SDG 10. Reduced Inequality

• The “Virtute et Sapientia” Foundation of the University of Bucharest
• Centre for Research and Innovation in Social Services, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work
• Centre for Research and Promotion of Equity in Education, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
• The Gender Studies Platform of Research Institute of the University of Bucharest
• Innovative Pedagogies Laboratory
• Clinic for Psychological and Educational Counseling and Intervention (CAIPE)

• NARDIV – United in Narrative Diversity? Cultural (Ex-)Change and Mutual Perceptions in Eastern and Western Europe at the threshold of the digital age
• UNDETERRED – Unintentional discrimination detected and racism reveal and Deactivate
• PATHS2INCLUDE – New Knowledge on Pathways to Include Persons in Vulnerable Situations
• BUTTERFLY – The Butterfly Project Inclusion, participation, and well-being of children with special needs in ECEC institutions
• UB-ACCEPT – UB – a modern, inclusive, and equitable academic community

The admissions policy of the University of Bucharest is non-discriminatory.

• The Charter of the University of Bucharest (art. 19, par. 1 ) establishes the conditions of access to the university community as follows: “Access to the university community by admission as a student or by holding a teaching or research position, as well as the exercise of managerial functions, is free, under the conditions of the law, and may not be prevented or restricted for reasons of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, political or religious conviction. All methodologies for the organisation and conduct of admission contests to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral studies comply with the provisions of the Charter.
• 11, para. 2, lit. d of the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Bucharest also specifies that it is forbidden in the university community “discrimination, understood as distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference, based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, social category, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, illness of any kind, belonging to a disadvantaged category, as well as any other criterion that has the purpose or effect of restricting, eliminating the recognition, use or exercise, on equal terms, of human rights”.
• 2, point 1 of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities specifies that “the University guarantees all its students accessible and inclusive education in terms of admission, progression through studies, and successful completion of their academic programmes”.
• A procedure has been approved which establishes an effective and transparent mechanism for investigating incidents of sexual harassment and sex/gender discrimination in the academic community. The procedure available here sets out the principles, preventative measures, responsibilities and how to deal with incidents of sexual harassment and sex/gender discrimination.
• UB signed the Romanian Diversity Charter in 2022, and in 2023, UB signed the Equality Charter in the framework of the CALIPER initiative.

The University of Bucharest annually monitors the number of its applicants, including those from underrepresented groups. Data on their number is managed through the platforms dedicated to these activities: The School Management Platform and the Admissions Platform. The UB also has an Office for Enrolment Monitoring, Reporting and Statistics. It manages all this data and provides it to the university and faculty management for analysis and dedicated actions.

• According to Article 2, point 2 of the Methodology for the organisation and conduct of the admission examination for undergraduate university studies (consult the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 admission methodologies), reserved places are allocated for candidates belonging to national minorities, for study programmes not offered in the respective minority language within public higher education; as well as for candidates from the social protection system, candidates with special educational needs (SEN), and candidates with disabilities.
• According to Article 12, point 1 of the Methodology for filling academic positions – „the competition for vacant academic positions is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility requirements and application criteria, without any form of discrimination and in compliance with the applicable legal provisions”.
• According to Article 149, point 1 (a) of the Internal Regulations: „the University of Bucharest prohibits discrimination through the use of practices that place persons of a particular sex at a disadvantage in employment relations, including with regard to the announcement and organization of recruitment competitions or examinations, as well as the selection of candidates for vacant positions”.

The University of Bucharest has anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and constantly monitors their implementation.

