English version

CONTENT

I. ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES (CES)

II. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE CES

II.1. Master in European Studies

II.2. Master in Regional Development

II.3. Jean Monnet optional courses

II.4. Short-term modules in continuous professional training

II.5 Programs at project level

III. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

IV. RESEARCH ACTIVITY

V. DOCUMENTATION AND STUDY FACILITIES

VI. CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES TEAM

Study Guide

ANNEX A: MASTER IN EUROPEAN STUDIES Curricula

ANNEX B: MASTER IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Curricula

I. ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

The Centre for European Studies (CES) was created within the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University Iaşi, following the implementation of the RO 9706-01-02 PHARE project „Creating Centres of Excellence in European Studies”. CES started out as an interdisciplinary department within several faculties, so as to concentrate the specialized resources of the University in the area of European studies in order to create specific education, professional training and documentation/information programs.

CES’s Mission is to contribute to the development of the European dimension of education on a local, regional and national basis, to promote research and consultancy, information, documentation in the area of European studies and to directly and indirectly support the process of economic and social development in the North-East of Romania, as a support for the integration in the European Union. The Centre for European Studies promotes thus education and professional training programs, programs for research and consultancy and information programs. Their main goal is to contribute to a better knowledge and understanding of the process of integration, in its different aspects, of the standards for Romania’s participation in this process and of the place and role of the European Union in the world.

The Centre for European Studies Programs

To achieve its mission, the Centre for European Studies organizes programs and training courses in different areas of European studies, participates in programs of national and international cooperation for research and disseminating information about the EU and the process of integration. It also develops programs for student and professor mobility, promotes public-private partnership and debates on European themes, collaborating with public institutions, professors and researchers from the university Centres in Romania and from the EU member countries.

II. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OF CES

II.1. Master degree in European Studies

The mission of the Master degree program is to offer interdisciplinary training in the context of the integration into the European Union by creating the necessary competences to understand the European construction and the community policies, through developing the ability to analyze cultural, linguistic, economic, administrative and political diversity of the European Union and developing this way the abilities of informing, communicating and disseminating the information in a multicultural, public or private context.

The program is meant to be interdisciplinary, encouraging the development of knowledge about the European integration from a historical, economic, juridical, political and socio-cultural point of view, its main aims being a specialization in theoretical and practical issues of the European Union and training in the area of European studies.

Target group – The educational program of the CES is intended for anyone who, through professional challenges of their job or through a strategic personal choice to work in an area related to the European context, wishes to stabilize their professional position, to create new career opportunities, widen their horizon of knowledge or acquire new or complementary abilities for social and professional behaviour.

The graduates of such a program have the advantage of being involved in a specialization that links their thesis to a professional interdisciplinary training in European studies which, through the abilities acquired, widens the possibilities of entering the labour market, favours a more efficient process of professional and regional mobility (this being one of the major priorities in the European policies), improves career possibilities and develops the ability to act in a multicultural environment.

Oportunities – The graduates can occupy very diverse jobs, in a public area as well as in the private one: central and local public administration; justice and home affairs; European institutions and organisms; cultural, research, education, mass-media institutions; non-governmental organizations; business centres, banks, insurance companies; companies with business on the European markets; consultancy companies and management of European programs; organisms involved in applying European policies.

Objectives - To accomplish the mission and the perspectives required, the aims of the program are:

§ An interdisciplinary knowledge of the European framework and the community policies through a complementary approach that combines an interdisciplinary training and the in-depth study of a specific area (European economy, European law, politics and European integration, regional development, history, European culture and civilization, public administration in Europe);

§ Developing the abilities of research in the area of European studies and the application of the theoretical models to the specific processes of European integration;

§ Forming the expertise abilities and comparative analysis in the European and international fields;

§ Developing the abilities of informing, communicating and disseminating information about the European Union;

§ Developing the abilities of understanding cultural, linguistic, economic, administrative, political diversity of the European Union and of working in a multicultural public or private environment.

Organization - In order to adapt to the standards of education by applying the Bologna process, the program is organized for the time being in 4 semesters for day-courses and 4 semesters for distance learners.

