The Romanian-American Students’ Magazine
19TH EDITION | April 15
th
, 2011
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CONTENTS All you have to know about the Romanian-American University ...... page 4 The spiritual father of the Romanian American University ...... page 6 Interview with Ovidiu Folcuţ - Rector of the Romanian-American University ...... page 8 Romanian-American University 2.0 ...... page 11 "Start! Business" - From ideas to real products ...... page 14 Romanian-American University’s Most Valuable Alumni ...... page 19 One of a kind RAU PARTNERSHIPS ...... page 21 Life is learning ...... page 26 RAU’s unique examination system ...... page 29 US Professors’ Testimonials ...... page 32 The Romanian-American University Students’ Club ...... page 34
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All you have to know about the Romanian-American University Author: Daniela Toma
Everything started with a dream, the dream of a man who wanted to c hange s om et hing f or f ut ure generations to study in a prestigious university. The initiative for setting up the Romanian - American University belonged to Ph.D. Ion Smedescu. He wanted to bring the private education on the heights of success in a country where the private education system is barley represented. In this approach Ion Smedescu was inspired by the US educational system, a system characterized by efficient organization of business, fair and competitive spirit focusing on practical issues. Today our university is in the top universities in Romania, with a total of six faculties: Management-Marketing, Domestic and International Commercial and Financial Banking Relations, Domestic and International Economy of Tourism, Computer Science for Business Management, European Economic Studies, Law. www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
The numerous achievements of the university over the past years has brought it an enviable reputation. With firm steps, the university has grown alongside it's students, teachers and everyone else that contributed to it's well being. Among the most important accomplishments we can mention the following: The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education unanimously granted the ’’high degree of confidence’’ to our university, Microsoft's first Innovation Centre for business applications in Romania was opened at the RomanianAmerican University, a creative library inspired by TOYOTA and the list goes on. Evidences of constant increases in the level of education are the very good results of students. In the future the University is focused on improving the educational system in Romania and becoming a part of the worlds elite universities alongside it's students. 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
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The spiritual father of the Romanian American University Author: Daniela Toma
In life we live by different principles or values managing to climb or descend the ladder of success. We are guided by some ideals and dreams to achieve but few reach the top and stay there by their own powers and abilities. An example of such a man is Professor Ph.D.Ion SMEDESCU, President Founder and Rector of Romanian American University. The most conclusive example of dedication, skill, passion and ambition is undoubtedly the man who built with hard work and dedication the most prestigious private university in Romania. Ion Smedescu was born in the Obârşia village, Vâlcea, in a big family of ordinary people. www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 7 He studied much, he wanted to evolve and he also had a dream that is now accomplished. Doctorate in Economics, member of the American Academy of Sciences in New York, General Director of the International Center of Biographies Cambridge, Representative of Romania to the International Cooperative Alliance are just some things that show a consummate professional, but the most important thing is that he loved young people and he chose to do something for them and for Romania. Although in October of 2008 he passed away, leaving behind sadness and regret, mentor Ion Smedescu was always a friend for every student. A person with high moral class and the creator of a prestigious international institution. His desire was to combine Western concepts with the highest quality standards. The Founder President strongly supported the shift from quantity to quality in higher education, creating a
true reform in education by establishing a new order in terms of professional training at European standards in education and research. This man has managed to remain in the hearts of his students because he was always walking the halls of the university by talking to them and being preoccupied with their needs and concerns,counting on a better teacher-student relationship. We can talk a lot about Ion Smedescu „the man” but what really remains are the facts and the pedestal of values that will endure time…
’’For me, the Romanian American University is everything: home, profession and leisure. In this edifice of science and education I found myself and my work for tens of years, living my life for posterity, my new tought for the rebirth of the work ideea.’’ Ion Smedescu 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
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Interview with Ovidiu FolcuĹŁ Rector of the Romanian-American University Author: Cristian Retegan
When I first interacted with American students and professors I realized that this effort was not an illusion, but a reality that had to be acknowledged and consolidated.
