Postgraduate Program “Expert in Sustainable Development” concludes: 1,838 Sustainable Development experts trained by the University of Bucharest in one of the most ambitious professional training Initiatives in public administration

On Monday, 17 November 2025, the University of Bucharest hosted an event at Casa Universitarilor to mark the successful completion of the first cohort of the postgraduate program “Expert in Sustainable Development.” Held between March and July 2025, the program trained 1,838 sustainable development experts, all part of the national network responsible for implementing Romania’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2030.

The program is part of a national initiative of the Department for Sustainable Development to build a professional body of 2,000 specialists across central and local public administration, supporting the implementation of the 2030 Strategy.

Within this initiative, the University of Bucharest won the contract to deliver training in 7 of the 8 development regions, with an initial target of 1,754 participants. An additional 84 participants completed the program, reflecting strong interest in this type of training. At UB, the project was implemented through UniBuc Consult, the university’s Training and Consultancy Service.

The event opened with a networking session, followed by an official opening moderated by Professor Lucian Ciolan, PhD, UB Vice-Rector for Development Projects and Lifelong Learning. He highlighted the program’s central theme: cross-sector collaboration and the need for the academic environment to strengthen its role as a strategic partner in the development and support of public policies.

Next, Professor Marian Preda, PhD, Rector of the University of Bucharest, emphasized the program’s national importance and the impact that professionalizing sustainable development experts has on the quality of public administration. He thanked UB teams, trainers, partners, and all those who helped exceed the original target-resulting in 1,838 certified experts.

The “Expert in Sustainable Development” program: a project with a lasting impact

The message delivered by State Counselor László Borbély, Coordinator of the Department for Sustainable Development within the General Secretariat of the Government, reflected on the progress made in implementing the National Sustainable Development Strategy and the direct contribution of the EDD program to strengthening the capacity of public administration to act in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

In a brief address, Professor Magdalena Iordache-Platis, PhD, UB Vice-Rector for Quality Management, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility, spoke about the University of Bucharest’s role in promoting a culture of sustainability, highlighting initiatives such as Sustainability Week and various partnerships with external organizations.

Lecturer Ionuț Constantin, PhD, the program’s operational director, presented the program’s trajectory and the complex structure of the teams involved-from UB trainers and trainers from the other 20 partner universities to administrative teams and mentors who oversaw the applied training included in the 120 hours of practical learning.

Private sector partners – a key component of the EDD model

Representatives of Ascendis Consulting, SMART Integration, and Goldbach Consulting-Cristina Macarie and Celestina Dumitrescu-shared the perspective of the private sector, emphasizing the value of this collaboration in developing a modern training program grounded in case studies, practical applications, and innovative tools such as the Code of Talent platform.

In the event’s closing, Professor Lucian Ciolan, PhD, placed the EDD project within the broader framework of UniBuc Consult-the University of Bucharest’s “consulting division.” He demonstrated how academic expertise can be transformed into concrete, community-impacting solutions through consultancy, professional training, and interdisciplinary projects.

The postgraduate program “Expert in Sustainable Development” – a model of good practice

The postgraduate program “Expert in Sustainable Development” stands as an example of how universities, together with public and private partners, can contribute directly to shaping a national network of professionals ready to tackle the challenges of the green and digital transition.

The program, coordinated by Professor Magdalena Platis, PhD, UB Vice-Rector for Students, Quality Management, Sustainability, and Social Responsibility, is organized by the University of Bucharest in partnership with Ascendis Consulting, SMART Integration SRL, and Goldbach Consulting SRL, with the support of the General Secretariat of the Government – Department for Sustainable Development. Operational management was provided by Lecturer Ionuț Constantin, PhD, from the UB Faculty of Administration and Business.

The program spanned up to 20 weeks per cohort, totaling 220 hours of training, structured as follows:

• 180 hours under the occupational standard: 60 hours of online theory,120 hours of in-person practical activities
• 40 additional in-depth hours in key areas such as climate change, circular economy, sustainable and urban ecosystems, institutional capacity building for SDG implementation, and securing funding for sustainable development projects (green procurement, taxonomy, DNSH analysis).

In-person sessions were held in Bucharest, Pitești, Craiova, Timișoara, Cluj, Iași, and Târgu Mureș. All costs (transport, accommodation, meals, training facilities) were covered by the General Secretariat of the Government – Department for Sustainable Development through contracted partners.

The program strengthens the institutional and professional capacity of public administration, ensuring that civil servants and contractual staff acquire the competencies needed to implement and monitor sustainable development initiatives.