The University of Bucharest, represented by Sorin Costreie, PhD, at the conference „Navigating Complexity: Are Research Leaders Prepared for an Unpredictable Future?”

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Science|Business organized the conference „Navigating Complexity: Are Research Leaders Prepared for an Unpredictable Future?”. The event was held in partnership with Elsevier, an academic publishing company specializing in scientific and medical content and reunited a select group of senior figures and experts from across the research and innovation (R&I) spectrum from various public and private international organizations.

The University of Bucharest was represented by Sorin Costreie, PhD, President of the Association of Universities in European Capitals (UNICA), coordinator of the CIVIS Alliance at the University of Bucharest, and a faculty member at the university’s Faculty of Philosophy.

The conference focused on preparing researchers to address political and technological challenges in an increasingly unstable environment. Discussions were influenced by the current geopolitical context, marked by international tensions, as well as research security, particularly in collaborations between Western countries and China or Russia. The event highlighted the importance of European Union policies, international partnerships, and the limitations required to maintain scientific integrity.

In his presentation, Sorin Costreie underlined the importance of academic networks in research development: due to their ability to facilitate collaboration, knowledge exchange and resource access, academic networks amplify the research potential of institutions and significantly contribute to the progress of scientific knowledge and solving societal problems.

Key topics included cybersecurity, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, and the development of crisis management capabilities. The importance of researchers’ adaptability was emphasized, with the goal of finding a balance between secure research activities and openness throughout their institutions, all within a context dominated by unpredictability.

The full program of the conference can be read here, and more information about the event is available on the Science|Business website.

The University of Bucharest, excellence in research. Extensive International Collaborations

Since 2019, the University of Bucharest has been part of Europe’s Civic University Alliance (CIVIS) alongside ten other prestigious European universities and continues to be one of the key members contributing to shaping European higher education.

Moreover, the latest edition of the Study Abroad Aide’s World University Rankings shows that the University of Bucharest is the best university in Romania for international students. The University of Bucharest is ranked 857^th globally, according to the same ranking.

The Association of Universities in European Capitals (UNICA)

Established in 1990, UNICA is a network of 53 universities from 37 European capitals, with a combined strength of over 175,000 staff members and 1,950,000 students. Its role is to facilitate international collaboration and promote the leadership role of European universities, as well as academic exchanges within the European space.

The European University Association (EUA)

The European University Association represents over 800 universities from 48 European countries. Its mandate in the Bologna Process and its contribution to EU research policymaking regarding higher education, research, and innovation ensure that the independent voice of European universities is heard.

The Balkan Universities Association (BUA)

This association includes 79 universities and aims to generate a consolidated vision for the future through universities, libraries, and research centres in the Balkan region, aligned with shared global values and the challenges of modern times.

The Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN)

This network includes over 120 universities from the 12 member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Serbia. Its mission is to contribute to the development of a collaborative platform for universities in the Black Sea region.

The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF)

Consisting of 1,007 universities, academic networks, and scientific research centres that use French across 119 countries, the AUF supports cooperation and solidarity among Francophone universities to contribute to the development of higher education and research.