As a graduate of the RomanianAmerican University, could you tell us about your experience acquired as a student? At the beginning of the 90’s being a student at a private university was certainly a challenge for me because private education was highly disregarded. But the potential doubts that could have appeared faded away when I understood the value of the professors with whom I was collaborating and had been certainly selected among the ones employed in the public education system. www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
Well, I did not benefit from the study conditions that you have today, although I believe the faculty I graduated was among the outstanding ones that carried on its activity in a training center located near by the present headquarters and it benefited from even more decent conditions than other universities at present. We were told about the campus just to make future plans, but we graduated without seeing at least its building model. But the warmth with which we were always embraced, the strictness and the seriousness of the teaching staff, our acknowledgment that it’s up to us to enhance the activity of this university led us to achieve an ambitious desideratum.
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 9 At this moment you are the Rector of the Romanian-American University. Could you tell us about the experience you have acquired since embarking on this new journey? There are many things I learned and probably many more to be learned. Being a rather young team we attempted many times to compensate the lack of experience with the enthusiasm of such a goal, with extra working hours, with the passion for our profession…
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Whether we achieved our task, you, as the students of this university are entitled to judge and also the future graduates could compare the achievements and the failures of each period. Briefly, I can tell and think I meet the team’s approval that it is an even more interesting experience, it’s a journey as you already called it, hoping that our university would never give up to it and I strongly believe that there will always be skilled and devoted people to guide this “inter and intra-galactic” journey of knowledge and science.
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10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION What gave you confidence to support the founding of the RomanianAmerican University’s first Students’ Council? Our mission is to support students, to teach them according to our experience and knowledge and helping them to reinvent themselves. If we don’t trust the students’ initiatives as others supported ours, it means we don’t take for granted what we trained and taught and there is nothing to comment on this aspect here in … How do you see the Romanian-American University in 10 years’ time? Obviously, as young as today, at least by comparing to its students’ age since then, since now and so on … Furthermore, I believe you will notice even in a decade (and why not a century) that our University has maintained its fundamental values and has always improved its performance. At the same time I would like to add that the way the RomanianAmerican University will be considered in 10 years’ time depends to a large extent on you, the present students, and I expect the future goals of our university to be achieved by you and your outcomes. www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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Romanian-American University 2.0 Author: Paul Olteanu
QUESTION: How many years does it take to reach 50 million users? - Radio: 38 years - TV: 13 years - Internet: 4 years - IPOD: 3 years Facebook Network added 100 million users in less than 9 months, 3 million of whom are from Romania. Now, with this thought in mind the University asked its self: “Can I afford not to be engaged in conversation with 3 million people?” The answer was simple: “No, I can’t.” The world is changing. Fast. And with it, so is the way that people talk, share, act and educate themselves. So it was just a natural step for the Romanian-American University to adapt to these changes. 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
University 2.0 So the University made a flash study: it asked its students what were the best means of communication that it could use in order to get to them. The results demanded immediate action: nearly all the students answered that the best way to inform them about things and engage them, was online. On the 1st of March 2011, it founded its very own Communications and PR Department. One of the primary objectives of this department was to set up a social communication platform: a platform that integrated a blog, a Facebook page, Twitter, LinkedIN, Picasa and Youtube accounts and collaborative tools such as Google Calendar and Google Docs. The platform’s purpose was to help the University get through to the www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
12 ANNIVERSARY EDITION students, on their own turf and in their own language: the social language. How does the social communication platform work? Facebook and Twitter are the tools for online interaction and social conversation. With them the University aims to get immediate feedback from students, adapt and answer their needs. The two social platforms are also great means of getting announcements through to students faster and more precise than ever: students can now stay in touch with the latest news from school directly on their mobile phones, they can filter out exactly the information they want and they can use it to their best interest. LinkedIN helps the RomanianAmerican University gather all its employees in an online community, focused on academical excellence.
and events. The photo and video networks offer potential students the best opportunity to get a clear view of how the University looks and feels like. In particular, Youtube is also a great way of passing down excellent content from conferences, events or projects.
