MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORM ON ST. NICHOLAS DAY PROFESSOR ION BOSTAN RECEIVES AN HONORARY DEGREE OUR SPEEDSKATING AND BOBSLEDDING CHAMPIONS THE SPIRU HARET AWARD IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES REPRESENTATIVES OF TRASILVANIA UNIVERSITY VISIT CHINA RESEARCH AWAY DAYS AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS PR - CHELGATE PROFESSIONALS REVEAL TRICKS OF THE TRADE JOINT DIPLOMA FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER'S PROGRAMMES IN IT POSTER EXHIBITION PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AT PLAMETCO BRAŞOV BRAŞOV PAYS IT FORWARD No. 10 January 2013 CARAGIALE: A POST-MODERN READING THE AEROBICS MARATHON A PROJECT AIMED AT REBRANDING VOINEŞTI APPLES THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC SANTA CLAUS IS REAL... IN ADVERTISING STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS FROM THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE ORGANISE CHARITABLE EVENT N EWSLETTER Transilvania University of Braşov It is not e walls at make a school, but e spirit at reigns wiin. (King Ferdinand I) What purpose does e university serve if not to pave e way for e society of wisdom? (Paolo Blasi) ST. NICHOLAS DAY AN EVENING TO REMEMBER AT TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY On December 6 e Aula Magna played host to a wonderful concert, The Evening of Saint Nicholas, staged by e Faculty of PROFESSOR ION BOSTAN Music and young musicians from The Centre of DOCTOR HONORIS CAUSA OF TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY Excellence wiin is faculty for an audience consisting of e members of e academic community On December 7 2012 Professor Ion Bostan received an honorary and e university's partners from e business and degree from Transilvania University of Braşov. Professor Ion Bostan is currently socio-cultural environment. Rector of e Technical University of Moldova and member of e Academy of The opening act featured e debut of two young e Republic of Moldova. musicians: Sergiu Poparad (clarinet) an 8 grade student at Following e e High School of Music in Braşov, and Szöcs Botond (piano) addresses of Professor Emil an 11 grader at e High School of Art Plugor Sándor in Stoica, President of e Sfântu Gheorghe bo of whom are members of The Centre of University Senate and Excellence for Exceptionally Gifted Young Musicians wiin e Professor Ioan Vasile Faculty of Music. Abrudan, Rector of The highlights of e evening's programme were e Transilvania performance by e Chitaritmica ensemble, conducted by Dr. Corneliu University, Voicescu, showcasing a wide repertoire, and e recital of Ana Querol P r o f e s s o r Sanchez, an Erasmus incoming student from e Real Conservatorio emeritus Ioan Superior de Musica Victoria Eugenia de Granadá; e impressive variety of Curtu held e classical pieces performed by e cello quartet of e Faculty of Music; e Laudatio, recital of Valentin Mureşan, a ird year student at e Faculty of Music, who after which mesmerized e audience wi a selection of Frédéric Chopin's masterpieces, and Professor Ion Bostan was presented wi e who en joined his colleague, Valentin Şerban, in e performance of Scherzo by doctor honoris causa award. Johannes Brahms; last but not least, e performance of e opera class supervised In his acceptance speech, Professor Bostan by Dr. Cristina Soreanu represented by ree soloists - Rodica Ştefan, Evelin Marinaş overviewed e landmark events in his and Emilia Calefariu who shed a novel light onto classical arias. personal and professional life, highlighting his The closing act belonged to Alexandra Fits, teaching assistant at e Faculty of longstanding collaboration wi Transilvania Music, and to e Young Romanian Artists pop-jazz band founded by Mr. Valentin Muntean. University of Braşov. Overall, is was indeed an evening to remember! Dr. Mădălina Rucsanda Dr. Andrei Bodiu
