SDG 16. Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

• Human Rights Centre, Faculty of Law
• Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies “Prof. univ. dr. Constantin Bușe”, Faculty of History
• Research Centre in Applied Ethics, Faculty of Philosophy
• Centre for International Cooperation and Development Studies (IDC) – Faculty of Political Science
• Center for Constitutional Law and Political Institutions, Faculty of Law

• Interdisciplinary Research on the Russian Geopolitics in the Black Sea and the Arctic Ocean
• Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking
• Participatory dEmocRacY that sCaLES

According to the UB Charter (art. 72, point c), the governing structures at the university level are the Senate and the Board of Administration. As such, art. 116, paragraphs 1 and 2 establish the composition of the Board of Administration:

• Rector, Vice-Rectors, Deans, Director General, Administrative Director and the students’ representative are appointed by a majority of the student members in the Senate from among their members.
• The President of the Senate, the Director of the General Secretariat Department and the representatives of the employees’ union are invited to the meetings of the Board of Administration. The labour union representative attends as an observer.
• Other persons may be invited only with the favourable opinion of the majority of the members of the Board present.

Thus, this structure includes representatives of students, teaching and non-teaching staff, auxiliary teaching and non-teaching staff and the labour union.

Article 130, paragraph 1 of the Charter establishes the composition of the Senate, which comprises 75% teaching and research staff and 25% student representatives. All members of the Senate, without exception, are elected by universal, direct and secret ballot of all tenured teaching and research staff and of all students, respecting the representation quotas by faculty. Article 136(4) also establishes that the Senate meetings may be attended by (a) the Director of the General Secretarial Department of the University, (b) the Administrative General Director, and (c) individually, at the invitation of the Senate, depending on the agenda of the meeting, the CUDS Director, Deans and heads of the University’s functional structures and departments.

Students, teachers and labour unions are also represented in other bodies of the University of Bucharest:

• According to art. 4.1 of the regulations of the University of Bucharest’s Commission for Evaluation and Quality Assurance (CEAC), students, teachers and the trade union have representatives in the CEAC.
• The Regulation of Organisation and Functioning of the Ethics Commission of the University of Bucharest also stipulates that the members of the Commission include full professors, emeritus professors and students (art. 5, paras. 3 and 5).
• The Council for University Doctoral Studies also has in its composition elected PhD students.

The University of Bucharest recognises students’ unions.  According to the UB Charter (art. 29, para. 1), university community members have the right to establish or belong to student, labour, professional and cultural, national, and international associations and organisations and legally constituted political organisations. Article 5(1) of the Code of Students’ Rights and Obligations states that students can join student structures and organisations. Accordingly, 19 student associations are active at the University of Bucharest – 17 at the faculty level and two at the institutional level (ASUB and AIESEC). The student associations represent students’ interests, develop projects for students and get involved in actions that follow all dimensions of academic life.

The University of Bucharest has written policies and procedures to identify local stakeholders external to the university and engage with them.

• A central role in interacting with stakeholders, especially the labour market, high schools/colleges and potential candidates, is played by the Department of Career Counselling and Guidance (DCOC). Art. 11 of the DCOC’s Organisational and Functioning Regulation presents the main activities of the department, including those related to the interaction with various stakeholders: interaction with pre-university students, facilitating the relationship between students and graduates of the University of Bucharest and the labour market, so that they know the real opportunities and challenges of being employed from the time they graduate. Art. 12.2 presents the actions carried out by the DCOC related to increasing the employability of students and graduates by offering services such as: establishing partnerships with representatives of the private sector to place students in internships, traineeships, labour market mediation activities, relations with alumni and others.
• The labour market is an important stakeholder for the UB, so part of administrative staff of DCOC is responsible to develop, create partnerships and maintain close relations with the labour market – the Labour Market Relations Office. To operationalise collaboration and ensure a coherent framework for stakeholder engagement, the UB has adopted the Operational Procedure on Interaction with Internal and External Stakeholders (PO-SciRes-01). This document provides a structured approach for identifying, consulting, and maintaining relationships with institutional partners, employers, alumni, and other relevant actors.
• In the same direction, we also mention the relationship with UB alumni, facilitated with the help of the UB’s Alumni Association.