Google Docs and Calendar help the University to better organize and keep track of events. For instance, Google Forms are used to help students sign up for the various events, projects, trainings, workshops or conferences that the University organizes. Google Calendar is an extraordinary tool not just because it permits calendar
In time, this could become the professional on-line business card for the institution as well as for the individual professors. The Picasa and Youtube accounts are the primary means for the University to multimedia document and archive all its activities, projects www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 13 sharing and collaborative work, but also because it synchronizes with a large variety of phones: thus, students, teachers and all people interested can keep track with the happenings in the University directly on their phone. The Blog: It is the social and communicational aggregator of all of the above. It integrates the Picasa and Youtube multimedia streams, Google Docs and
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Calendar events, a Twitter flux and Facebook integration. The Blog’s purpose is to help students find information faster and more relevant to them than ever. And because of its social structure, it permits them to share and like whatever they find interesting. This is the Romanian-American University’s social communication platform. The only question that remains is how many years will it take us to reach 50 million users :)
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14 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
"START! BUSINESS" - From ideas to real products Author: Gabriel-IonuĹŁ Florea
"Start! Business" is a six months project developed by Junior Achievement Organization in collaboration with Romanian Commercial Bank at national and international level, aiming to develop and nurture the entre-
preneurial spirit among students through engaging them into new ventures in order to have their own businesses at the end of the programs. The Junior Achievement Association is part of JA-YE (Junior Achievement - Young Enterprise) Europe, being the biggest European educational services vendor. Therefore, more than 3 million young people from 38 states were involved in programs supported by JAYE Europe in 2009.
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 15 The JA-YE Company Program is recognized by the European Commission Enterprise Directorate General as "Best Practice in Entrepreneurship Education". The main stages of the project were:
the subscription of the participants, beginning in the 16th of November, 2009;
choosing the business idea and buil-ding the business plan (16.11.2009 - 20.01.2010);
the evaluation of business plans by Romanian Commercial Bank's consultants and the representatives of Junior Achievement accompanied by recommendations (20.01.2010 - 01.02.2010);
counseling activity (01.02.2010 29.03.2010);
the process of selecting 15 teams for the final stage of the project (30.03.2010);
the participation of finalists at the Graduates Fair, at the Palace of Parliament, ending with the Award Ceremony (7-8 May 2010).
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This initiative has surpassed the stage of business simulation, being a genuine entrepreneurial experience, considering the possibility to perform real transactions using an account provided by Junior Achievement, the maximum amount of involved funds being 3000 Euro. Consequently, detailed documentation about company's management, financial statements and business plans were required, getting the experience as close as possible to reality even for teams which performed just virtual transactions. At the same time, the students had access to know-how, consultancy and advertising. Among finalists, no less than 3 teams come from Romanian - American University: ISQUARE, Ecofun and Talent Factory. The big prize - the participation in the European final (European Enterprise Challenge in Sofia, Bulgaria) during 24 - 26th of June 2010, was obtained by ISQUARE team. “The Start! Business competition was firstly a good chance for us to evaluate our service which we want to bring on the market and secondly an opportunity to meet potential investors interested both in our project and in www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
16 ANNIVERSARY EDITION Team name
Business description
University
Anemonous
Patent of remote controlled boat used for placing fishing baits
Politehnica, Bucharest
Ayo Tech
Household energy consumption monitoring system
Politehnica, Bucharest
Creative Branding Company
Consulting services (implementing Constantin Brancoveanu, PR campaigns for youth projects) Pitesti
EcoFun
Naturally dyed ecologic toys made of wood
RAU, Bucharest
Fan Pay
Invoices and commissions payment services for busyindividuals
Politehnica, Bucharest
FunFly
Sightseeing flights using ultra low weight planes
Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest
Green Tech
Ecologic charger for mobile phones using energy obtained from user’s movements
Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Iasi
ISQUARE
The creation and customization of fully functional e-shops
RAU, Bucharest
Neverland
Entertainment services for kids
Titu Maiorescu, Bucharest
SeeYa
Touristic guide services around Tg-Mures City
Petru Maior, Târgu Mureş
Spin Concept
Pet feeding device
Politehnica, Bucharest
Talent Factory
Online platform for promoting talented individuals
RAU, Bucharest
Top Experts
Product for protection against the effects of friction on metallic surfaces
Andrei Saguna, Constanta
Two-Way Advertising
Advertising exchange services
Babes Bolyai, Cluj - Napoca
VreauFirma
Advertising and directory services for SMEs
Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 17 other services offered by our company", confesses Dan Toma, ISQUARE's representative. The Ecofun team succeeded to attract the seed grant of 1500 Euro from Romanian Commercial Bank. This type of financing was also obtained by the Neverland team from Titu Maiorescu University in Bucharest. Being the representative of the Talent Factory team, for me this project represented a bridge between theoretical notions accumulated dur-
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ing Bachelor's Degree studies and the realities of the business environment in Romania and also a factor that has generated problems, solutions, responsibilities, a catalyst for entrepreneurial spirit and a vendor of motivation. Maybe the most important elements acquired after this intense experience was getting out of the comfort zone, overcoming the psychological barriers and the conviction that the dream can turn into reality.
