# 1990 SEFI News: Engineering Education in Romania: from traditions to possible trends

Adrian Adascalitei, Horia-Nicolai Teodorescu

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## ► To cite this version:

Adrian Adascalitei, Horia-Nicolai Teodorescu. 1990 SEFI News: Engineering Education in Romania: from traditions to possible trends. SEFI Portrays of National Engineering Education Systems, 1990, Adascalitei A. Teodorescu H.-N. 1990. Engineering Education in Romania: from traditions to possible trends. SEFI News 35. pp.9-10. (June 1990) (ISSN: 1024-445X) (http://www.ntb.ch/SEFI/Publications/portrays.html). hal-04369880v2

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# Engineering Education in Romania: from traditions to possible trends

Adrian Adăscăliței, International Center For Engineering Education, ICEE Director, Iași

Horia Nicolai Teodorescu, Romanian Society for Fuzzy Systems, SRSF, Vice-President, Iași
(Lecturers, Polytechnic Institute of Iași, Romania)

## Introduction

The end of a century asks for both a look back to traditions and a look forward to perspectives. The rapidly changing scientific, social and political environment all over the world creates new problems in education in every country and Romania seems to be one of the most dynamic in looking for answers these days. However, appropriate changes in the educational process cannot be determined without prior mature analysis of actual conditions and without relying on healthy traditions. Tradition does not mean conservatism. Among Romanian scientists and educators, it is a tradition to look for innovations and to behave according to the spirit of personal initiative in research and teaching.

## Historical background

Engineering education in Romania began early in the 18th century in the Princely Academies from Iași and Bucharest (1). The first modern «School of Engineering in Romania (and in the South- Fast of Europe too)» was organised in 1813, in Iași, by Gheorghe Asachi, (1), (2). In the official act signed by Prince Calimachi on November 15, 1813, the term "engineering" was for the first time included in a Romanian document. The first "civil engineers" promoted from this school in 1818 the same year a second engineering high school was opened by Gheorghe Lazar in Bucharest (1), (2). The achievement of Gh. Asachi was a remarkable one; the first technical high school in Prague was established in 1803, the Polytechnic School in Vienna, Dresden and Stuttgart were established only after 1818.

Gh. Asachi was a forerunner. His engineering school could not survive the 1821 war in the Balkans.

However, after 1828 he organised engineering courses at the Vassilian Princely Academy, Iași, and from 1835, at the Prince Michael's Academy, Iași. In 1849, Gh. Asachi organized in Iași a new school for engineering, and in 1850 established in Bucharest a «School for Bridges and Roads (civil engineering) (2).

In 1860 the first Romanian modern university was founded, again, in Iași. In fact, this was the second modern university in the Blakanic area. Four years later, in 1864 the University of Bucharest was founded. Both these universities played a major part in engineering education in Romania until the end of the World War I. The other two Romanian universities founded before the end of the World War II were: the University of Cluj (1872), and the University of Cernauți in 1875) (3) (Cernauți is a town now in Soviet Union).

In the second half of the 19th century, the engineering community in Romania became a strong one, especially after the founding of the Romanian Academic Society (in 1865, later the Romanian Academy), of the National School for Bridges and Roads (in 1881), by the re-organisation of the school with the same name (founded in 1850), and by the Foundation of the Engineering Society (1867).

# Engineering education in Romania :
from traditions to possible trends

Adrian Adascalitei, ICEE Director,
Iași Horia-Nicolai Teodorescu,
S.R.S.F. Vice-President, Iași
(Lecturers, Polytechnic Institute of Iași,
Romania)

## Introductions

The end of a century asks for both a look back to traditions and a look forward to perspectives. The rapidly changing scientific, social and political environment all over the world creates new problems in education in every country – and Romania seems to be one of the most dynamic in looking for answers these days.

However, appropriate changes in the educational process can not be determined without prior mature analysis of actual conditions and without re-

lying on healthy traditions. Tradition does not mean conservatism. Among Romanian scientists and educators, it is a tradition to look for innovations and to behave according to the spirit of personal initiative in research and teaching.