OUR SPEEDSKATING AND BOBSLEDDING CHAMPIONS December 2012 was a mon of outstanding sports achievements at Transilvania University. At e National Speedskating Championship held at Inzell (Germany), Transilvania University students, members of e local Student Sports Club (CSU Braşov), coached by Mr Ernest Uhrich Petric, trainer emeritus, scooped a total of 21 medals, of which 7 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 4 bronze medals. The medallist representing our University were e following: Kristo Katalin (senior): five times first-place winner in e500 m women, 1000 m women, 1500 m women, 3000 m women, as well as in e general ranking; Cristina Radu (women senior): five times second-place winner in 500 m women, 1000 m women, 1500 m women, 3000 m women tracks, and in e general ranking; Bogdan Tătulescu (junior I): two times first-place winner in 1500 m men and in e general ranking; four times second-place winner of 500 m, 1000 m, 3000 m, 5000 m tracks; Claudiu Grozea (senior): second-place winner of 1500 m; four times ird-place winner in 1000 m, 3000 m, 5000 m tracks, as well as in e general ranking; fif-place winner in e 500 m track. At e end of December 2012 ere took place, at Königssee (Germany), e World's Bobsledding Competitions in which our students, Paul Ifrim şi Andrei Anghel, members of e Romanian two-man sled team, finished e race eigh overall. Gabriel Calancea, CSU Director PROFESSOR MARIN MARIN LAUREATE OF THE ROMANIAN ACADEMY AWARD which exceeds 100. THE SPIRU HARET AWARD IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES On December 13 2012 Dr. Marin Marin, Dean of e Faculty of Maematics and Computer Science was presented wi e Spiru Haret award in Maematical Sciences by e Romanian Academy. Dr. Marin earned is award owing to his impressive professional record including six articles he published in 2010 in ISI reviewed journals wi high impact factor. These articles are: Some Estimates on Vibrations in Thermoelasticity of Dipolar Bodies (Journal of Vibration and Control, Sage Publications), A Partition of Energy in Thermoelasticity of Microstretch Bodies (Nonlinear Analysis, RWA, Elsevier), A Domain of Influence Theorem for Microstretch Thermoelastic Materials (Nonlinear Analysis, RWA, Elsevier), Lagrange Identity Meod for Microstretch Thermoelastic Materials (Journal of Maematical Analysis and Applications, Elsevier), Implications of Evolutionary Equations in Elasticity of Porous Materials (Journal of Porous Media, Sage Publications), Harmonic Vibrations in Thermoelasticity of Microstretch Materials (Journal of Vibration and Acoustics, Transactions of ASME). Additionally, Dr. Marin is e auor of Equations of Evolution, a monograph issued by e prestigious American publishing house Elliott & Fitzpatrick. Overall, Dr. Marin's outstanding record of scientific articles amounts to a significant total score of impact factor and HIRSCH index. Notable too is e number of ISI citations, REPRESENTATIVES OF TRANSILVANIA UNIVERSITY VISIT CHINA During e second decade of December 2012, representatives from Transilvania University were invited to China. The Romanian delegation consisted of Dr. Ioan Vasile Abrudan, e Rector of our University, Dr. Andrei Bodiu, e Romanian manager of e Confucius Institute, Dr. Gavril Budău, Vice- President of e University Senate, and Ms. Adriana Florescu, Executive Director of e Confucius Institute. They were accompanied by Dr. Yang Zahoyu, e Chinese manager of e Confucius Institute at Transilvania University. The first stop on e itinerary was Shenyang Jianzhu University, cofounder of e Confucius Institute at Transilvania University of Braşov. On December 13 Jianzhu University served as venue for e annual meeting of e managing board of e Confucius Institute of Transilvania University. The Romanian manager of e Institute, Dr. Andrei Bodiu, presented e annual report and e financial statement for e year 2012, as well as e activity plan for 2013. The Romanian delegation conferred wi e host University President, Dr. Wang, e general secretary, Dr. Wu, and e Vice-Rector for SPORTS STUDENTS ACHIEVE OUTSTANDING RESULTS Dr. Olivia Florea THE 7TH EDITION OF THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE WORLD CONFERENCE International Relations, Dr. Tiemao. In line wi e discussions held during e previous visit, in June 2010, e hosts expressed eir interest in developing e activities run by e Confucius Institute at Transilvania University, as well as e partnership in e field of renewable energies. The Rector, Dr. Ioan Vasile Abrudan, emphasized e idea at all partnership agreements should be concluded promptly and directly between e academic units interested in research collaboration. On December 15, e Romanian group visited Beijing Forestry University, a complex higher education institution consisting of fourteen faculties, whose development is comparable to at of Transilvania University. The two parties agreed on signing a memorandum for future mobilities involving undergraduates, postgraduates, doctoral students and teaching staff. Between e 16 and e 18 of December, e Romanian group attended e 7 edition of e Confucius Institute World Conference. On is occasion our Rector took part in e meeting of e presidents of all e universities in which Confucius Institutes are situated. At e same event, Dr. Andrei Bodiu contributed a presentation in e Innovative Cultural Projects at Confucius Institutes section. Dr. Andrei Bodiu