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 19
Romanian-American University’s
Most Valuable Alumni Author: Mihai-Iulian Naghi
Every year after graduation, whether we’re talking about college or a masters’ program, some of the finest and most brilliant students this university has to offer take life into their own hands and they start off by going through the process of insertion into the labor market. After spending 3 (4 in the case of those who attend the Law courses) or 5 years (including the masters program) studying at the RomanianAmerican University, time in which students have accumulated a large amount of knowledge, they’ve had the opportunity to put it into practice. They’ve participated in all sorts of extracurricular activities offered by the Romanian-American University (conferences, workshops, internships, summer schools, scholarships, work scholarships etc.) and they now face the real world in a least favorable situation of the current market economy. 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
We live in an uncertain world which is going through continuous changes and nothing can be promised for sure, moreover when it in the same field of interest of that in which you’ve had your studies. However, the Romanian-American University’s graduates, prove from one generation to another that all the resources that have been invested in their education and their preparation for their future careers have not been in vain. Therefore, the university’s Alumni Association has the responsibility to keep track and a close relation with its graduates and their journeys in life from a professional point of view and help the current students by showing them how far some of the graduates have gone and by offering them guidance and counseling for their future careers. Since its first generation of graduates, the Romanian-American Univerwww.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
20 ANNIVERSARY EDITION sity has sent many fine young people into the national labor market as well as the international one.
Corneliu Sever Culcea – Development Director at Acora Investments & Development SRL
I can only name a few, because it would take a whole book just to gather all the names. So here are some of the graduates that have realized themselves through their careers:
Ciprian Bercea – General Director at BMW Brand Academy
Andreea Micu – Unit Manager at ING Life Insurance SA
Roxana Trandafir – Business Development Manager at British Council
Dana Bertolon – Branch Manager at Piraeus Bank
Vasile Adrian Deaconu – Risk Administrator at Raiffeisen Bank
Răzvan Cătălin Dencescu – Executive Manager at Kron-Tour Lufthansa City Center
Andreea Maria Pasăre – Indirect Regional Account Manager at Orange România SA
Mioara Cătălina Marinescu – Training Analyst
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For the years to come, the Romanian-American University will continue to take care of its graduates because wherever they go and whatever they do, they represent this institution and its values.
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One of a kind
RAU PARTNERSHIPS Author: Mihai-Iulian Naghi
The Romanian-Japanese Studies Center (CSRJ) Is the first of its kind in Romania which was founded in May 2005. At the opening ceremony the Japanese Embassy’s Cultural Attaché in Bucharest as well as management officials of a highly important Japanese investor in Romania were present and openly endorsed the founding of the center.
The center’s vision is divided in two concentrations: a creative, new and forward-thinking approach towards the courses, and a focus on added value brought forth by a number of cultural activities. The center’s main objective is to create a friendly and relaxed educational atmosphere.
It all started off with 30 students that were attending Japanese language classes; to this day the number has increased to over 130 students that are currently attending: The Tea Ceremony, Ikebana, Creative Photography, Traditional Japanese Dance courses, GO workshops and Japanese language classes (that are taught by a Romanian teacher and native Japanese language teachers).
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22 ANNIVERSARY EDITION Along the years, the Center has evolved; both by increases in the number of students attending classes, as well as in the range of courses offered. The Romanian-Japanese Studies Center began its activity because of the vision of a broader educational spectrum brought by the two founding members of the Center.
and with our support it developed into a creative photography course based on Japanese influences in Romania. In order to gain new opportunities and a real competitive advantage for our students, CSRJ has initiated and organized an important number of events.
Nowadays the team has expanded, and has created a world-wide connection as new partners and collaborators are joining the effort.
Many of these have had as a direct result a high number of collaboration contracts, internships, and - most importantly - have resulted in a rich insight into the traditional and contemporary Japanese society.
CSRJ has developed connections with the Japanese Embassy in Romania, JTI, which has been a very important source of support and inspiration, J-Wind, and with local companies and organizations, such as Free Spirit Travel Agency, Asociaţia Rădăcini Culturale, Creative Library Bucureşti inspired by Toyota, Cărtureşti (tea, music and bookstore).