## Historical background

Engineering education in Romania began early in the 18th century in the Princely Academies from Iași and Bucharest (1). The first modern «School of Engineering» in Romania – and in the South-East of Europe too – was organised in 1813, in

Iași, by Gheorghe Asachi, (1), (2). In the official act signed by Prince Calimachi on November 15, 1813, the term «engineering» was for the first time included in a Romanian document. The first «civil engineers» promoted from this school in 1818, the same year a second engineering high school was opened by Gheorghe Lazar in Bucharest (1), (2). The achievement of G. Asachi was a remarkable one; the first technical high school in Prague was established in 1803, the Polytechnic School in Vienna, Dresden and Stuttgart were established only after 1818.

G. Asachi was a forerunner. His engineering school could not survive the 1821 war in the Bal-
kans. However, after 1828 he organised engineering courses at the Vassilian Princely Academy, Iasi, and from 1835, at the Prince Michael's Academy, Iasi. In 1849, G. Asachi organised in Iasi a new school for engineering, and in 1850 established in Bucharest a «School for Bridges and Roads» (civil engineering) (2).

In 1860 the first Romanian modern university was founded, again in Iasi. In fact, this was the second modern university in the Blakanic area. Four years later, the University of Bucharest was founded. Both these universities played a major part in engineering education in Romania until the end of the World War I. The other two Romanian universities founded before the end of the World War II were: the University of Cluj (f. 1872), and the University of Cernauti (f. 1875) (3). (Cernauti is a town now in S.U.).

In the second half of the 19th century, the engineering community in Romania became a strong one, especially after the founding of the Romanian Academic Society (f. 1865, later the Romanian Academy), of the National School for Bridges and Roads (f. 1881, by the re-organisation of the school with the same name founded in 1850), and by the foundation of the Engineering Society (1867).

The engineering education process was remarkably tied with the industrial activity. In 1827, Petre Poenaru got the first foreign patent held by a Romanian engineer (the patent was obtained in France) (3). In 1857 the first oil refinery in the world was established in Ploiesti, Romania. The first town in the world using oil for lighting up streets was Bucharest (1857), and the first town using electric power in the same purpose was Timisoara (1884). In 1895 the bridge over the Danube was completed. The design for this bridge — the longest in Europe at that time — was by Anghel Saligny, who also extensively used reinforced concrete long before this material was accepted as a standard material in buildings. The list of remarkable engineering achievements in Romania, before 1900, could be extended for a few pages more.

Electrical engineering education in Romania began in 1896-1897, in Iasi, due to the great physicist Dragomir Hurmuzescu. Early in 1896 he built an X-ray device for diagnosis, and during the period 1896-1900 he built radio waves emitters and receivers at the Iasi University (4), (5). Later, in 1912, D. Hurmuzescu founded the Institute for Electricity, in Iasi, and began electrical engineering education for the first time in the Balkanic region.

After World War I, engineering education developed at a steady pace in Bucharest and Timisoara where modernised Polytechnic Institutes exist. It is only in 1937 that the Polytechnic Institute of Iasi was founded. However, engineering education also continued in universities over that period, in particular, in faculties of applied sciences. After World War II, universities were founded in (6): Timisoara (1962), Cariova (1966), Brasov (1973) and Galati (1974). In the last three ones there exist engineering faculties.

## Existing engineering institutes

During the last 15 years, engineering faculties were founded in many towns, although most of them are tutored by major universities or poly-

technic institutes. In 1989, engineering education was delivered at the

- Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest; faculties of electrical engineering (EE), electronics and communications (EC), automation and computers (AC), electrical supply systems (ESS), technical chemistry (TC), mechanical engineering (ME), aeronautics (A);

- Institute for Buildings (with 5 faculties);

- Polytechnic Institute of Iasi (EE, EC, AC, TC, ME, hydrotechnics, civil engineering, light industries engineering);

- Polytechnic Institute of Timisoara (EE, EC, AC, TC, ME);

- Polytechnic Institute of Cluj (EE, EC, TC, ME);

- Institute for Mining, Petroseni;

- Institute for Oil engineering, Ploiesti;

- University of Craiova (EE, ME);

- University of Brasov (ME);

- University of Galati (ME, ships building, metallurgy);

- Faculties in Pitesti, Braila, Constanta, Bacau, Suceava etc.