At the end of the second semester, during the exam period, the students choose, by writing a request to the Centre, one of the following direction for advanced learning[1] in the third term: • European affairs, • Regional development, • Politics and European integration, • European law, • Public administration in Europe. The fourth semester offers 3 optional courses, from three different packets: History, culture, society, Law and administration, European Economics and Politics. The semester is completed with a research stage, which fills in the necessary number of hours and credits.

Correlation with similar study programs in European Union states. The offered programs are similar to those of the universities in other member states. They were created to be either interdisciplinary, or specialized (European economy, European Law, Administration, etc), on the basis of a definition widely accepted in the field of European studies as being a training in different aspects of the process of European integration.

Admission: Master in European Studies is open to graduates who have a diploma or the equivalent to a university degree diploma from any area, who are interested in obtaining a specialized education in the field of European Studies.

The admission of the candidates, whichever form of education they choose, is done by file selection organized by the Centre for European Studies yearly (two sessions summer/autumn), before the beginning of the university year.

The method used for the admission of the candidates is a selection based on the candidate’s files. The average the student finished the first cycle with is taken into account (the average of the first three years of study – 50% and the average for the thesis exam – 50%).

Evaluation / Study finalization - Grading scale from 10 to 1, all grades being integers. In ECTS system, the Master program offers 120 credits (30 credits / semester). The Master studies are finalized with a dissertation paper (5 credits).

Due to the success of the advanced studies module in Master in European Studies in connection with market signals, CES included in the 2005 Action Plan the organization of the Master in Regional Development, initially mentioned in the Centre’s foundation strategy. The program is organized in partnership with the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Faculty of Geography and Geology.

The mission – The Master program for Regional Development has as its mission the specialization of graduates of higher education in the field of regional development through equipping them with solid theoretical knowledge, practical and research abilities to insure them an easy access as professionals on the labour market and in the actual European competition.

Objectives - To accomplish the mission and the perspectives required, the aims of the program are:

Organization - The length of the Master’s degree is 4 semesters and the length of a semester is 14 weeks for the learning process and 2 weeks for the final exam session. In the first three semesters 5 courses are studied (4 compulsory curses and 1 optional) and in the last semester only 4, leaving more time for the research activity and supervised preparation of the thesis (a project that needs to evaluate and show the knowledge and competences acquired through the two years of study).

Admission: The Master in Regional Development is open for students who have graduated the first cycle in the following areas: Economics, Geography, Political Sciences, Public Administration, Biology-Ecology, Law, Civil Engineer, Economic Engineer, Urbanism etc.

Students from other areas can also be accepted as long as they realize the need for a deeper study in the area of regional development. In this case, due to the particularities of the studied area and due to the depth of some of the disciplines included in the study plan, the Master program requires a good knowledge of Economics, Finance, Statistics, Geography, Informatics etc.

The graduates who do not have the minimum knowledge can be admitted as long as they study, before starting the first year, a series of fundamental courses (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Finance, Statistics, Management, Science of Administration etc.).

The method used for the admission of the candidates is a selection based on the candidate’s files. The average the student finished the first cycle with is taken into account (the average of the first three years of study – 50% and the average for the thesis exam – 50%).

In the process of admission the aim is to have a transparent admission policy based exclusively on the academic competences of the students, excluding all discriminating criteria.

Evaluation/Study finalization - Grading scale from 10 to 1, all grades being integers. In ECTS system, the Master program offers 120 credits (30 credits / semester). The Master studies are finalized with a dissertation paper (5 credits).

Complementary to the educational offer of the Centre for European Studies, the students who are interested in obtaining a Jean Monnet certificate can freely fill in their curriculum by signing up for the facultative Jean Monnet courses.

The present offer of the Centre for European Studies includes the following Jean Monnet actions:

Conditions for participation – The courses are free and are open to all who are interested (financing: The European Union through the Jean Monnet network). There is an unlimited number of places. The courses end with a certificate handed out by the "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, Centre for European Studies.