A major achievement for the Romanian-Japanese Studies Center following the series of workshops and conferences held by the representatives of Corporate Value Development Project Department, Toyota Motor Corporation was to establish a partnership between the RomanianAmerican University and J-Wind Creative Consultants, that will work as
The Romanian-Japanese Studies Center has always tried to support and encourage young people’s initiatives and creativity. That is why we try to promote projects related to the Japanese environment. Banda Foto’s creative photography class is one of those successful projects. This daring idea belongs to some of our students www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 23 basis for a series of internships the students attending Japanese language courses will benefit from, at Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota City, Nagoya. At the same time, the RomanianJapanese Studies Center in collaboration with our partners, offers significant incentives in the form of awards and prizes to our most valuable students. For example, in 2010, the center offered as first prize a trip to Japan (all expenses covered). The Romanian-Japanese Studies Center’s aim is to establish links with universities and research centers in Japan and Europe, in order to jointly conduct surveys and research activities. Thus, the RomanianJapanese Studies Center organizes annual conferences on current economic topics, in the context of globalization, with an emphasis on Japanese policy on such matters. The conferences benefited from the support of visionary Japanese industry leaders from companies like Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda. In effect, guest speakers, such as Saburo Kobayashi (former General Manager at Honda) or Tetsuya Kaida (General Manager of Corporate Value Development Project Department, Toyota Motor Corporation) shared 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
their vision on modern society business values. MBA - Masters Business Administration by DeSales University, USA DeSales University from Pennsylvania and the Romanian-American University were the first to launch an MBA Program on Project Management available in Romania in September 2007. The program’s courses are entirely thought in English and it is different from other MBA programs currently in Romania because it is the only program offering a concentration in Project Management. The university has deep business experience in many diverse areas. In this program, the students can work with other students in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
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24 ANNIVERSARY EDITION Some of the students that have graduated this program say that: Livia Diacencu: “I liked the mixture between science and practice, between what is in the books and what is in reality. I appreciated very much that the professors were all businessmen and they tested everyday this difference between books and reality. I also liked very much that we were students both from America and Romania and we could share and see others' experiences and difficulties in their jobs. This was a very good way to learn the real way of making business from two different parts in the world.” Bucur Ioana-Mădălina (Assistant Manager): “I began the DeSales MBA program in Bucharest and I was very pleased with it. The classes were very interesting, demanding serious and thorough studies. The teachers were well prepared, and through their attitude they challenged you to reach to a point of view of your own. What is more, they were friendly and always ready to help. For these reasons I recommend this program to anyone interested in a MBA program.” Cătălina Manolescu: “When I decided to search for an MBA program in Romania I was very happy to see that a new one had been launched, and moreover, that it was centered on Project Management, specialization which was missing on our market at that time. I found the program very well balanced in terms of theory and ability building; individual and group assignments, although quite demanding, it helped to better internalize the concepts.” Mircea D. Marcu (Strabag SRL - Direktion NTProject Manager): “What I found within DeSales PM/MBA program was high quality of knowledge and teachers, as well as inspiring methods that resonated to my needs in the business environment. Furthermore, I appreciated the superior understanding, and the expectations of meeting top experience and efforts towards improving people's education and social life by understanding nowadays international values and challenges.” www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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Microsoft Innovation Center The Romanian-American University together with its traditional partner, Microsoft Corporation, th opened on the 30 of January 2008 the first Microsoft Innovation Center for business applications in Romania. The innovative applications center was designed to increase the students' competences in the field of business applications. Within the center, students could work alongside IT&C experts, to initiate new applications, to test programs on various architectures. Worldwide, in January 2008 when there were 110 such centers, which operated in 60 countries, Romania had joined this elite network. On that occasion, the Cooperation Agreement between the Romanian-American University and Microsoft on the foundation of the first Microsoft Innovation Center in Roma19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
nia was officially signed, a center that aimed to produce an increase the students’ business application skills and work more closely with business related to the IT field. Zoltan Somodi, the State Secretary for Informational Technology (at that time) said in the opening ceremony that: “The university climate is interested in linking the academic capabilities and the practical, professional capabilities in order to be successful on the labor market. The Ministry of Communications hails the partnerships between the academic environment and the private one, and, in thus way, the future employers are directly getting involved in the students' practice activity. This will help young graduates to swiftly adjust to the existing requirements at European level.”
