THE STORY OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2021-2022

2021 was the year we managed to live our lives normally after a past full of challenges from which we learned and discovered new paths to success. It was easy for Danubius University to move past the topic of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, because it already had a well-established platform that previously served part-time and distance education students. Thus we began with small but sure steps towards a new beginning.

On Monday, October 4, the opening ceremony of the academic year 2021-2022 took place, students, masters students and teachers were expected to join the event both physically and online. We started as every year with the message of the President of Danubius University Associate Professor Andy Pușca PhD, of the Rector Professor William B. Harvey PhD, of the Provosts and Deans and the Students' League. The ceremony continued with the Presentation of the Career Guidance and Counseling Center, the Danubius University Sports Club and ended with the awarding of scholarships offered by IV FUTURE and RĂDĂCINI MOTORS, but also with small gifts for the students who were present at the event.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160154536458487)

In November, Danubius University concluded an international cooperation agreement with the University of Texas at Arlington, USA and Michigan State University, USA. These initiatives support the mission to develop and implement the internationalization strategy of Danubius University as well as to promote its international image as a forum for education, science and culture in Romania, Europe and the whole world.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/universitatea-danubius-a-incheiat-un-nou-acord-de-colaborare-internationala-cu-university-of-texas-at-arlington

https://univ-danubius.ro/news/universitatea-danubius-si-michigan-stat-university-sua-colaborare-academica-recunoscuta-international)

In December, the Founding President of Danubius University, Professor BENONE PUȘCĂ PhD, received the title of Honorary Member of the Union of Jurists from Romania on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the ″DREPTUL″ magazine, in recognition of the support given to the legal publication.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/presedintele-fondator-al-universitatii-danubius-prof-univ-dr-benone-pusca-a-primit-titlu-de-membru-de-onoare-al-uniunii-juristilor-din-romania?fbclid=IwAR3wDak3vEXBd0O8XyNKMGZZxnFtzLb26X6QCkLsMLZ7UXnq7Oix8NescnM)

At the end of the year we let ourselves be carried away by the magic of the Christmas holidays, we decorated the tree, we listened, but we also sang carols and gave presents.

(https://fb.watch/gcN-5F8GFJ/, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160353328833487, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/videos/1134799597055434)

We started the year 2022 with fresh forces and new surprises for students, teachers, even high school students. In January we launched a new series of Phenomenal Women events. This series dedicated to the celebration of phenomenal women aimed to fill the Aula Magna of the Danubius University with people whose goal in life is to fulfill not only their childhood dreams, but also all the professional plans that take shape, especially during adolescence.

Month after month, successful women took the stage to tell their life stories and share their experiences with us. The first guest, in January, was Claudia Nicolae, General Manager of AGERPRES, being the first woman in charge of AGERPRES, the oldest news agency in Romania and the first autonomous agency in the country.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160425361368487)

The President of Danubius University, Associate Professor Andy Pușcă PhD signed a partnership agreement with the Galati Local Police, represented by the General Director, Petrică Hahui, for the development of joint projects aimed at organizing both educational events and study programs.

The action is part of a larger project, which involves the involvement of the Danubius University Sports Club in supporting the organization of the ULTRAMARATON 2022 sports event, where we continued to contribute to building the story of the largest VIS in support of the fight against autism by saying again, "present", with heart and deed, at the biggest charitable-sports event held in the Gârboavele Forest. Part of the sums collected for charitable purposes were also directed towards supporting some children who excel in education, but who do not have the material possibilities to access the necessary resources, but also in carrying out sports activities for our students.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/ultramaraton-editia-a-ii-a-impreuna-suntem-mai-puternici?highlight=WyJub3UiLCJjdSJd , https://univ-danubius.ro/news/universitatea-danubius-si-politia-locala-parteneriat-pentru-dezvoltarea-de-proiecte-comune)

The month of February brought Gabriela Wilson with us on the stage of the Great Hall, who celebrated with us 30 years of excellence in education. The presentation given to the audience by Ms. Wilson was like an imaginary journey through her life, the slides were full of memories that made the parents of the guest, present in the first rows of the Aula Magna, wipe their eyes several times!

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160483293708487)

Adrian Curaj, renowned professor and international academic leader, adviser to the Prime Minister of Romania in the field of science and technology, IT and e-Governance also took to the stage of the Aula Magna during the event "The Benone Pușcă Distinguished Speaker". The title of his presentation was "The Importance of Research for HEI and the Romanian Context in this Matter".

