research activity, a crucial quality criterion for a high-standard university - as Dr. Ioan Vasile Abrudan,

Rector of the University, pointed out in his address.

The researchers who published articles in journals with a high impact factor in 2013 were awarded

diplomas and excellence prizes. They are: Ion Cătălin Petrea (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer

Science), Cristian Falup Pecurariu (Faculty of Medicine), Luminiţa Andronic (Faculty of Product Design and

Environment), Luminiţa Barote (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), Gabriela Huminic

(Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), Ovidiu Popescu (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science),

Codruţa-Nicoleta Aldea (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science), Adela Eliza Dumitraşcu (Faculty of

Technological Engineering and Industrial Management), Cristian Cezar Postelnicu (Faculty of Mechanical

Engineering) and Mihai Alexandru Luca (Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering).

Mihai Pascu and Claudiu Coman, representatives of Brașov County Council, congratulated the young prize winners and stressed the

importance of the County Council's cooperation with Transilvania University, a lively contributor in the setting up of county development strategies

as well as a partner in many common projects.

The ceremony concluded with a beautiful artistic performance offered by students from Tudor Ciortea Music Highschool.

Dr. Andrea Deaconescu

UNIVERSITY – BRAȘOV COUNTY COUNCIL PARTNERSHIP

PRIZES FOR YOUNG TEACHING STAFF

FIDES ET EXCELENTIA

Dr. Simona Lache

th On the 18 of December, PRIME Braşov, in partnership with Eliana Mall, organized a creative workshop for parents

and children, an event intended as a celebration of a time of year particularly rife with special, beautiful and unforgettable

family moments.

As Santa's helpers, we taught the participants to make various Christmas tree decorations, as well as Christmas

cards for their loved ones, out of paper, glitter and napkins. The children were well-behaved and ingenious; they created

the most interesting and beautiful Christmas tree decorations along with their parents who were happy to remember their

childhood.

The event was a success, firstly because it allowed free communication between parents and children, but also

because they really enjoyed working with us. This motivates us to organize similar events in the future. We are glad to have

contributed to improving the relationships among the participants who, just like us, are left with happy memories.

We take this opportunity to thank Eliana Mall and our partners for their support.

Adriana Stanciu, Ioana Moaşard3 year students, Communication and Public Relations

The donation project for the children of Holbav had two stages. It was a result of

Transilvania University's Etnovember Festival, whose first stage involved collecting funds for

the children of Holbav during the Mediaeval Fair organised at the Weavers' Bastion. The money

was donated to father Ștefan Spîrchez in a ceremony in the small village church, on the afternoon of rdTuesday the 23 of November. The donors were 35 student organizers of 2013 Etnovember festival.

In the second stage of the project, just like last year, father Stefan offered the gifts to the children thon the 25 of December, after the Christmas service, by the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the church.

Everybody spent unforgettable moments after the carol concert given by the village young men and the children's

choir, when, together with their parents, the children got father Stefan's blessing and their gifts from under the

tree. This was a low profile event which took place in an atmosphere steeped in the Christmas spirit.

This village, situated in an exceptionally beautiful area, seems to be a miracle of unaltered traditional

values. The inhabitants live a rather difficult life here, the children work together with their parents and the church

is the privileged place of the community.

This donation was a not a news item, the amount of money collected for the children was relatively small,

but the contribution of our students helped again to design, implement and finalise the social charitable

component of Etnovember festival.

CHARITABLE ETNOVEMBER 2013

TURNING INTO SANTA'S HELPERS

CHARITABLE EVENT ORGANISED BY THE FACULTY OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

“INGENIOUS ELVES” CREATIVE WORKSHOP

“SANTA CLAUS EXISTS... IN ADVERTISEMENTS”

GIFTS FOR THE CHILDREN OF HOBAV VILLAGE

For the fourth year running, the students of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administra�on

set out to help HOSPICE HOUSE OF HOPE by organizing the charitable event “Santa Claus exists... in adver�sements”.thThe show took place on the 12 of December, on the University Campus, and was organized by the third year students

from the study programmes Marke�ng and Economics of Trade, Tourism and Services, coordinated by Dr. Alina Tecău

and Dr. Ioana Chiţu.

Using their theore�cal knowledge, the students managed to recreate the Christmas atmosphere through an

innova�ve show made up of TV adver�sements specific for the winter holidays (most of them centered around Santa

Claus), a raffle with great prizes, Christmas carols and other special moments.

The project was supported by our University and sponsored by several local companies.

Dr. Ioana Chiţu

Everyone was overwhelmed again by the magic of Christmas and we all felt it together with our loved ones by

singing carols and winter songs from the bottom of our hearts. th On the evening of December 18 , the University hosted an interactive show for the children of the staff. The show

featured the Merry Camerata Choir of Reduta Art Centre led by Dr. Mădălina Rucsanda. It started with traditional carols

sung by children who told the story of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, the place where Messiah was born, the visit of the

shepherds and the magi and the guiding star in the sky.