During the reference year 1975, 164 000 students were taught, and a significant part of the 3877 book titles printed (6) was devoted to them.

## Recent developments

This year, thanks to the initiative of teachers and students, many new faculties in engineering were organised, and new universities or technical institutes were founded (e.g. in Suceava, Bacau, Pitesti, etc.). Some of these faculties are devoted to new branches of engineering, e.g. robotics, mechatronics, software engineering etc. The number of students enrolling in technical faculties is believed to increase by at least 50% this year, although the figures for students enrolled for evening courses will much decrease.

An important trend in engineering education seems to be brought by the newly established engineering societies. In fact, at least 20 new societies were founded between December 1989 and April 1990, and some old engineering societies were re-established, including AGIR, the General Zssociation of Romanian Engineers. Many of these societies have included, in their activities programmes, educational projects, especially continuing education projects.

## Probable trends in the next decade

From now to the end of this century, some major developments will probably occur in engineering education in Romania. New curricula are already suggesting to introduce new courses. (In some of the suggested curricula, the number of new courses overcomes the number of traditional courses). Enrollement in technical institutes will probably double, causing many financial problems. A huge effort will be asked to teachers because their number is too low even for the present enrollment figures. The modernising process will be palnned taking into account the limited funds available in the near future. Institutions, learned societies involved in the educational process, and teachers will look for co-operation with foreign organisations and universities to fill the gap in

equipment. They will be available for contracts with foreign partners for research and education on an exchange basis. The number of papers published in foreign and Romanian journals by Romanian authors will significantly increase. Teachers will try to enforce research co-operation with promising students, and industry will be more interested in promoting this research.

Education in engineering will basically relay on traditional universities and polytechnic institutes. However, regional industry will support the founding of new universities with faculties in specific engineering fields. Moreover, as it develops, industry will ask for graduates in new fields, e.g. medical and clinical engineering, biotechnology, advanced materials technology etc.

As in the past, modernizing efforts will much relay on individual efforts. Because funds are missing, many Romanian scientists make huge personal efforts to help young students and researchers. Many scientists already work hard, 10 to 14 hours every day, to develop research projects, to support initiatives, to organise scientific societies, to edit journals etc.

All above mentioned factors will contribute to an important change in engineering education in Romania – probably the most important change over the last 50 years. Consequently we hope that the efficiency of engineering education in this country will increase in a significant manner in the near future.

## References

1. The Polytechnic Institute of Iasi. Iasi, 1962. pp. 8-20. (Collective work. In Romanian).

2. Chronology of Science and Technics. Scientific and Encyclopedic Press, Bucharest 1979. Chapter 1. (Collective work. In Romanian).

3. Stefan I.M., Nicolau E. – A Brief History of Science and Technics in Romania. Albatros Press, Bucharest, 1981, Ch. 6. (In Romanian).

4. Teodorescu H.N. – The First X-ray Diagnosis System in Romania. Rev. Med. Chir. Iasi, vol. 92 (1988), nr. 3 (in Romanian).

5. Teodorescu H.N. – The Beginning of wireless communications in Romania. Proc. Symp. on Electronics, Iasi Polytechnic Press, 1983 (in Romanian).

6. States of the World. Second Edition. Scientific and Encyclopedic Press, Bucharest 1976. (Collective work. In Romanian).
The engineering education process was remarkably tied with the industrial activity. In 1827, Petre Poenaru got the first foreign patent held by a Romanian engineer (the patent was obtained in France) (3). In 1857 the first oil refinery in the world was established in Ploieşti, Romania. The first town in the world using oil for lighting up streets was Bucharest (1857), and the first town using electric power in the same purpose was Timisoara (1884). In 1895 the bridge over the Danube was completed. The design for this bridge, the longest in Europe at that time, was by Anghel Saligny, who also extensively used reinforced concrete long before this material was accepted as a standard material in buildings. The list of remarkable engineering achievements in Romania, before 1900, could be extended for a few pages more.