• The Charter of the University of Bucharest discourages using “defamatory language, obscene behaviour, discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, age, social origin, religion, political opinions, sexual orientation, or other conduct lacking ethical integrity.” (Article 7(1)).
• In Art. 11 (2) lit. d of the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Bucharest states that “discrimination is prohibited, understood as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, social category, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, illness of any kind, membership of a disadvantaged category, as well as any other criterion whose purpose or effect is to restrict or eliminate the recognition, use or exercise of human rights on equal terms”.
• Another document which contains regulations against discrimination and harassment is the Internal Regulations of the University of Bucharest, which contains in Chapter IX: Rules on ensuring compliance with the principle of non-discrimination and the elimination of any form of violation of human dignity (art. 140-154).
• The University of Bucharest adopted in 2024 an operational procedure (PO–DOSEMPP-BIEES-02) for preventing and addressing sexual harassment and gender discrimination within its community. The procedure applies to all units of the university (faculties, administrative bodies, research institutes, student associations, etc.) and to all categories of persons (academic staff, support staff, students, alumni). When an incident is reported—whether in writing, verbally, or by email—the Office for Inclusion, Equity and Equal Opportunity records it and notifies the Ethics Committee within seven days. The Ethics Committee then convenes a review commission (within 3–7 days), sometimes augmented with external experts, which investigates the case and submits a report within 30 days. On this basis, the Ethics Committee issues a formal decision which is communicated to all parties. Additional support (e.g. psychological counselling) may also be provided via the university’s counselling office. Form for reporting a case of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
• In 2021, the Horizon ATHENA – UB project team developed the UB Gender Equality Plan (GEP-1 UB). One of the plan’s objectives is to prevent and combat sexual harassment and gender discrimination (Ob. 7). The new cycle of the Gender Equality Plan of the University of Bucharest (GEP-2 UB) proposes a seriees of activities for the period 2025-2028. The activities included in the Gender Equality Plan are intended to be useful to all persons who are part of the UB community — students, teaching staff, administrative staff —, and are proposed based on data and valid scientific knowledge existing at the institutional level. The main objective of the GEP-2 UB is the development of a gender-sensitive organizational culture.
• The organization of social and educational support services for students with special educational needs (SEN) and students with disabilities enrolled at the University of Bucharest is governed by the Methodology for the organization of social and educational support services for students with special educational needs and students with disabilities. This framework is complemented by the Procedure for assessing the needs of students with disabilities and/or Special Educational Needs (SEN) with a view to enhancing university inclusion, which aims to promote greater inclusion within the university environment by providing a supportive framework tailored to students’ specific educational needs.

• The Service for Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity operates within the Directorate for Strategic Orientation, Evaluation, Monitoring, and Public Policy of the University of Bucharest. One of its main responsibilities is the development of internal institutional mechanisms designed to support the integration and inclusion of students across the university community.
• In 2021, the Gender Equality Committee at the University of Bucharest was set up, comprising representatives of the academic and administrative management, teaching staff, researchers, and students of the UB. The committee held its first meeting in September 2021, during which a benchmarking exercise was carried out, discussing “issues related to the quantitative and qualitative data needs that have been and will be collected so that the strategies and activities to be included in the future gender equality plan are useful, feasible and adapted to the realities of the institution”. The current structure of the committee is accessible here.
• The Ombudsman of the University also advises, under conditions of independence, impartiality and confidentiality, all university community members who consider themselves mistreated.
• The University’s Ethics Committee serves as an independent body tasked with examining allegations of misconduct and breaches of academic or professional ethics. Any member of the University community or any person may refer a case to the Committee for investigation.
• The “Virtute et Sapientia” Foundation of the University of Bucharest supports the values of education and science through projects and activities that build on the teaching, research, and social engagement experience of the University of Bucharest’s academic community. One of the Foundation’s main objectives is to support the University of Bucharest’s social responsibility initiatives through:
  • The SEED Program, which promotes access to quality education for disadvantaged pupils and increases their opportunities for social advancement.
  • Supporting University of Bucharest students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities by developing support programmes aimed at removing barriers and ensuring equitable participation in the educational process.

The University of Bucharest undertakes multiple actions to support underrepresented groups in the academic community, including mentoring, counselling or peer-support programmes. Among the UB’s actions supporting underrepresented groups, we mention:

• Career counselling, vocational guidance, psychological counselling and assessment, and aptitude assessment are offered through the Department of Career Counselling and Guidance (DCOC);
• Screening or comprehensive psychological assessment services for different clinical conditions, psychotherapy, psychological or educational counselling, and crisis assistance offered to students, academic and administrative staff of the UB by the team of the Clinic for Psychological and Educational Assistance and Intervention (CAIPE);
• Coaching and personal development services in the area of social and emotional competencies, professional counselling and career guidance, and remedial learning programmes and development of critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills and academic writing skills offered by the UB Learning Centre (LC).

The University of Bucharest offers various facilities and support services for students with disabilities and special educational needs. These include:

1. Counselling and Guidance: Students can access psychological counselling services and educational guidance tailored to address specific disability-related needs.
2. Accessibility Services: The university ensures accessible learning environments by providing accommodations such as adaptive equipment, accessible study materials, and support for students with visual, auditory, or mobility impairments.
3. Inclusive Infrastructure: Efforts have been made to improve campus infrastructure to accommodate diverse mobility needs, including ramps, elevators, and adapted restrooms.
4. Specialised Support Programs and a dedicated Office: Personalised assistance is available through a dedicated office that helps students navigate academic life and access necessary resources. Thus, the Inclusion,Equity and Diversity Service was designed and organised as an access hub for students facing various difficulties, including disabilities. These services promote inclusivity and ensure all students have equitable access to education and campus life. More details are available here.