The show was interrupted by the arrival of an Evil Spirit, wittingly performed by the actor Marius Stroe, who told

everybody that Santa had been kidnapped. The children won the four magic keys by solving the tests suggested by the

Spirit. They sang carols, skilfully played the musical instruments they got and they finally freed Santa who brought them

lots of gifts.

The children in the Merry Camerata Choir were impressed with their warm and active audience and were happy to

perform in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and merriment.

Dr. Mădălina Rucsanda

SANTA ARRIVED FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE UNIVERSITY'S STAFF

THE MERRY CAMERATA CHOIR PERFORMANCE

FIDES ET EXCELENTIA

Dr. Marina Cionca

th On the 16 of December, the Braşov branch of the Association of Romanian Christian

Orthodox Students ran its own carol show at Students' Arts Club Braşov. The group of ASCOR singers th

joined local groups to revive the century-old tradition of carol singing. On the 20 of December

ASCOR Braşov celebrated the end of 2013 by a march of carol singers, during which the 150-plus

participants went carolling in the old city centre.

The march concluded with memorial services organized in honour of the martyrs killed in the

December 1989 uprise. The services were held by Dr. Ovidiu Moceanu, whose heart-felt speech

reminded everybody present of the sacrifice made by those who died for our freedom.

The full agenda of the local branch of ASCOR is posted at www.ascorbrasov.ro�

Gheorghe Boiciuc

Chairman of ASCOR Braşov

th th th On the 5 , the 13 and the 15 of December, respectively, Dr.

Mihaela Buhaiciuc's students gave a series of vocal recitals in Braşov at the

National Anthem Museum, in Covasna at the Arcuş Art Centre, and in Sibiu at

the Festival Hall of Astra Library. The show, entitled “December Stories”, included

arias, lieder and duets from the preclassic to the postmodern periods; the recitals

concluded with several international carols sung in Romanian, Hungarian and Czech.

Among the interpreters, there were four sopranos - Anita Bertalan, Mădălina

Constantinescu, Adnana Gavrilă, Silvia Preda; three mezzo-sopranos -Célia Molnár, Daniela

Carmen Popa, Corina Purcărea; two baritones - Adrian Stănilă, Ruben Szücs, accompanied on

the piano by Cătălin Iosub, a third year student in Corina Ibănescu's class.

The series of Christmas events also included an American Christmas vocal concert at th

the National Anthem Museum, on the 14 of December: American carols were sung by Ildiko

Mihai, Irina Mărgescu, Alexander Tudose, and Cătălin Iosub. Representing the three ethnic

communities in Braşov: Romanian, Hungarian and German, the four musicians embraced the

English language, promoting an artistic style currently en vogue.

These concerts hopefully brought joy to the public, who is always welcome to musical

events organized by Cristina Soreanu, Cristina Radu and Mihaela Buhaiciuc.

Dr. Mihaela Buhaiciuc

CAROLLERS AT THE FACULTY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION SCIENCES

ON THE AGENDA OF STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

In the month of December, before the holidays, we went carolling, but we also received

carollers. The students of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences (Primary and Nursery

School Pedagogy and Special Psychopedagogy) put together an artistic programme (carols, poems,

dances, sketches, songs) for their teachers, colleagues, partners and parents. This was a good

opportunity for future primary and nursery school teachers to demonstrate the artistic abilities they

will use in their careers.

The traditional folk costumes and Romanian carols from various parts of the country combined

with more modern Christmas songs. Along with Santa Claus, teachers and students worked in teams

to make the tree decorations and they were rewarded for their efficiency with a present from Santa's

bag.

We also received two groups of carollers including over 40 pupils from the primary schools in

Săcele and Jibert, accompanied by their teachers and young people from their communities. We

greeted them joyfully, inviting them in and offering them the refreshments we had prepared for the

occasion.

Dr. Mihaela Voinea

FACULTY OF MUSIC STUDENT RECITALS

THE SHOW OF FUTURE PRIMARY

AND NURSERY SCHOOLTEACHERS

THE GROUP OF ASCOR BRAŞOV CAROL SINGERS

WINTER CONCERTS

FIDES ET EXCELENTIA

Paul Bogdan Bulencea is among the first graduates of the Communication and

Public Relations study programme. He started out as a junior marketing manager in a

German-based multinational company. Alongside the professional experience he gained as a

result, Paul started a cooperation with an Austrian company, which allowed him to come one step

closer to implementing a pet project of his – setting up a professional snowpark for ski and

snowboard in Romania.