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26 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
LIFE IS LEARNING
Author: Paul Olteanu
We live in a world where our capacity to learn and adapt to frequent changes leads us either to success or failure. In this global context, and the local one of Romania’s search for true and authentic values and character, the Romanian-American University is focused on the holistic development of its students. In 2006, Sir Ken Robinson – one of the most important thinkers on education and creativity - said that the world is going not only through a climate crisis, but also a human resource one. And its roots, according
to Robinson, are in the way we educate ourselves. His thesis is that educational systems today tend to forget about nourishing people’s passion and talents. And the leak of passion and the knowledge of one’s talents is the worst thing that could happen to a student. With this in mind, the RomanianAmerican University has decided to complete its students learning experience, alongside the regular courses and classes, with a whole list of nonformal educational activities. So, the University has invited some of the best youth trainers in Romania to develop trainings and workshops for its students. The aim is to help them interact, learn and develop new skills, attitudes and through all of these form their values and character. In the 2011 - 2012 school - years, the RomanianAmerican University will invite its students to workshops and trainings such as:
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 27 Public Speaking Here they will learn the art of speech, rhetoric and debate. This training is expected to be one of the most interesting of all, because in almost any career path you take, public speaking abilities are more than necessary. Personal Branding The famous author and speaker Tom Peters once said: “Brand you, or there will be no you”. And in the workplace of tomorrow this saying stands truer than ever before.
values are and around all this it will help them better market themselves through the personal branding seminar. Self-management “Be the change you want to see in the world” – that’s what Gandhi said. Well, the Romanian-American students learn that if they want to learn how to lead and manage others, they must first learn how to do this with themselves.
So, the University will help its students understand who they are, what they do best, what their passion is, what their
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28 ANNIVERSARY EDITION New media A training that will help the University’s students understand the power and impact of new and social media means of communication. The training’s aim is to help them better communicate and represent themselves and their future businesses through the use of new media. Project management A hard skills training about thinking, developing and managing projects: it will help the students get a grip on timelines, budgeting, team organizing, partnerships and all the other things that make great projects, great. Leadership This training will engage the students in conversation about what it takes to be a great leader and it will help them have a better understanding about the social, emotional and psychological magic behind leadership. Sales A proven-to-work training about the art of sales. This training will take students through all the stages of a sale: from meeting the potential client www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
all the way to closing the deal. The sales training is a highly practical and interactive approach to what gets people to trust you and buy things from you. Photography Because in the marketing and economics world having visual intelligence is a big plus, this training is especially designed to get the student’s creative eye blinking. It will teach participants how to shoot good photos and what they need to do to get from good to great. These are just some of the trainings and workshops that will complete the Romanian-American University’s students learning experience. Along side them there will be a Debate Club and a Writing Club for those who want to practice and get connected with people passionate about debate and the art of writing. This is the Romanian-American University’s view of learning: “We must look at our students as the human beings that they are, with their unique personality, passion and talents. And we must help them be the best that they can, because “Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire”. 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
ANNIVERSARY EDITION 29
RAU’s unique examination system Author: Alexandra Enache
As students at the RomanianAmerican University we have a lot of advantages. One of these advantages and a unique characteristic which sets our university apart from all other Romanian Universities is that students can promote their exams before the actual examination session. Ion Smedescu Ph.D., the founder of our university, had the brilliant idea of emphasizing the great potential of Romanian educational system with the unique educational system of America. The characteristics of the American educational system can be seen all over the RomanianAmerican University Campus for exam-
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ple the fact that students are asked to study for exams only what they have been taught in classes and, of course, the fact that they can promote their exams before the examination session. When I became a student of the Romanian-American University I was very pleased with all the amenities that this university has to offer, for example large and well maintained classrooms with all the necessary technological facilities, special classrooms fitted with up-to-date PC systems for virtual economic applications, a rich library and a virtual library for electronic resources, snack bars at every floor, the Playground pub, etc. but I was
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30 ANNIVERSARY EDITION really impressed when I found out that I can promote my exams earlier and have more time for myself. I am a Master student now at the Romanian-American University and after 3 years of faculty and 1 semester of master studies I have to say that I only took 3 exams in the examination session out of approximately 50 exams. And I am not a bookworm that’s for sure. My purpose was a totally different one. The point is that if you pass your exams during the semester then you can enjoy a full month free. Why that much? Think about the fact that the examination session lasts for 3 weeks and immediately after that students have a 1 free week between the semesters. To sum up you gain 4 free weeks for Christmas holiday and 4 months for Summer Holiday. And it is not mandatory to pass all the exams before the examination session. Think about the fact that if you can pass 4 out of 8 exams before, than you have double the time to learn for the rest of your exams. How can you do this? In the first week of every semester all professors give their students a list of all the necessary activities that must be www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
accomplished in order to promote before the examination session. This list may be different from subject to subject and from teacher to teacher but some of these necessary activities might include class activities, class attendance, individual or team projects, oral presentations and term papers. For each of these activities students will receive a certain number of points and the general rule states that the sum of all these accomplished activities must be at least 80 points out of 100 in order to promote the exam before the examination session. And from time to time teachers give you some special tasks for example attending to the American professors’ extracurricular courses or participate in special projects such as business negotiation simulations that will give your activity points a substantial boost. Why are so many different activities required? The reason we have to complete so many different tasks is because our University and our professors want to make us the best. In order to be a good employee or to be able to start our own business after graduation we have to know how to do a lot of things beside learning 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
ANNIVERSARY EDITION 31 hundreds of pages and reproducing some information on an exam paper.