Within the University of Bucharest, there is a Strategic Orientation and Analysis Council (COAS) whose mission is to assist in the elaboration and implementation of the University’s strategies through the elaboration of analyses and recommendations on the strategic development directions and objectives, as well as an evaluation of the University’s previous strategic documents and actions. COAS members include personalities from Romania and abroad with extensive national and international experience in the field of management, such as former UB rectors, members of the Romanian Academy, European Student Union, and representatives of private associations and organisations (EUA, UNICA, KPMG, BCR Romania).

The University of Bucharest is committed to fighting against organised crime, corruption & and bribery. In the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Bucharest, art. 16, par. 1, lit. e, f and par. 2, lit. d, e, it is stated that professors and students have the responsibility “not to demand or accept favours in any form, including of a sexual nature; to refrain from any action contrary to the applicable regulations and to carry out any obligation arising from ensuring and respecting academic ethics and integrity“. The same document, art. 27, states that “the University shall sanction deviations from academic ethics and integrity, and its members shall act to prevent and combat corruption and related acts and any other intentional offences of a nature likely to harm academic prestige“.

The University of Bucharest has a policy of supporting academic freedom. Section II, art. 4-9, of the Code of Ethics and Deontology of the University of Bucharest presents the principle of academic freedom. Thus, “Freedom gives the University independence, from a moral and scientific point of view, from any political, economic or religious influence”. Details on academic freedom included in the Code of Ethics and Deontology can be found here.

The fundamental document of the University of Bucharest, the Charter, is described in Section III, art. 6-10, the principle of academic freedom. To exemplify, art. 6, para. 3: “University community members may investigate any subject based on a scientific methodology. This implies the freedom to communicate research results, by any means, to students, to the national and international scientific community in compliance with the rules of law, ethics and academic conduct, and the principles of objectivity and tolerance. Teaching staff shall enjoy freedom of expression in teaching the subject assigned to them“.

The University annually publishes financial data on the institutional website and in various reports. Thus, financial data are found in the following documents: budget financial statements. The Rector’s Annual Report also includes information on the financial matters of the university.

The University of Bucharest provides specialist advice to local, regional, and national government, especially but not limited to, provision of evidence to fundamental policy decisions.