 

Other initiatives include:

• Measures were taken to facilitate blind people’s access to information on the UB website, including on the admission platform. To centralise all these actions, a dedicated webpage was created detailing everything available at the university for students with special educational needs and disabilities that can be accessed here.
• The University of Bucharest has installed accessibility facilities for persons with disabilities, including access ramps in buildings used for teaching, research, and other academic activities. The University of Bucharest’s dormitories are equipped with accessible rooms, elevators, and other facilities designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, according to Article 17 of the Methodology for Housing in the University of Bucharest’s Dormitories, students with severe or significant disabilities are given priority in the accommodation allocation process, in accordance with Law No. 448/2006. In addition, the University of Bucharest’s websites are designed to be accessible, in line with the principles of open access, inclusive design, and effective digital communication.
• Several institutional development projects implemented in 2024 and 2025 had components related to inclusion and diversity, as for example: International Networking for Cross-Cultural Learning and Understanding, Support for Integration and Vision in Education (INCLUSIVE), Unity in diversity at the University of Bucharest (AccessUB), and UB – a modern, inclusive and equitable academic community (UB-ACCEPT), Social and Academic Inclusion for Learners at the University of Bucharest (SAIL at UB), Beyond Inclusion: Integration and Support for Students with Disabilities (IDIS). More information is available here and here.
• The University of Bucharest is committed to preventing and sanctioning discrimination whenever it occurs. Through its Practical Guide to Combating Discrimination, the University supports students in developing a clear understanding of what discrimination is and how it manifests in academic and social contexts. The guide, developed by specialists from the Centre for Research on the Foundations of European Modernity, aims to clarify key concepts, provide examples relevant to student life, help identify situations of marginalization or exclusion, and present available resources as well as practical steps for seeking support and assistance.
• The administrative departments of the UB are responsible for various aspects of student life (Department of Dormitories and Student Activities, Department of Counselling and Career Guidance), as well as other UB units (Clinic for Psychological and Educational Assistance and Intervention, University of Bucharest Learning Centre), that ensure the welfare of all students, including those with disabilities.

The University of Bucharest offers mentoring services in the admissions process and is also available to candidates with disabilities. Other candidates have access to these services as well. As previously outlined, visually impaired candidates have access to admission documents and similar information in a format adapted to the screen readers they use. The Inclusion,Equity and Diversity Service offers tailored support for students with special needs, including disabilities.

The University of Bucharest supports the inclusion of people with disabilities through measures that combine financial support, accessible educational activities and participation in active lifestyle experiences. One example is the 25 private scholarships awarded, in partnership with Societe Generale Global Solution Centre, to students with disabilities enrolled at the University of Bucharest’s faculties.

Moreover, events and campaigns are organised periodically to inform students on the support schemes available to them. In 2024 and 2025, an information campaign was implemented within the faculties focused on support services available within the academic community.

The University of Bucharest launched the online campaign ‘Be part of the change!’, dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion within the academic community. The campaign included informational videos published on the university’s online channels to familiarise the community with topics such as equal opportunities, gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. The Directorate for Strategic Orientation, Evaluation, Monitoring and Public Policy devised the initiative, supported by the Gender Equality Plan implementation team and carried out with support from the Directorate for Communication and Public Relations.

In May 2024, the University of Bucharest, in partnership with the European Accessibility Resource Centre – AccessibleEU, organised the event “Education for Accessibility – Edu4Access” at the University Rectorate. The discussion focused on the importance of including accessibility-related topics in university study programmes and promoting equal participation for people with disabilities in education and the labour market. The event brought together academics, experts, professionals, and business and civil society representatives to exchange ideas on disability inclusion, accessible workplaces, and inclusive product design. Participants were also introduced to free resources and European initiatives supporting accessibility.

From 19 to 23 February 2025, students with mobility and visual impairments at the University of Bucharest had the opportunity to participate in the “Active and Independent Living Camp”, an initiative aimed at promoting equal opportunities and fostering connections among participants beyond any prejudice or discrimination.The camp provided participants with the chance to enjoy winter sports in an inclusive and welcoming environment, while taking part in a wide range of activities. A key component of the programme was social interaction, which encouraged relationship-building, mutual support, and the development of a strong sense of community.

The University of Bucharest implements a consistent accommodation policy towards people with disabilities.

• The university dormitories include rooms specially prepared for this category of students, and the university buildings have been modified to allow for easy access (10 rooms equipped for students with mobility impairments – special bathrooms with shower chairs, wide entrances for wheelchairs, adjustable furniture). Students with severe disabilities and their companions can benefit from free accommodation. Please consult here a list of available support services provided to students with disabilities and special needs.