The courses for continuous professional training are organized on request, depending on the specific demand of various target-groups. (80-120 hours)

The courses address mainly to: public professionals, private entrepreneurs and pre-university teachers. The studies are finished by obtaining a certificate which attests the student’s knowledge in following fields:

In order to extend international cooperation CES included bilingual Master’s degree in European Studies (French / English) in the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University packages of studies in foreign languages.

This Master program would mainly approach aspects of regional development, emphasizing the European project and finance management in three directions:

This Master would be structured in four semesters of study, with daily attendance and fee-based.

CES cooperation with national and international institutions in education, research and promotion/dissemination, focuses mainly on development and improvement of the educational offer, development of the academic research (addressing mainly the young researchers), promotion of the academic mobility, an improved knowledge of the European realities through international conferences, debates and seminars.

To cope with this direction, the Centre for European Studies promotes integration in national and international academic networks, cooperates with institutions, universities and researchers from Romania (mainly European Institute of Romania, universities from Constanţa, Cluj, Oradea, Bucureşti, Timişoara, Alba Iulia), it is an active participant in international cooperation and mobility programs through collaboration with universities, professional training Centres and organizations from France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece or Germany.

An important role in the CES program is given to the collaboration with the public and private environment. Through this collaboration we intent to update and modernize the Master program in order to comply better with academic and social requirements and to create premises for an efficient 2 years formation of specialists adapted to the work market.

A. Cooperation at national level - the main forms and results of the collaboration are:

· the National Network of Centres of Excellence in European Studies (CES, "Dunărea de jos" University, Galaţi; CES Justice and Home Affairs, "Babes-Bolyai" University, Cluj-Napoca; CES Internal Market and Competition, World Economy Institute, Bucureşti; CES Agriculture, Agricultural Management Faculty, Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine University of Banat, Timişoara; CES Finances and Economics, Economic Studies Academy, Bucureşti; CES Regional Development, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Iaşi; CES Social and Employment Policy, Sociology and Social Sciences Faculty, University of Bucureşti; CES Transports, INCERTRANS Transport Research Institute, Bucureşti).

· Participation as founder in the Romanian Association of Studies in European Integration (CES is part of the Board Council).

b) national conferences for students, master students and candidates for a doctor’s degree

d) other debates: Each year, the Centre for European Studies organizes a series of seminars where specialists in European integration and regional development are invited to present to Master students practical perspectives of the studies included in the Master program, also offering information about novelties and changes in the field. At these presentations may also attend persons outside CES: students, young researchers, University employees. Since 2001 there have been organized over 20 national and local seminars and debates, with over 2000 participants. We had among partners: municipal and county councils of Iaşi and other counties in the region, civic and student associations, French Cultural Centre, European Integration Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and North-Eastern Regional Development Agency.

B. International programs: the main forms and results of the collaboration are:

Up to present, the Centre for European Studies initiated and developed Leonardo, Erasmus, Jean Monnet, Phare and INTEREG III B CADSES international projects. Up to date, through CES programs there have been 72 student motilities and 4 teacher motilities in the Erasmus – Socrates academic exchange programs and Leonardo program.

CES students are encouraged to actively get involved in the improvement of Master program and the activity of the Centre for European Studies. Starting with the first series, the students were required to punctually answer to questions related to curricula, teaching methods, collaboration with the stuff etc. In time, the gathered experience led us to applying a questionnaire with 3 parts (courses, professors, CES activity) meant to give us a feed-back from Master students regarding Centre’s activities, both academic and administrative.

Master students are involved in every research activity held at the Centre for European Studies. They were complementarily included in the elaboration of certain studies and researches in the programs promoted by the Centre.

The Centre for European Studies initiates and participates in research programs in collaboration with other universities, Centres and institutions from Romania and other EU countries, as well as with local and national public administration.

The research presently takes place at the CES Research Department through Jean Monnet Chair and Regular Reunions of Students or inside project teams without administrative structure, for other financed contracts. Also, each faculty from which the CES professors was selected, have Research Centres and Centres for Excellency, where they do scientific research. The creation and financing of these Centres was done by CNCSIS, World Bank and PNCDI projects, as well as by other national and international financing programs. From the institutional point of view, CES is created and acknowledged as excellence research Centre in European studies, at University, national and international levels. Acknowledgement is confirmed by the program the Centre is part of.

