Hundreds of high school students from Vrancea County, alongside teachers, business leaders, and representatives of the local administration, attended the Open Days organized by the University of Bucharest at its Focșani Branch between May 14–16, 2026. For three days, the event transformed the city into a genuine meeting point between high school students and university life.
Inspired by the spirit of festivALL UB 2.0 – the event held over the past two years in Bucharest every May, bringing together high school students, academics, members of the UB community, as well as local residents and companies – the Focșani event brought the values of the University of Bucharest closer to the Vrancea community, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between academia and local communities. The halls of the “University of Focșani” were filled with conversations between students and undergraduates, questions about admissions and academic opportunities, stories about Erasmus experiences, and discussions about the future, careers, and choosing a professional path.
The delegation from the University of Bucharest present in Focșani included professors, university leadership representatives, students, and specialists involved in educational guidance and student development opportunities. Among those representing UB were Professor Laura Comănescu, Vice-Rector for Study Programmes and Students’ Practical Training, Professor Răzvan-Mihail Papuc, Vice-Rector for Infrastructure, Administration and Heritage, Dr. Cornelia Ștefănescu, Coordinator of the University of Bucharest’s Focșani Branch, representatives of UB’s Career Counseling and Guidance Department and the Erasmus and CIVIS Office, as well as faculty members and student volunteers from the Faculty of Business and Administration, the Faculty of Geography, and the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.
The series of activities began on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the “Maior Gheorghe Pastia” People’s Athenaeum in Focșani with the event “Play, Learn, Save! Play&Save: Discover the World of Money”, dedicated to financial education. In an interactive and accessible format, participants discussed responsible money management, investments, and financial literacy alongside Ieronim Ștefan, Coordinator of the Financial Education Department at the Institute of Financial Studies, Florentin Tudor, Financial Education Specialist at the Financial Supervisory Authority, Lucian Isac, CEO of Estinvest, and Cătălin Ghintuială, Director of Omniasig’s Vaslui branch.
The centerpiece of the event was Friday, May 15, 2026, when the University of Bucharest’s Focșani Branch became the place where students from Vrancea could directly experience what university life is all about. The official opening session, organized in partnership with the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, brought together representatives of both universities’ leadership teams, local public administration officials, and members of Vrancea County’s pre-university education system. The event was moderated by Dr. Cornelia Ștefănescu, Coordinator of the University of Bucharest’s Focșani Branch, and Associate Professor Gianina-Ana Massari, Director of the Focșani Extension of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași. Representing the University of Bucharest were Professor Laura Comănescu, Vice-Rector for Study Programmes and Students’ Practical Training, and Professor Răzvan-Mihail Papuc, Vice-Rector for Infrastructure, Administration and Heritage. They were joined by Associate Professor Lilian Niacșu, Vice-Rector of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Professor Livia-Silvia Marcu, Chief School Inspector of Vrancea County, Cristi-Valentin Misăilă, Mayor of Focșani, and Andrei Moisă, representative of the Vrancea County Council. During the plenary session “Study at the University of Bucharest,” students learned more about the study programs available at UB’s Focșani Branch, student life, and the academic and professional development opportunities offered by the university. Discussions about Erasmus+ international mobility programs, career counseling, and student experiences were among the most appreciated moments of the event, with many participants continuing conversations even after the official sessions ended.
Another key moment of the event was the debate titled “Challenges Facing the Business Environment in Vrancea: Collaboration Between Students, Universities, and Employers for Building a Skilled Workforce”, which brought together entrepreneurs, representatives of public institutions, and local professional organizations. The discussions focused on the need for stronger collaboration between education and the labor market, as well as the importance of preparing a generation of young people who are well-trained and connected to current economic realities. Participants included Ion Roman, President of the Vrancea Small and Medium Enterprises Association and Vice-President of the Vrancea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Răzvan Gavriloiu, Vice-President and Secretary General of the Vrancea Private Enterprises Association, Raul Roman, representative of the Roman’s Group of Companies in Focșani, Gheorghe Stan, owner and CEO of Micromet, Marius Ulmeteanu, owner and CEO of Umo Serv, Atena Chiriac, owner and CEO of Culori Mistice, Vali Bodaș from Estinvest, Leca Irimescu from NN Insurance Vrancea, Adriana Ion, HR representative at Comcereal, and Mihaela Zilișteanu, Land Acquisition Manager at Comcereal. Also attending the event were Colonel Petrea George, Chief Inspector of the Vrancea County Gendarmerie Inspectorate, Colonel Nișcoveanu Liviu-Teodor, Head of Human Resources within the Vrancea Gendarmerie Inspectorate, Ioana Secară, General Director of the Vrancea Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and Gabriel Neculau, Head of the Monitoring and Analysis Department of the same institution.
As part of the educational counseling and career guidance session organized by the University of Bucharest’s Career Counseling and Guidance Department, students had the opportunity to discuss choosing the right academic and professional path, the skills required in today’s labor market, and the challenges of transitioning from high school to university life. The session, led by Marian Crăciun, Director of UB’s Career Counseling and Guidance Department, generated open dialogue with participants, with many students asking questions about admissions, personal development, internship opportunities, and career prospects after graduation. During the Erasmus+ mobility session, led by Beatrice Crăciun from the University of Bucharest’s Erasmus and CIVIS Office, participants learned about study and internship opportunities at partner universities across Europe, the international experiences available to UB students, and the personal and professional benefits of participating in academic mobility programs. The discussions highlighted the growing interest among young people in international experiences and the opportunity to study in a European and multicultural academic environment.
Throughout the three days, the stands dedicated to presenting the educational offer of the University of Bucharest were among the liveliest spaces within the “University of Focșani.” Students spoke directly with professors and student volunteers from the Faculty of Business and Administration, the Faculty of Geography, and the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, asking questions about admissions, campuses, scholarships, and international opportunities, while discovering the UB community in an informal and welcoming setting.
About the University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest was founded in 1864, continuing the tradition of the Princely Academy established in 1694. Since 2019, UB has been a member of the CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance alongside ten other prestigious European universities, playing a major role in the development and modernization of education, science, and culture at both national and international levels.
Today, the University of Bucharest is ranked in the world’s leading international rankings, consistently placing first among Romanian and regional universities.
The second edition of the Times Higher Education – Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 named the University of Bucharest the top university in Romania for interdisciplinary scientific research, recognizing its dynamic and innovative research and educational environment that combines diverse fields while maintaining high standards of sustainability, long-term development, and social responsibility.
According to the Times Higher Education – Impact Rankings 2025, one of the most respected international academic rankings, the University of Bucharest is also the leading university in Romania and among the world’s top 100 universities for its involvement in sustainable development initiatives. UB achieved its highest score in “Goal 5 – Gender Equality,” where it ranks third globally.
Furthermore, according to the latest edition of the Study Abroad Aide’s World University Rankings 2025, UB is currently the best university in Romania for international students, further demonstrating the international outlook that has defined the institution since its foundation.