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160491184818487)

Another important project we joined was THEN AND NOW, which represented a photo exhibition (55 photos) that presented images of life in the communist regime, in contrast to life in the post-December era, an exhibition initiated by the Embassy USA in Bucharest. The opening of this exhibition was attended by the Cultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Bucharest, and a representative of the Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy, William J. O'Connor, representatives of the management of Danubius University, but also of the local authorities in Galati and Brăila: the president of the Galati County Council , Mister. Costel Fotea, the vice-mayor of Galaţi Lucian-Valeriu Andrei, the mayor of Brăilei, Mr. Marian Dragomir, Braila vice-mayor Alexandru Jantea Crican, vice-president of Braila County Council, Mr. Ciprian Ionuţ Dobre and Dr. Costin Croitoru, manager of the "Carol I" History Museum in Brăila.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160478904368487 , https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/videos/693319114997971)

The month of March brought to Danubius University another phenomenal woman, Dr. Irena Chiru, university professor at the "Mihai Viteazul" National Academy of Information and President of the International Association for Intelligence Studies - European Chapter (IAFIE EC).

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160553601463487)

A tragic news raises an alarm both in Romania and in neighboring countries. A war is escalating on Romania's border. In these moments of balance, Danubius University has started, under the coordination of the Danubius Student League, a program to help refugees from Ukraine. The university enlisted the support of Danubian volunteers involved in collecting sanitary materials, clothes, food, personal items, clothes, shoes, toys, books and pencils/drawing carts, cleaning products and detergents.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160520765338487, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/videos/5178202208871084, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160510825733487)

Students from the Faculty of Psychology participated in a specialized training session on the psychological approach to refugees, supported by Psychologist Florian Miu PhD, teacher at Danubius University.

The training was aimed at informing the volunteer students involved in the campaign organized by the Danubius University for refugees from Ukraine as accurately as possible and teaching psychological intervention techniques in cases of crisis.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160514785128487)

Starting from April 2022, "Danubius" University inaugurated on April 1, 2022, a new cultural project, entitled Danubius Stage. On the stage of the institution's Magna Hall, the show "Marriage Request" by A. P. Cehov, produced by the Bucharest Art Theater, directed by Victor Olăhuţ, took place. And this was just the beginning of the road to the world of actors and performers.

Students and master's students from the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration were the first beneficiaries through access to high-quality courses and European certifications based on preferential offers. Danubius University in Galati and the Romanian Banking Institute (IBR) signed a partnership agreement. The Romanian Banking Institute (IBR) is a leader in providing training programs in the financial-banking field, successfully covering areas of great interest for a successful career in the financial-banking industry.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/parteneriat-educational-intre-universitatea-danubius-si-institutul-bancar-roman?fbclid=IwAR3AcFcpzcxiih9cHQ63Hc6T3vI46KaYcZa1nOwccQrqmJjZYWCrZz-x02Y)

In May, we concluded the Phenomenal Women series with an extraordinary woman, a renowned lawyer, who shared her success story, Lăcrămioara Stavire, with the audience in the Aula Magna.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160635434238487)

2 new bachelor's degree programs in Social Work and Digital Media were launched and a new educational partnership was signed between Danubius University and the Romanian Fintech Association for the first master's program in FINTECH (study programs available from the academic year 2022-2023) . At the same time, the Romanian Fintech Association (RoFin.tech), the organization that brings together the fintech industry in Romania, announced its support for the FINTECH – Digital Finance and Technology program by offering three full scholarships to students who wanted to opt for this master's degree.

(https://fb.watch/gcOK0Cys7t/ , https://fb.watch/gcOVidyPI5/ https://fb.watch/gcOZ0h-bx7/ , https://univ-danubius.ro/news/parteneriat-educational-intre-universitatea-danubius-si-asociatia-romana-de-fintech-pentru-primul-program-de-master-in-fintech?fbclid=IwAR0aRSB01lizFrETPzrncUl2GI04hOunh9Kr98sadvibdepCYzA8MkZKiNs)

The Danubius Stage audience enjoyed the performance by Horațiu Mălăele "Sunt un ORB/I am a BLIND", a one-man improvisation show, in which the masterful artist, "the best product of Romanian theater in the last 20 years", as he described the late actor Ion Caramitru, performed for our audience on the Danubius Stage.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160683979083487)

The University participated in the 35th AUAP General Conference, Looking at the Challenges of Higher Education in the Post-COVID19 World and was the host of the 17th edition of EIRP European Integration - Realities and Perspectives, together with its partners.

 (https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160650944633487, https://univ-danubius.ro/news/conferinta-anuala-auap-privind-provocarile-invatamantului-superior-in-lumea-post-covid19 -edition-35)

The month of June began with love and laughter from children. The Student Relations Department, the Student League and the MEDIA team joined forces to organize the Super Kids Party. Young and old, children, parents and grandparents enjoyed concerts, sports competitions, face painting, treasure hunting, dancing and many other activities!