Main fields of interest assumed in the strategic plan are: the study of institutional developments of the integration process, regional development, cohesion policy, internal market, community policy and their relations with the internal market, the social dimension of European integration, EU participation in the world trade, interregional and trans-border cooperation, neighbourhood relations with the Eastern Europe. The topics are adapted according to strategic priorities at regional, national and European levels, correlated with our research potential and with the possibility of partnerships developments.

In the initiated programs we focused not only on research development, but also on the better contribution of the research in diversifying and improving the quality of the educational offer, the promotion of inter-university mobility’s, the better knowledge of the European realities through the organization of conferences, debates and seminars with international participants. The dissemination thus was a CES priority, correlated with student scientific research promotion.

The main results of the Centre for European Studies in the research field are:

Other grants with research activity: Besides the projects focused strictly on research, we can mention the other Jean Monnet, Socrates and Leonardo projects that had a research part. Thus, the most important issue is the participation of the European Union’s Commission in projects that are part of Jean Monnet Action.

The Centre for European Studies has a library with a lecturing hall and a collection of publications purchased starting with 2001 by self-financing, by projects or by sponsorship contracts, respecting the topics imposed by the curricula of a Master in European Studies, covering all the directions proposed: Community Law, European economy, politics and integration, European culture and civilization. At present, the documentary Centre of CES has around 900 publications. Also, in order to have access to the newest information, the Centre for European Studies subscribed, beside the European Institute of Romania periodicals to 24 international periodical publications.

As a European Documentation Centre (EDC), we receive reference collections of official documents and other materials from the EU Institutions and Agencies. We provide access to a range of European reports, documents and legislation. The EDC was established in 2008, by a convention with the European Commission, to support the study, teaching and research on European integration within the „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, to provide access to EU information for other institutions of higher education in the North-East of Romania and to allow access to EU legislation and other EU information to members of the public and local business and industry.

An important support offered to students and collaborators in their documentation is the access to other information available on-line in the Multimedia Laboratory, using the internal computer network connected to the internet. Complementarily, with the help of the collaborators and as a result of the unrolled projects, the Centre for European Studies offers to the student’s current information on the www.cse.uaic.ro web page, related to Master program, various opportunities (scholarships, summer schools, jobs), links to Centre’s database, series of study and research papers offered by collaborators.

Based on a written proof given by the Centre, our students have access to the Central University Library and its subsidiaries for faculties, specialized in History, Philosophy, Law, Geography and Economics, each of them rich in publications on the European studies topics.

1. History of the Idea of Europe and European Integration (42 cls, 6 credits, Compulsory Courses - CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Ioan Ciupercă, Faculty of History, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi (UAIC);

2. European economical integration - course Jean Monnet (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Carmen Pascariu, FEAA, UAIC;

3. European political integration (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. George Poede, Faculty of Philosophy, UAIC;

4. European Law (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Mihaela Tofan, FEAA, UAIC

5. The European Union and the global economy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC). The course consists of two modules:

a) Module 1: Globalization and the new world order, Titular: Professor Ph.D. Tiberiu Brailean, FEAA, UAIC,

b) Module 2: European Union in the world economy, Titular: Professor Ph.D. Rodica Zaharia, the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti;

1. Political vision and formation of European identities (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Alexandru-Florin Platon, Faculty of History, UAIC;

2. Culture and religion in Europe (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Emil Dumea, Faculty of Theology, UAIC;

3. European policies (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Carmen Pascariu, FEAA, UAIC;

4. European projects management (56 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular course: Professor Ph.D. Dumitru Oprea, FEAA, UAIC;

5. European strategies and politics of sustainable development, (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. Ioan Pohoaţă, FEAA, UAIC;

1. Economy and regional policies (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) Titular: Professor Ph.D. Daniela Luminita Constantin, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti;

2. European labour market (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gheorghe Luţac, FEAA, UAIC;

3. Structural and cohesion funds management (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Liviu Maha, FEAA, UAIC;

4. Urban and regional analysis (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Gabriel Pascariu, University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” Bucuresti;