• In November 2024, the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest signed a strategic partnership with the General Secretariat of the Government to support the modernisation of public administration, strengthen professional competences, and promote evidence-based public policies grounded in academic research and analysis.
• Between March and July 2025, the University of Bucharest trained 1,838 sustainable development experts in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Government – Department for Sustainable Development, contributing to strengthening professional capacity within Romania’s central and local public administration.
• In June 2025, the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest and the “Virtute et Sapientia” Foundation, in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Government, organised the 2025 University of Bucharest Governance Workshop, dedicated to Reconfiguring the public sector in light of contemporary global technological, economic and political changes. The event focused on the transformation of the public sector in response to technological, economic and political changes and brought together academic experts, public-sector practitioners and business representatives to support evidence-based public policies, institutional modernisation and resilience.
• Since 2025, the University of Bucharest has been a partner of the Ministry of Education and Research in the national ConsEDU project, aimed at modernising career counselling and guidance services in pre-university education. Implemented across all eight development regions of Romania, the project draws on academic expertise and European good practices to support the development of more effective career guidance services at national level.
• On 6 December 2023, the University of Bucharest, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, organised the interdisciplinary workshop “Digital Humanities and Ethics of AI”, part of the fifth edition of the OECD Global Forum on the Future of Education and Skills (2030). Held at the Faculty of Letters, the session featured reflections on integrating AI into the humanities, ethical challenges such as generative AI-based avatars, the socio-economic implications of emerging technologies, and the need for a humanistic redefinition of digital pedagogy.
• UB researchers and professors are actively involved in initiatives dedicated to the protection and sustainable management of ecosystems. A group of researchers affiliated with the Faculties of Geology and Geophysics and Biology has initiated a critical areas observatory in the Apuseni – Central Mures Valley, collaborating on the first assessment of risk factors in bear predation on domestic animals in Romania (together with Ohio University). At the same time, students and teachers from the Faculty of Geography have participated in actions related to managing invasive alien species in the Porțile de Fier Natural Park. Such applied research contributes significantly to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.
• The Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies (CCMESI) of the University of Bucharest implements research projects in areas of interest and environmental impact relevant to decision-makers at local, regional, national and international levels. Among the fields in which the CCMESI team can provide consultancy, we mention: environmental education; environmental conflicts; biodiversity conservation; and environmental impact assessment. In addition, CCMESI aims to develop solutions to local, regional, and global ecological problems, promote sustainable development in Romania, and develop partnerships with universities, industry, and local and national authorities. The Centre provides local, regional, and national authorities expertise through partnership projects. For example, the LIFE ROsalia project – Conservation of saproxylic beetles in the Carpathians – is run in partnership with the Vrancea Environmental Protection Agency, Putna-Vrancea Natural Park and the Association for Biodiversity Conservation. Another example highlighting collaboration with a national public authority – the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests – is the project Appropriate Management of Invasive Species in Romania, in line with EU Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. Similarly, they implemented the project „Benefits and constraints of joint decision making in Romania. From public participation to collaborative Environmental Impact Assessment”. Example of the activities implemented by the Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies (CCMESI) include:
• CARMINE (2024-2028) develops climate decision-support services, multilevel governance frameworks and climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for European metropolitan regions, supporting evidence-based climate planning and decision-making.
• CitizenPlanning (2025-2027) examines how citizen science can support social equity and public participation in urban planning and administrative decision-making processes.
• ReSURCe (2025-2026) develops methodological tools for assessing the resilience and sustainability of residential patterns in Romania, with results intended to inform future policies and planning practices.
• UNSEAL (2026-2028) explores policy and planning approaches for urban soil unsealing, green infrastructure development and nature-positive urban transformation, in cooperation with municipalities and other European stakeholders.
• The Research Centre in Systems Ecology and Sustainability (RCSES) of the University of Bucharest is implementing, together with other partners in Romania and abroad, several projects of interest for the SDGs that result in providing expert advice to local and central authorities:
  • DANUBIUS-RO-2 – Support for the Development and Consolidation of DANUBIUS-RO (2025-2028) strengthens Romania’s national research infrastructure for integrated river–delta–sea systems. The University of Bucharest participates in the project alongside national research institutes and universities, contributing scientific expertise, monitoring and analytical capacity to support sustainable management of water resources, biodiversity and environmental challenges and to strengthen cooperation between researchers, public authorities and local communities.
  • RESTORE4LIFE (Restoration of Ecosystems) showcases the remarkable socio-economic benefits of a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to restoring freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin. By creating new blue-green infrastructure that bolsters regional climate change resilience and mitigation efforts, Restore4Life paves the way for a sustainable future.
  • SELINA – will guide evidence-based decision-making that supports the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of our environment. Through a collaboration of experts from 50 partner organisations from all 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Israel, and the United Kingdom, SELINA will set new standards for international cooperation to promote Ecosystem Services (ES) and Biodiversity (BD) conservation and enhance Ecosystem Conditions (EC).
  • MARCO-BOLO (MARine Coastal BiOdiversity Long-term Observations) will structure and strengthen European coastal and marine biodiversity observation capabilities, linking them to global efforts to understand and restore ocean health.
  • BioAgora is a collaborative European project funded by the Horizon Europe programme. It aims to connect research results on biodiversity to the needs of decision-making in a targeted dialogue between scientists, other knowledge holders and policy actors. BioAgora will develop a Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD) that fully supports the ecological transition required by the European Green Deal and the European Union’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
  • RESTORE4Cs aims to assess the role of restoration action on wetlands’ climate change mitigation capacity and a wide range of ecosystem services using an integrative socio-ecological systems approach. The results will be integrated into a digital platform to serve as a Decision Support System (DSS) for stakeholders that will steer project efforts as part of a newly created Community of Practice around wetland restoration.
• The University of Bucharest, through the Large Scale Testing Lab of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, coordinates Romania’s participation in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Following the implementation of TIMSS 2023 in cooperation with and with funding from the Ministry of Education, the national report was published in November 2025, providing evidence relevant to educational policy and practice. The University is currently coordinating Romania’s participation in TIMSS 2027, with the pilot phase and preparation of the assessment instruments taking place in 2026.
• In 2025–2026, the University of Bucharest implemented the Lead4Edu project, contributing academic expertise to the national programme for strengthening leadership and strategic management in pre-university education. University experts provided training to managers, inspectors and other professionals with management responsibilities, supporting the national reform of educational governance and the professionalisation of public-sector management.
• The University of Bucharest has conducted the first substantial research on national resilience in Romania, using an innovative tool developed by its researchers. The research was conducted between September 14 and October 5, 2022, using a new tool created under a project funded by a CNCS-UEFISCDI grant and implemented by INSCOP Research. This tool is aligned to international standards and allows the annual collection of key statistical data on national resilience.