RESEARCH AWAY DAYS AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS Research Away Days is an action designed and implemented at e Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics (DeLTA). Its main aim was to promote a synergetic research environment for tutors on one hand, and for senior students, on e oer. To is end, Research Away Day for Teachers afforded DeLTA members e opportunity to introduce colleagues to eir work. Overall, is informal exchange allowed for a clearer view of e different strands of research conducted wiin our department, as well as of e various stages of implementation of e ongoing projects. New research teams were created, as a result, on e basis of shared or convergent interests by bo junior and senior researchers. In a similar vein, Research Away Day for Students, which took place between 4 and 6 December 2012, targeted senior undergraduate and master students currently enrolled in e study programmes run by DeLTA. Its aim was to give each student a chance to talk about e topic chosen for his/her BA Project or Master's dissertation to an audience formed of peers and tutors. Five different working groups were set up on e basis of topical affinities of e students' projects. In each group, students gave an outline of eir research projects - e goals, meods, resources and anticipated problems - and eventually benefited from e feedback and suggestions coming from e audience. Based on e students' active involvement and positive reaction, is action seems to have been salutary. Its long-term effectiveness, however, will only be validated in June 2013, provided at e numbers of senior students who manage to successfully complete eir graduation projects are higher an ose recorded in e previous academic year. ESTABLISHING RESEARCH CONNECTIONS THE FIRST EVENT ORGANISED BY THE COMMUNICATION SCHOOL AT BRAŞOV Dr. Marinela Burada PR - CHELGATE PROFESSIONALS REVEAL TRICKS OF THE TRADE On December 7 and 8 e Faculty of Sociology and Communication organised e PR Chelgate School, e first event of e Communication School at Braşov. During e two days of workshops, e undergraduate and master students of Transilvania University were given e opportunity to find out tricks of e trade from communication experts and to interact wi specialists from multinational companies or e Chelgate public relations agency. On is occasion e Faculty of Sociology and Communication had a chance to garner e attention of partners from e socio-economic environment along wi positive feedback on e high standards of e event and participants. As Mirela Meiţă, General Manager of Chelgate Romania, said Two mons ago I hadn't heard of e Faculty of Sociology and Communication at Braşov. And even if I had heard about it, I would have been skeptical of it just anoer faculty in e glut which emerged over e past few years. This event made us, your guests, speak enusiastically about e excellent organization, involvement of e participants and atmosphere. Perceptive, hardworking, committed - e students of Transilvania University of Braşov behaved like true professionals said Diana Scarlat, journalist, adding I have a feeling at in a short while e communication school at Braşov will top oer schools in e country. According to Claudia Oprescu, Senior Account Manager Chelgate Romania, The Braşov experience was pleasant and dynamic allowing me to learn an essential communication lesson: you communicate what you are. If you are wholeheartedly involved in your activity, you'll convey positive energies to oers; if you care about em and help em in a disinterested manner, ey will see you as a professional and ink highly of you. The next edition of is event is scheduled for March - April 2013. COLLABORATION WITH THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ILMENAU, GERMANY The Faculty of Computer Science and Automation at e Technical University of Ilmenau (Germany) submitted to DAAD - rough Dr. Detlef Streitferdt - an application wiin e programme