RAF works towards fostering entrepreneurship and preparing the future work-force to access high-skilled and value-added jobs.

We believe that encouraging the transformation of Romanian technical universities into entrepreneurial hubs will spawn future economic growth. The RAF Scholar Award program aims to provide 24 professors from technical universities with the opportunity to participate in a fellowship program to gain experience and expertise by examining best practices in entrepreneurship education.

RAF facilitates the fellowship program by allowing selected candidates to complete a one-semester study program at the University of Rochester’s Ain Center for Entrepreneurship in the U.S. During their semester in the U.S, the professors familiarize with the conditions supporting a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem, develop plans for implementing new course offerings, receive expert consultation for launching new entrepreneurial initiatives, and become part of a network of peers who share a vision for the Romanian startup environment. The program also includes a visit by Romanian university Administrators to the U.S. university, to better understand the professors’ initiatives.

The first cohort of six professors completed their fellowship during the first semester of the 2016-2017 academic year. The selected professors were:

• Valentin Grecu, Lecturer at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
• Eugen Popescu, Assistant Professor at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
• Vlad Posea, Lecturer at the Politehnica University of Bucharest
• Alexandru Radovici, Lecturer at the Politehnica University of Bucharest
• Costin-Octavian Sorici, Assistant Professor at the Ovidius University of Constanța
• Flaviu Turcu, Assistant Professor at the Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj Napoca

The second group of fellow professors at the University of Rochester between August – December 2017 includes:

• Mihai Dragomir, Associate Professor at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
• Corina Forăscu, Associate Professor at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași
• Anca Nicolau, Professor at the University of Galați
• Alma Pentescu, Assistant at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
• Vladimir Tanasiev, Assistant at the Politehnica University of Bucharest
• Dragoș Vintilă, Assistant Professor at the Ovidius University of Constanța

Video courtesy of  ©University of Rochester

A third cohort of six professors benefited from a fellowship at the University of Rochester in 2018:

• Elena Lidia Alexa, Lecturer, at the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași
• Ștefan Bodi, Assistant Lecturer at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
• Răzvan Crăciunescu, Teaching Assistant at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest
• Veronica Maier, Assistant Professor at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
• Anca Șerban, Teaching Assistant at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
• Mădălina Voican, Lecturer at the University of Craiova

The six fellows selected for the first semester of the 2019-202 academic year are:

• Ovidiu Niculae Bordean, Associate Professor, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca
• Andrei Borșa, Assistant Professor, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca
• Vasile-Alexandru Butean, Senior Lecturer, University of Sibiu
• Cristina Feniser, Associate Professor at the Alba Iulia of the Technical University Cluj-Napoca
• Ovidiu Aurel Ghiuță, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava
• Dumitru-Cristian Trancă, Teaching Assistant, Polytechnic University of Bucharest

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

• The 24 university professors benefiting from the fellowship will act as change agents from within the high education system.
• Enhanced expertise and prestige for Romanian professors;
• Increased educational and employment options for students;
• Support for entrepreneurs and their innovations;
• Economic development opportunities through support for a Romanian innovation hub and entrepreneurial ecosystem;
• Creation of an association of Fellows (or similar) that will provide an on-going forum for collaboration and exploration beyond the 3 year timeline of this project.