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/1-iunie-la-universitatea-danubius)

Because we are lovers of beauty, we continued in the same way as we started with ART! The Danubius University in Galati together with the Center for Danubian Studies and Research and the Faculty of Communication and International Relations were the hosts of the Tapestry Exhibition "FLOAREA PÂINII/FLOWER OF BREAD" by the visual artist, Mariana David. The exhibition was full of excitement and joy, and the delight could be seen on the faces of the visitors who attended the event.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/o-expozitie-de-emotie-floarea-painii-by-mariana-david,  https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160726677188487)

The "Danube - Axis of European Identity" International Conference, Biological and Pedagogical Evolution Workshop, Danube Polis 2022 - The conferences of the European Association "DANUBE" were among the few events that took place in the Danubius University, a fact that only motivated us day by day and strive to become better than we are.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/dunarea-polis-2022-conferintele-asociatiei-europene-dunarea , https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160725288938487 , https://univ-danubius.ro/news/conferinta-internationala-dunarea-axa-a-identitatii-europene)

The holiday was fast approaching, the emotions were starting to appear in the souls of the graduates and here we are at the end of the academic year, and this occasion made us very happy because it is the most beautiful moment, when we celebrate together with the students our most important event in their academic life, graduation!

The Department of Student Services and the League of Students were the organizers of the 2022 Festive Course.

((https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/videos/812065943019415, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160785840978487, https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160755390103487)

The International Conference in the Digital Era was an event in its first edition organized by the Department for the Training of Teaching Staff at the Danubius Galati University, in collaboration with the University of Camerino, the Galati County School Inspectorate, the Galati Teaching Corps House and the County Center for Educational Resources and Assistance is an event of academic debates and research in the field of fundamental pedagogical disciplines, starting from general didactics, as a theory of the educational process, and up to the pedagogical sciences applied to the disciplines.

(https://www.facebook.com/DanubiusUniversity/posts/10160851636353487 )

The month of August was with and about education. Together for Education, this was the slogan that started the interactive debate Education Draft Laws in Public Consultation organized on 23.08.2022 by the Department for the Training of Teaching Personnel (DPPD) from the "Danubius" Galati University. The topics of the debate touched both the pre-university and university fields, together with guests who are active in education and within the Ministry of Education. The event was held in two parts, in the first part, the pre-university field was represented by Radu Szekely, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education. In the second part, the university field was represented by Valentin Popescu, the Director General of the Ministry of Education.

We ended the summer vacation with news that shook the Danubius academic community, the announcement of the untimely death of the University's Founder, Professor Benone Pușcă PhD, after a short but relentless suffering. A "permissive" disease, as he liked to call it, marked the last years of his life, diminishing his physical powers, but not the warm bonhomie with which he honored his relatives and guests who crossed the threshold of the institution during all this time for three decades in which he saw to it that the Danubius spirit triumphed in the fight against the timelessness and indolence of some.

He was a fighter for a noble idea, he built from the ground up an emblematic university for the Romanian academic space, he built a veritable column of books that he published, many of pure specialty, but also countless others of literary fiction. But his pride was the people of the community, together with whom he built the worthy emblem of the University "Danubius". They now watch over his lifeless body, remember his name and remember his deeds, hoping that eternity will be kind to him and place him in the realm of the righteous.

May God forgive him his sins and rest him in peace! May his soul find his well-deserved rest, and may salvation be his part in eternity!

Life has moved on and will move on, and we have continued to do what we do best. Music united us big and small, during the 4 days of the festival, causing excitement and good mood at the Ro Danube International Jazz Festival.

The Ro Danube International Jazz Festival is an event in its first edition (September 15-18), with the financing of the Galaţi City Hall, in partnership with the "Danubius" University and the Galaţi County Council, which brought to our city famous musicians and bands both on the national as well as international.

The first edition of the festival fully deserves its "international" name. Out of eight bands present, seven were European, from Hungary, Austria, Germany, Portugal, France, Israel and Poland. Moreover, the audience present had the opportunity to listen, free of charge, to well-known jazz bands, the artists being meticulously chosen by the festival director, stage manager Lucian Sabados, director of the "Maria Filotti" Theater in Brăila, organizer of festivals in several cities.

(https://univ-danubius.ro/news/prima-editie-ro-danube-international-jazz-festival-2022?fbclid=IwAR2E1j3QuC1l-43DgktGicl7oeoIoHzr0ByC81MLa2xffo1gvfjUneRDelo)

For the 2022-2023 academic year, we aim to evolve and remain the same united community, in permanent professional development.

Mioara Lepădatu,

PR Specialist