The Rector of the University of Bucharest, Professor Marian Preda, awarded the French Order of Academic Palms, Officer Rank

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Rector of the University of Bucharest, Professor Marian Preda, was awarded the Order of Academic Palms (Ordre des Palmes académiques) at the rank of Officer. The distinction was conferred by the Government of the French Republic during a ceremony held at CEREFREA Villa Noël.

This honor recognizes Professor Preda’s outstanding contributions to fostering international academic dialogue, strengthening Romanian–French relations, promoting Francophone values within Romanian education, and advancing the internationalization of higher education.

The decoration was presented by His Excellency Mr. Nicolas Warnery, the Ambassador of France to Romania, who highlighted Professor Preda’s distinguished academic career, his deep commitment to the Francophonie, and his efforts to expand Franco–Romanian academic collaboration.

With great pride, we honor your exceptional academic career and your dedication to the Francophonie, which continue to make a remarkable contribution to the Francophone academic community and to higher education as a whole.

As Rector, through the many roles you have held, you have worked tirelessly –  with integrity and generosity – to position the University of Bucharest among the leading centers of Franco–Romanian university cooperation.No fewer than 14 Francophone academic programs train Romanian students each year, from undergraduate to doctoral level -students who will become the driving force of our two nations’ future relations.

We also wish to commend your determination to embed the University within a European, sustainable, and forward-looking framework. Through numerous projects, you have helped shape the CIVIS Alliance, a European civic university network bringing together over 470,000 students and including two other Francophone universities: the Free University of Brussels and Aix-Marseille University. You have also worked to expand the University’s degree offerings in several European languages – Spanish, Italian, German, and, of course, French – all now proudly represented in the University of Bucharest curriculum.

For all these achievements and for your unwavering commitment to building bridges between academic communities and inspiring young people with your passion for sociology, I am honored to present you with this distinction on behalf of France. Congratulations, and may you continue to inspire generations to come through all that you do!

The Order of Academic Palms is one of France’s oldest and most respected distinctions, established in 1808 by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize the achievements of educators and cultural figures.
Today, it remains a prestigious international symbol of academic excellence, awarded not only to French scholars and teachers but also to exceptional individuals around the world who have made significant contributions to education, science, culture, and the promotion of the French language and civilization.

In his acceptance speech, Professor Marian Preda reflected on the major initiatives through which the University of Bucharest has strengthened Franco–Romanian academic cooperation over the years:

I am deeply grateful to France for this great honor – the awarding of the Order of Academic Palms, Officer rank. I receive it with emotion and gratitude, aware that it is bestowed upon me especially in my capacity as Rector of the University of Bucharest. Our institution has played -and continues to play – a defining role in promoting the French language and culture in Romania and Eastern Europe. The Francophone Doctoral School and CEREFREA Villa Noël, a French-language research center founded 30 years ago at the University of Bucharest with the direct support of the French Government, have become key promoters of French-language research and publishing in the Romanian and Eastern European academic space.

He also emphasized the transformative role of the European Universities Alliance program, underlining the importance of partnerships with Francophone universities and the positive impact these collaborations have had on developing Francophone programs and enhancing international academic cooperation.

Since 2019, the University of Bucharest has been a member of the CIVIS European Civic University, alongside ten other prestigious European universities, including three French-speaking institutions: Aix-Marseille University, the Free University of Brussels, and the University of Lausanne. The European Universities Initiative, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, has already proven to be a success and promises to be the program that will decisively transform the European academic and research landscape – building strong, competitive, diverse, and adaptive universities for the future.

In closing, Professor Preda reaffirmed the importance of academic and cultural alliances rooted in shared values such as freedom, democracy, equality of opportunity, and social justice. He expressed gratitude to France for its historic role in promoting liberty and reiterated the University of Bucharest’s commitment to defending these values as a steadfast academic partner of the French Embassy in Romania.

The true value of friendships and alliances becomes clear in times of crisis. I am convinced that long-term partnerships and friendships based on shared values are far more important than promises driven by short-term interests. While the percentage of Romanians who speak French may not be as high as in the past, the fundamental values we share – freedom, democracy, equality, fairness, and social justice -remain our common ground. They are the bond that unites us in the global struggle against authoritarianism, ignorance, vulgarity, and the tyranny of dictators. We thank France for helping Romania’s elites, throughout history, to bring the idea of liberty to our country – and for helping us defend it today. The University of Bucharest has been, and will remain, a leading promoter and guardian of democratic values in Romania, and a key academic partner of the French Embassy in our shared mission to defend freedom, democracy, and the European spirit.

Professor Marian Preda is a sociologist and faculty member at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, currently serving as Rector of the University of Bucharest. A member of the University community since 1990, he has also worked as a manager, consultant, and expert in numerous national and international projects, collaborating with organizations such as the United Nations (particularly UNICEF and UNDP), the World Bank, and the European Commission.

He has held several key leadership positions, including President of the Presidential Commission for the Analysis of Social and Demographic Risks (2009–2010), President of the Romanian Sociological Society (2010–2012), and President of the National Statistical Council of the National Institute of Statistics (2016–2018, 2018–2020, 2021–2023).

A member of the first cohort of sociology students after the 1989 Revolution, Professor Preda earned a Master’s in Social Policy from the University of Bucharest (2005) and an MBA from Tiffin University (USA) in 2006. He has also completed international training programs, including at Anglia Ruskin University (Cambridge) and George Washington University (Washington, D.C.), as a Fulbright Scholar.

Between 2000 and 2015, he served in leadership positions at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work—first as Vice-Dean (2000–2008), then as Dean (2008–2015). He went on to serve as President of the University Senate (2015–2019) and Rector (2019–2023), being re-elected for a second term. Since 1994, Professor Preda has taught courses in Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Social Policy, and the Sociology of Time.