www.unitbv.ro

21 February 2025

Transilvania University of Brașov had the honour to host on Friday, 21 February 2025, the visit of Mrs. Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, who met with the academic teaching personnel and students of our institution. The event was a consequential opportunity for dialogue on the future of higher education in Europe, the role of the European universities, the European diploma, and the university funding mechanisms.

Within the discussions, the main topic was the support for the development of competitive European universities and alliances, an objective that Mrs. Mînzatu highlighted as a priority in her term of office. Transilvania University of Brașov is part of the UNITA-Universitas Montium Alliance, one of the 65 university alliances funded by the European Commission to test new models of governance, education and research. In this context, the Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu emphasised the importance of strengthening the university consortia and of using the funds available through the Erasmus+ programmes and other financing sources.

Roxana Mînzatu also referred to the need to implement the European diploma, mentioning that progress is being made in this regard, and the European Commission is committed to achieving a favorable outcome for increasing competitiveness worldwide. The Executive Vice-President was particularly interested in the perspective of our university’s students on the programmes funded by the European Commission, encouraging open dialogue and their sharing not only of positive experiences, but also of obstacles or difficulties.

In the framework of the meeting, the Rector of Transilvania University of Brașov, Prof. Eng. Ioan Vasile Abrudan, PhD, brought up the issues related to the differences in the legislation of the European countries regarding the recognition of the European diplomas, while also emphasising the university’s willingness to contribute with proposals for their harmonization. 

During the visit, other topics were discussed as well, such as: the integrated package of measures for financing university alliances, the ways of rendering European universities more flexible, the European citizens’ future skills, and the Erasmus + financing for third countries. 

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu called for proposals which to be considered with a view to being integrated into the future European directives, emphasising that university alliances can play a key role in regaining leadership positions in global competition in several fields.