It with 8 exams per semester but it is definitely worth giving it a try.
First of all our university believes in knowledge combined with attendance. For this reason we have midterm papers and attendance points.
If you decide to make your move and promote some exams earlier keep in mind that you don’t have to panic. Just organize your schedule so you can achieve all the necessary goals!
And think about the fact that individual projects help you define your research skills and the team projects help you develop your communication, social and teamwork skills. Oral presentations are important in order to develop your public speaking skills and class activities
In the end you will see that it is not so hard after all and when you will get to enjoy your full extra month free, you are going to want to do this semester after semester and year after year. So good luck with your exams!
are necessary so that you fully understand and assimilate the information received in classes. It is true that it is not a very easy task to do when you have to multiply
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32 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
US Professors’ Testimonials Author: Cristian Retegan
Over the years, The RomanianAmerican University has had numerous collaborations with foreign Universities across the world, such as: James Madison University - Virginia, American University - Washington D.C., Barry University - Florida, DeSales University – Philadelphia, Huron USA University - London, International Management Institute - Brux-
elles, Business School - Barcelona, CERAM Sophia Antipolis - European School of Business, University Center FIEO - Sao Paulo. These collaborations have exceeded everyone’s expectations resulting in lifelong friendships and opportunities for both students and professors.
Here are some words from people who have visited the Romanian-American University over the years: “The Romanian-American University offers a unique academic environment for students including a variety of majors and an international perspective.” Prof. Pauline K. Cushman, Ph.D., James Madison University “Romanian-American University success speaks for the institution: 14.000 students who have a wide range of graduate and ungraduate curricula; a highly qualified staff and teaching faculty who have a strong interest in the students learning; an excellent physical plant of classrooms, dormitory and cantina; and a growing reputation for excellence. I have been very pleased to bring American students from my home university to the Romanian-American University to study along with Romanian-American University students. I plan to continue to bring American students here and hope I can bring some of the RomanianAmerican University students to the University of Alabama in Huntsville.” Prof. James Mc, Collum, Ph.D www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 33 “You have gathered together exceptional talents and fashioned a modern university as if a wonderful symphony orchestra. As we know, for an orchestra to create great music, it must be directed with a firm but nurturing hand. Such efforts take time to develop, all work of significance does, but the world is already beginning to hear great music emanating from Bucharest.” Linwood H. Rose, President James Madison University “I am delighted that our two dynamic, young universities are working together as partners in this rapidly emerging global market for higher education. The Romanian-American University’s 25th anniversary will be DeSales’50th anniversary, and I hope that we will look back with pleasure and satisfaction at a long list of achievements that our cooperation has produced.” Bernard F. O’Connor, President DeSales University, Pennsylvania “Further, your Romanian-American University graduates are the future entrepreneurs of the new Romania and Eastern European societies. Your ongoing preparation curriculums toward the <European Integration Studies> are the attestation to these great endeavors.” Bijan Saadatmand, Ph.D, James Madison University “Your dedication to higher education and the selection of superiors professors, staff and students cannot be easily matched by other universities.” Prof. George H. Blomstrom, James Madison University, USA “We at James Madison University are proud of our association with your fine institution. We believe that the students who have attended from RomanianAmerican University have enriched our student body and have brought diversity to our classrooms.” Kay M. Knickrehm, Department Head Political Science Department
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34 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
The Romanian-American University Students’ Club Author: Cristian Retegan
CS-URA was founded on 14.05.2008 at the initiative of a group of students who wished, besides their academic activities, more for themselves and for the students of the Romanian-American University. Every year, 20 students are selected out of a group of up to 60 applicants to join this club which now has a total of 70 members from different generations and backgrounds.