Deutschsprachige Studiengänge (DSG) in MOE/GUS wi a view to initiating a German language master's programme in computer science at e Faculty of Maematics and Computer Science from our University. The undergraduate programme Applied Computer Studies (taught in German), which is unique in Romania and has been running for ten years at e Faculty of Maematics and Computer Science, is e starting point for is project. Academics from prestigious German universities (Fulda, Heilbronn, Wiesbaden, Oldenburg) have been teaching on is programme. An agreement on setting up is master's programme was made in June 2012, subsequent to e discussions during e International Staff Training Week Ilmenau Summer School. The joint diploma is conditioned by a two-semester attendance at e partner university. The project was designed in close collaboration wi Dr. Streitferdt; e concerted efforts, from July rough August 2012, made by e Romanian-German team resulted in DAAD's approval of e project in November. The Mobile and Internet Technology in ebusiness Master's programme has also been e central issue in discussions wi companies in e local business community which showed interest in e workforce trained on is programme. Dr. Livia Sângeorzan Dr. Florin Nechita JOINT DIPLOMA FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER'S PROGRAMMES IN IT
POSTER EXHIBITION On e 5 of December e main hall of e Faculty of Letters served as a display area for a poster exhibition organized by Dr. Andrei Bodiu under e title Science and Culture at e Faculty of Letters: The 2012 Wrap-up. As e title suggests, e posters under display record all e academic and cultural events which took place at e Faculty of Letters roughout e year 2012. Overall, in 2012 our Faculty played host to no less an forty such events which involved a large number of prominent figures in e field of Humanities, among whom Augustin Buzura, Ilie Constatin, Mircea Dumitru, Kate Beeching, Indira Y. Junghare, Florin Iaru, Mircea Martin, Radu Mareş, Al. Cistelecan, Nichita Danilov, Ion Bogdan Lefter, Carmen Muşat, Claudiu Komartin, Ştefan Manasia, Ştefan Oltean, Mircea A. Diaconu, Ion Simuţ, and many oers. This exhibition launched e main hall as a display area for future presentations of what we are up to e research/cultural/literary/art projects of our Faculty members and students. Dr. Adrian Lăcătuş SCIENCE AND CULTURE AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS: THE 2012 WRAP-UP RESEARCH TRIP BY STUDENTS FROM THE FACULTY OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AT PLAMETCO BRAŞOV Students enrolled in e Management programme at e Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration took a research trip at PLAMETCO Company in Braşov, as part of eir Production Management module. Founded in 1993, PLAMETCO is a manufacturer of presentation stands, commercial and school furniture, metallic shelves, metallic accessories, wrapping equipment (in plastic bags and in shrink foil), etc. The wire, metal sheets, metal studs, plastic and composite materials are turned from semi-finished into finished products, according to e requirements of e company's customers. The visit to e company premises was aimed at familiarising e students wi e structural organization of a company, e way its various departments are run, e way e equipment operates, e technology it uses, and oer relevant aspects such as production monitoring, quality control and type of management. The students benefitted from input on e most modern processing meods implemented by e company: CNC laser cutting, CNC punching press for metal sheets, numerically controlled Abkant bending machine, CNC wire bending and welding machine, MIG-MAG and TIG-WIG welding equipment, electrostatic painting equipment, etc. The company owners, Eng. Cristian Cîdă and Eng. Adina Avram (graduates of e Faculty of Technological Engineering and Industrial Management of our University) introduced e students to e various production processes, production flow, company departmentalization, its supply of utilities and e technological processes used. We appreciate PLAMETCO's availability for collaboration wi our University. Dr. Lucian Guga BRAŞOV PAYS IT FORWARD At e beginning of what is generally considered to be e most wonderful time of e year - e season's holidays - a few Sociology and Communication graduates initiated an online action Braşov pays it forward, encouraging e local community to show generosity