The University of Bucharest’s programmes, events and educational resources can be accessed by decision-makers for training, documentation and/or policy development. We mention UB’s lifelong learning offer here, which includes postgraduate programmes and professional conversion programmes. Below, we list some postgraduate programmes relevant to policymakers:

• Management of Local, National and European Public Service
• Equal Opportunities Expert
• Communication and Digital Strategy
• Diplomacy and International Representation
• Sustainable Development Expert
• Leadership and Managerial Competencies
• Applied Psychology in Diplomacy and International Relations
• Theoretical Analysis of the Regulations Contained in the Administrative Code
• Educational Leadership for Sustainable Transformation
• Values-Based Leadership
• E-Government and Principles of Public Communication
• Sustainable Entrepreneurship

In its approach to developing the culture of ethics and academic integrity, as well as following the new legislative regulations in education and research, the University of Bucharest organises a dedicated summer school yearly. An online self-paced training module entitled “Academic Integrity is also available and frequently updated. Ethical, legal and psycho-pedagogical aspects”, for ethics and integrity counsellors in pre-university education.

The University of Bucharest participates in policy-focused research in collaboration with government departments.

• Since 2026, specialists from the University of Bucharest have been involved in COMPLIAS – Strengthening Romania’s Invasive Alien Species Management System (2026–2029), a national programme implemented together with the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. The project aims to strengthen Romania’s capacity to monitor, assess and manage invasive alien species through national inventories and mapping, distribution modelling under climate scenarios, an early-detection network and pilot eradication measures.
• In 2025-2026, the University of Bucharest coordinated LEAD4EDU – Leadership and Strategic Management for Quality Education, a national programme funded through Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project provides training for 1,175 managers and professionals with management responsibilities in pre-university education, supporting the national reform of educational governance and the professionalisation of school management.
• Since July 2025, the University of Bucharest has been a partner of the Ministry of Education and Research in ConsEDU – Transformative Practices in Career Counselling and Guidance (2025-2029), a national initiative aimed at modernising career counselling and guidance services in pre-university education and developing more effective and evidence-based support mechanisms for students.

The University of Bucharest, based on the University Charter, is outside party political activities, politics being an area of investigation (Art. 8(2)). Whenever the national or local context requires it and to strengthen critical thinking and civic involvement, the UB launches public invitations to debate, providing a neutral and objective framework for this type of dialogue.

• For example, in November 2025, the University of Bucharest, in partnership with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Romania, hosted the UniPE roundtable “Disinformation and Artificial Intelligence – The EU’s Role in Combating This Phenomenon.” The event brought together members of the Romanian Parliament and the European Parliament, academics, students and civil society experts for an open dialogue on disinformation, artificial intelligence, European digital policy, information security and the impact of emerging technologies on democratic processes. Also in November 2025, in partnership with Europuls – the European Expertise Centre, the University of Bucharest organized a major dialogue between citizens and a European-level decision-maker: Ms Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness. The event brought together students, academics, experts, and representatives of the academic, private, and non-governmental sectors, as well as citizens interested in engaging directly with a Romanian representative in Brussels.
• Similarly, in May 2024, the University of Bucharest hosted the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work. The event brought together experts, academics, and civil society representatives to discuss topics such as citizen participation, transparency, trust in institutions, and the role of the media in democratic life. The 72 debates brought together over 200 speakers from all over the world.
• Smaller events are similarly illustrative, especially as they tackle issues within Romanian society. In March 2026, the University of Bucharest, through CEREFREA Villa Noël and the Centre for Equal Opportunities Policies, co-organised the interdisciplinary roundtable “Human Rights and Discourses on Migration in Romania. Francophone Perspectives.” Bringing together academics, international organisations, civil society representatives and media professionals, the event addressed public perceptions of migration, fundamental rights, social integration and migrants’ access to healthcare, education and employment in Romania. Similarly, in April 2025, the University of Bucharest, through the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Studies, organised the roundtable “Vigilance Makes the Difference! Fake News Is No Joke”, together with the Romanian Police, the National Cyber Security Directorate, the Romanian Association of Banks and the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications. The event addressed the growing societal impact of disinformation and fake news in the digital environment and explored approaches to strengthening public awareness and resilience.