socialize and interact with other students from RAU, such as:
Christmas Campaigns under the theme “Give from the heart”;
Christmas, Halloween and Valentine’s Day Parties;
Start Internship Romania 2008;
Organizing the Freshman’s Ball;
Promoting European values through the program “Youth in action”, in which groups of students from RAU have visited different countries, such as Turkey or Estonia, meeting people from all over Europe: Poland, Lithonia, Lithuania, Italy, Austria, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Turkey or France;
“Cultural week”, organized every year in April, week dedicated to the University’s Birthday Celebration. During this week, students participate in different events, such as: “Treasure Hunt”, “CS-URA Football Cup”, or have the chance to visit museums, theatres and cinemas;
CS-URA is currently functioning under the following administrative structure: - President; - Vice President; - General Secretary; - PR Department; - HR Department; - Financial Department; - Media Department. From the very beginning, CSURA has been trying to cover the needs of all students through different projects in which each member has had the chance to participate, to www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 35 “CS-URA took birth from the desire of students to satisfy their need of enthusiasm and involvement. It is addressed to proactive people, who love to create for others, who wish to continuously evolve and for whom being a student means more than participating to courses and seminars. CS-URA is the means through which these students can make their ideas happen, therefore enjoying a one of a kind experience.” Laurenţiu Petre, Founding President
“ECO-picnic”, an awareness campaign about the gravity of pollution, organized every year. The first edition took place in forest “Băneasa” , where over 50 bags of garbage were collected; Partnerships with RAU and CCOC through which CS-URA has organized and participated in different conferences, workshops and seminars held by:
- Procter & Gamble; - The Association of Brokers; - BCR; - Junior Achievement Romania; 19TH EDITION | April 15th, 2011
- RIUF Universities Fair; - Gabriela Vrânceanu Firea.
Trainings in communication and motivation through which new members are integrated in CSURA.
Among the objectives of these trainings we can mention:
Informing students about the importance of communication, active listening and feedback; Creating an efficient team; Building relationships based on trust and friendship; www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
36 ANNIVERSARY EDITION “Performance” Magazine “Performance” Magazine is the “soul” project of CS-URA, a magazine made by students for students, the very first of its kind in RAU. This magazine is designed to please every taste, it appears every month in electronic format and its sections contain information from almost all interest fields, such as:
Editorial – a few words from the Executive Editor;
CS-URA – information about the club’s activity;
RAU – information about the University’s activity;
Students Talking! – experiences shared by the University’s students;
Mentorship – interview popular professors;
Career – advices on how to obtain a successful carrier;
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with
Business – information about today’s financial market;
How to… - practical advice;
What’s NEWs? – latest books, movies, concerts, plays;
Lifestyle – hobbies, sport activities etc.;
Horoscope;
Funny Page – jokes;
Editorial Board.
From the very first edition, up until today, “Performance” has had a total number of :
9.312 unique readers;
12.764 magazine views;
17 views per day (average);
300 Facebook Fans;
more than 400 articles;
more than 2 years of activity.
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ANNIVERSARY EDITION 37
Romanian-American University Motto:
“Your choice, your future!”
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38 ANNIVERSARY EDITION
EDITORIAL BOARD ALEXANDRA ENACHE Performance Executive Editor | Performance Graphic Designer
CRISTIAN RETEGAN CS-URA President | RAU Community Manager
MIHAI-IULIAN NAGHI Performance Executive Editor Assistant | RAU Social Media Manager
DANIELA TOMA Performance Executive Editor Assistant | CS-URA Vice President
GABRIEL-IONUลข FLOREA Performance Financial Editor
ล TEFAN M ANU Performance Graphic Designer Assistant
PAUL OLTEANU RAU Coordinator of the Communication and PR Departament
ARMIN SHIR MOHAMMADI Performance English Proofreader www.revistaperformance.jimdo.com
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