Snowboarding and volunteering at AIESEC Braşov have equally contributed to Paul's personal

development. Snowboarding, his hobby, helped build his will power, patience, and perseverance. As AIESEC

volunteer, he gained insights into the makeup of leadership by getting involved in various projects around the

country and abroad, as well as by participating in conferences on personal and professional development.

At the end of 2011, upon ending an AIESEC internship, he enrolled in a Master's Programme on

innovation and management in tourism at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg. Here he dedicated

himself to the study of e-tourism, to the design of tourist experiences and their enactment by means of

psychological principles found in games. The findings of his research were disseminated through several

international conferences, among which World Travel Market in London. Paul is equally the founder and the driving

force behind the association Worldwide Innovative Students in Tourism (WISIT), association by which he intends to

create an international community of people who will revolutionize the tourism as we know it. Currently he is a

freelancer specializing in the creation and conceptualisation of experience design.

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

PROFESSORS WE TAKE PRIDE IN

SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI

PAUL BOGDAN BULENCEA

th Born on the 12 of December 1934 in Rucǎr, Argeş County, Ioan Oprei graduated from the Academy of Economic

Studies in Bucharest in 1952 and earned his doctoral degree in economics in 1968. He began his career as economist at ARO

Câmpulung motor vehicle factory and held an execu�ve posi�on at IFET Rucǎr between 1959 – 1960. In 1960 he began his

academic career at the then Polytechnic Ins�tute at Braşov (which later became Transilvania University), where he earned

a full professorship in 1994.

Professor Oprei was ac�vely involved in the ini�a�on and development of the Faculty of Economic Sciences and

Business Administra�on, set up in 1990; he was head of the Management Department un�l 1995 and Dean of the faculty

between 1996-2000.

Professor Oprei is currently a member of the General Associa�on of Economists in Romania (AGER) and of the

Romanian Associa�on of Marke�ng (AROMAR), and honorary president of the Associa�on of Braşov Economists; his

constant concern for self-improvement and the results of the training received in higher educa�on ins�tu�ons from France,

Germany, and Portugal materialized in the large number of monographs and research ar�cles which he authored or co-

authored during his career.

Dr. Ioana Chiţu

One of the most prominent academics with Transilvania University, Professor Ion Popescu is a 1962 graduate of

the Polytechnic Ins�tute at Brașov. Between the years 1978-1990 and 1996-2000 he acted as head of the Machines

Manufacturing Department at the Faculty of Technological Engineering. Since 1990 he has advised 44 doctoral theses in the

area of reliability and quality of industrial processes and products, and founded, in the year 2000, the Quality Engineering

and Management master's programme.

A genuine and well-respected professional in his field, Professor Popescu has shown a constant interest in the

developments in his field, and par�cipated in training programmes at Arizona University (USA). He has conducted top

quality research which earned him na�onal and interna�onal prominence and memberships of the Romanian Reliability

Society, and IEEE Reliability Society.

A good team worker and mentor, he is acknowledged as a supporter, model, and inspirer of younger colleagues

embarking upon an academic career. For his willingness to share his professional experience, for his en�re work, which has

significantly contributed to the development of our Faculty, we owe Professor Popescu a debt of gra�tude.

Dr. Adela Dumitraşcu, Dr. Cris�n Morariu

Born in 1909 in Covăciţa, Leopold Sauer was the son of a notary-public. In 1931 he graduated the Technical

University of Munich, where he had studied electromechanical engineering. Given the social and economic turmoil of

the �me, he was able to use his engineering skills only two years later, when he found employment with the

Locomo�ve Factory of Reșița, where he worked as a design engineer. In this capacity, he was part of a team who

designed two new types of steam locomo�ves which subsequently entered mass produc�on. In 1945, with the help of

his wife's family, he managed to avert deporta�on to Russia.

In 1952 his professional reputa�on earned him the posi�on of chief engineer at the Tool Factory at Râșnov. In

parallel, from 1955 he began lecturing at the Polytechinc Ins�tute at Brașov, where he started working full-�me in

1960. In 1970 he earned his doctoral degree at the Bucharest Polytechnic Ins�tute, and one year later, in 1971, he was

offered a full professorship at the University of Brașov, where he managed to include machine-tools as a study module

in the engineering curriculum.

In 1974 he re�red from teaching, devo�ng his �me and efforts to essen�alizing his professional experience,

achieving no less than fi�een monographic studies in the field. Six years a�er his passing on, in 2004, the first special prize

“Leopold Sauer” rewarded an outstanding student research paper.

Professor Sauer was highly appreciated by colleagues and students alike, being credited as a mentor and shaper of

many genera�ons of machine-tools specialists.

Dr. Mihai Ionescu

PROFESSOR IOAN OPREI, PhD

PROFESSOR ENGINEER ION POPESCU, PhD

PROFESSOR ENGINEER LEOPOLD SAUER, PhD

FIDES ET EXCELENTIA

Dr. Florin Nechita