at Christmas time and beyond. Those who join is network of goodwill must offer someing wholeheartedly a toy, a book, or just a bar of chocolate, togeer wi a heartfelt note. The gift may be left at any point on e way to school, to work, or at e bus stop, and whoever assumes e role of receiver is bound to furer take on e role of giver. Braşov pays it forward, in oer words, making little presents to people who may be perfect strangers kicked off in December 2012. The initiators are ree alumnae of e University, Anca Geangălă, Radiana Ilieşiu, and Teodora Năstase, graduates of e Faculty of Sociology and Communication. In a real SOCIOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION GRADUATES CAMPAIGNING FOR A MORE GENEROUS COMMUNITY Christmas spirit, e ree young women seek to put a smile on people's faces, in e hope at unselfish acts by some will eventually spark generosity in oers. Premised on e idea at unconditional, disinterested kindness may be a catalyst of change in us and in e world around us, is campaign ultimately adverts to what is really important: e love for our fellow humans. What defines us as humans will always be e gift of love and e power to help wiout expecting anying in return, said Anca Geangălă. Victor Briciu, Doctoral student
CARAGIALE: A POST-MODERN READING On e 13 of December, The Conference Series organized by our Doctoral School included a new lecture given by sociologist Ştefan Ungurean from e Faculty of Sociology and Communication. The topic of e lecture - Caragiale: a post-modern reading was an opportunity to celebrate, by means of critical, interpretive inking, The Caragiale Year (a century since our national auor's dea, and a century and reescore since his bir). This is Dr. Ştefan Ungurean's ird conference in e Series and, as ever, e approach to e topic at hand was ought-provoking on many levels. Besides e usual target group of The Conference Series (e master's and doctoral students at e Faculty of Letters), e lecture was attended by fellow academics and specialists associated wi oer disciplinary cultures sociologists, architects, engineers who took part in e ensuing discussions, which verifies e interdisciplinary orientation of ese conferences. THE LECTURE DELIVERED BY SOCIOLOGIST ŞTEFAN UNGUREAN WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CONFERENCE SERIES AT THE FACULTY OF LETTERS' DOCTORAL SCHOOL AEROBICS, ZUMBA, AND TAE-BO AT THE UNIVERSITY'S SPORTS CENTRE Dr. Adrian Lăcătuş THE AEROBICS MARATHON The Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports kicked off a new type of event: e aerobics maraon! To begin wi, e turnout was impressive: around five hundred students registered, so e main Sports Hall was packed wi fitness, heal, and exercise lovers from different faculties. Instructors in e maraon were five members of e teaching staff from e Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports Veronica Mândrescu, Mădălin Slăniceanu, Adela Bădău, Daniela Popa, and Mihaela Chicomban assisted by first year student Roxana Iuga. The instructors and e organisers made efforts to cater for e many preferences of e participants: ey offered a programme which included sessions of aerobics, dance-aerobics, step aerobics, zumba, tae-bo, or fitball aerobics. Of e large number participants, only four female students could cope wi e effort required to complete e four-hour stretch of e maraon. The organisers intend to turn e maraon into a recurrent event in e university's sports calendar along wi e students' cross-country race, e swimming maraon and e faculties' competitions in various sports (football, basketball, handball, volleyball). Bogdan Oancea, Teaching assistant A PROJECT AIMED AT REBRANDING VOINEŞTI APPLES For e six year running e INSPIRED project sets out to contribute to career building and longterm success of Romanian students passionate about drama, architecture, interior design, graphic design, product design, accessories, photography and public relations. At e Inspired 2012 Gala held in Bucharest, on December 18, among e award-winning finalists was Mihaela-Alice Ţîncu, senior student at e Faculty of Sociology and Communication of Transilvania University. A Communication and Public Relations major, Alice Ţîncu came in second in e Public Relations category, wi a rebranding project for Voineşti apples. According to e contest regulations, bo topic and marketing problem approached by e project were pre-established: ey concerned a particular sort of fruit, Voineşti apples, which had lost most of eir impact on e market, becoming virtually unknown. Our student's project reflected her creativity and hard work, being e result of orough documentation and a well structured budget. Thus, owing to e rebranding solution she proposed, Voineşti apples are back in business literally and figuratively. The jury consisted of prominent specialists in e fields of Public Relations and Advertising, which represented yet anoer incentive to take part in is contest. This explains why e satisfaction at winning e award was commensurate wi e pressure in competing for it. I am determined to participate in next year's edition of e contest in e hope of scooping e Inspired trophy said Alice Ţîncu. Dr. Florin Nechita SOCIOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION STUDENT RECEIVES AWARD AT INSPIRED 2012 IDEAS CONTEST
THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC Alough Christmas was still a few days away, Santa put in an early appearance on e 20 of December, arriving sooner at e Aula Magna at e kind bidding of all e University employees' children, who could hardly wait to welcome him. SANTA CLAUS VISITS The children's choir of Reduta Art Centre THE AULA MAGNA conducted by Dr. Mădălina Rucsanda sang carols. OF OUR UNIVERSITY Eventually e audience joined in and sang along Romanian and English carols. For a few hours e magic of Christmas enfolded Aula Magna. The hearts of all ose present, children and parents, were filled wi e Christmas spirit while snow was gently falling outside. Santa Claus and his aides, Rudolf and e Snowman, were assisted roughout e evening by students from e Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences and from e Faculty of Medicine. Talking about e time spent at Aula Magna, sixyear old Bianca Ioana Popa said: It was nicer an my kindergarten party. I liked e choir, but also at we were allowed to play after we received our presents. I exchanged pencil cases wi a boy. I loved e fairytale princesses who greeted us and gave us presents. I want to come again next year. Dr. Liliana Rogozea Dr. Andrea Deaconescu SANTA CLAUS IS REAL... IN ADVERTISING CHARITABLE EVENT AT The ird edition of e charitable event Santa Claus is real... in THE FACULTY OF ECONOMIC advertising took place on December 12 2012 on e University SCIENCES AND BUSINESS campus. It was organised by students from e Marketing programme at ADMINISTRATION e Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration under e guidance of Dr. Alina Tecău. The event consisted in e showing of a collection of e best advertising videos on e topic of e winter holidays, featuring Santa Claus. Its aim was to support HOSPICE CASA SPERANŢEI by directing all e donations made on is occasion towards is charitable organisation. The participating students from Transilvania University took as future marketing specialists e opportunity to put eir eoretical knowledge into practice and create a unique show full of passion, energy, and optimism which delighted e audience. A raffle and many oer surprises completed an atmosphere specific for e winter holidays. Supported by Transilvania University, e project was also sponsored by a number of local businesses. Dr. Ioana Chiţu FROM HEART TO SOUL: CAROLLING FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR THE SOULS IN NEED A recurrent event since 2007, Carolling from e bottom of our hearts for e souls in need is a charitable event initiated and organised by Ms. Mihaela Cardiş, doctoral student and part time tutor at e Faculty of Medicine. Every year, is event involves students and teaching staff from e Nursing and Physioerapy Programme. Like previously, is year's event was e result of serious preparation and rehearsals; its aim was to raise money and collect donations in kind by giving a singing performance of carols and seasonal songs. Bo e money raised and e donations kindly made by Carrefour supermarket and by two oer anonymous sponsors were used to buy presents for e elderly at e Nursing Home in Noua district, for a homeless family living in a train carriage, and for e disadvantaged children from Săcele town. At e first venue, enusiastic students delighted e elderly audience wi a folk dance show. Mihaela Cardiş, doctoral student STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS FROM THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE ORGANISE CHARITABLE EVENT