5. Land-use planning (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Corneliu Iatu, Faculty of geography, UAIC;

1. European economy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) the course consists of two modules:

a) Module 1: Macroeconomic economy - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Dragan, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti

b) Module 2: Internal market, national economies and European politics - Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Carmen Pascariu, FEAA, UAIC;

2. European institutions and financial markets; (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Ovidiu Stoica, FEAA, UAIC;

3. Strategies of affairs on the European market (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Dragan, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti;

4. European law of affairs (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Liviu Maha, FEAA, UAIC;

5. Competition community law (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Ana Maria Bercu, FEAA, UAIC;

1. Process of public policies in the European countries (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Virgil Stoica, Faculty of Philosophy, UAIC;

2. Common foreign and security policy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Adrian Pop, SNSPA, Bucuresti;

3. Diplomacy and negotiation in the contemporary Europe (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gheorghe Iacob, Faculty of History, UAIC;

4. Compared political systems of Europe (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Anton Carpinschi, Faculty of Philosophy, UAIC;

5. Civil society, interest groups and political parties in EU (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Mioara Nedelcu, Faculty of Philosophy, UAIC;

1. European law of affairs (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Ana Maria Bercu, FEAA, UAIC;

2. European law of competition (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Dragan, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti

3. European public financial law (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Ionel Bostan, Faculty of Law, UAIC;

4. International protection of human rights in Europe (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Doina Balahur, Faculty of Philosophy, UAIC;

5. Compared Administrative Systems of EU (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Mihaela Onofrei, FEAA, UAIC;

1. Public sector economy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Cosmin Marinescu, ASE, Bucuresti;

2. Local development. Institutions and policies (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Tiberiu Brailean, FEAA, UAIC;

3. Structural and cohesion funds management (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Liviu Maha, FEAA, UAIC;

4. Compared Administrative Systems of EU (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Professor Ph.D. Mihaela Onofrei, FEAA, UAIC;

5. European civil service law (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Mihaela Tofan, FEAA, UAIC;

1. European politics and institutions (42 classes - cls, 6 credits Compulsory Courses - CC) - Professor Ph.D. Gabriela Carmen Pascariu, FEAA, UAIC;

2. The economy of development (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Gheorghe Luţac, FEAA, UAIC;

3. The geography of territorial arrangement - (42 cls, 6 credits, CC), Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Corneliu Iatu, Faculty of Geography, UAIC;

4. European compared administrative systems (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Mihaela Onofrei, FEAA, UAIC;

1. Regional economy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) Titular: Professor Ph.D. Daniela Luminita Constantin, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti;

2. Regional politics – Regional Development Politics in EU (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Daniela Luminita Constantin, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucuresti;

3. Multivariate applied analysis of dates in regional development (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Carmen Pintilescu, FEAA, UAIC;

4. Strategic planning in the regional and spatial development (28 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Gabriel Pascariu, University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” Bucuresti;

1. Urbanism and local economic development (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Gabriel Pascariu, University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” Bucuresti

2. Economy and rural development (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Mihai Costica, FEAA, UAIC;

3. The management and implementation of the regional development projects (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular course: Professor Ph.D. Dumitru Oprea, FEAA, UAIC;

4. Public sector economy (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Associate Professor Ph.D. Livia Baciu, FEAA, UAIC;

1. The management and implementation of the regional development projects (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular : Professor Ph.D. Dumitru Oprea, FEAA, UAIC;

2. Financial analysis (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Mihaela Onofrei, FEAA, UAIC;

3. Business Plan & Feasibility Study (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Professor Ph.D. Dumitru Oprea, FEAA, UAIC;

4. Financing through European funds: structural instruments (42 cls, 6 credits, CC) - Titular: Lecturer Ph.D. Liviu Maha, FEAA, UAIC;

[1] A direction for advanced learning does not mean a specialization; it just has the role of facilitating the obtaining of specialized competences about specific aspects of the process of European integration. The main idea of this direction is an easier entry for the graduates into the job market and a growth of the level of professionalism which future specialists in European Studies will show at their future work place.

[2] Forms and results of cooperation, in the specialty field of the Master program; exchange and mobility programs