Electrical engineering education in Romania began in 1896-1897, in Iași (Iasi, Jassy), due to the great physicist Dragomir Hurmuzescu. Early in 1896 he built an X-ray device for diagnosis, and during the period 1896-1900 he builds radio waves emitters and receivers at the Iasi University (4), (5). Later, in 1912. D. Hurmuzescu founded the Institute for Electricity, in Iasi, and began electrical engineering education for the first time in the Balkanic region.

After World War I, engineering education developed at a steady pace in Bucharest and Timișoara where modernized Polytechnic Institutes exist. It is only in 1937 that the Polytechnic Institute of Iasi was founded. However, engineering education also continued in universities over that period, in particular, in faculties of applied sciences. After World War II. universities were founded in (6): Timisoara (1962), Cariova (1966). Brasov (1973) and Galati (1974). In the last three ones there exist engineering faculties.

## Existing engineering institutes

During the last 15 years, engineering faculties were founded in many towns, although most of them are tutored by major universities or polytechnic institutes.

In 1989, engineering education was delivered at the

- Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest; faculties of electrical engineering (EE), electronics and communications (EC), automation and computers (AC), electrical supply systems (ESS), technical chemistry (TC), mechanical engineering (ME), aeronautics (A);

- Institute for Buildings (with 5 faculties),

- Polytechnic Institute of Iasi (EE, EC, AC, TC, ME, hydrotechnics, civil engineering, light industries engineering);

- Polytechnic Institute of Timisoara (EE, EC, C, TC. ME);

- Polytechnic Institute of Cluj (EE, EC, TC, ME);

- Institute for Mining, Petroșani;

- Institute for Oil engineering. Ploiesti, University of Craiova (EE, ME);

- University of Brasov (ME);

- University of Galati (ME, ships building, metallurgy);

Faculties in Pitesti, Braila, Constanța, Bacau, Suceava etc.

During the reference year 1975, 164 000 students were taught, and a significant part of the 3877 book titles printed (6) was devoted to them.

## Recent developments

This year, thanks to the initiative of teachers and students, many new faculties in engineering were organised, and new universities or technical institutes were founded (eg. in Suceava, Bacau, Pitesti, etc.). Some of these faculties are devoted to new branches of engineering, eg. robotics, mechatronics, software engineering etc. The number of students enrolling in technical faculties is believed to increase by at least 50% this year, although the figures for students enrolled for evening courses will much decrease.

An important trend in engineering education seems to be brought by the newly established engineering societies. In fact, at least 20 new societies were founded between December 1989 and April 1990, and some old engineering societies were re-established, including AGIR, the General Association of Romanian Engineers. Many of these societies have included, in their activities programs, educational projects, especially continuing education projects.

## Probable trends in the next decade

From now to the end of this century, some major developments will probably occur in engineering education in Romania. New curricula are already suggesting introducing new courses. (In some of the suggested curricula, the number of new courses overcomes the number of traditional courses). Enrollment in technical institutes will probably double, causing many financial problems. A huge effort will be asked to teachers because their number is too low even for the present enrollment figures. The modernising process will be planed taking into account the limited funds available in the near future. Institutions and learned societies involved in the educational process, and teachers will look for co-operation with foreign organisations and universities to fill the gap in equipment.

They will be available for contracts with foreign partners for research and education on an exchange basis. The number of papers published in foreign and Romanian journals by Romanian authors will significantly increase. Teachers will try to enforce research co-operation with promising students, and industry will be more in terested in promoting this research.

Education in engineering will basically relay on traditional universities and polytechnic institutes. However, regional industry will support the founding of new universities with faculties in specific engineering fields. Moreover, as it develops, industry will ask for graduates in new fields, e.g. medical and clinical engineering, biotechnology, advanced materials technology etc.
As in the past, modernizing efforts will much relay on individual efforts. Because funds are missing, many Romanian scientists make huge personal efforts to help young students and researchers. Many scientists already work hard, 10 to 14 hours every day, to develop research projects, to support initiatives, to organise scientific societies, to edit journals etc.

All above mentioned factors will contribute to an important change in engineering education in Romania probably the most important change over the last 50 years. Consequently, we hope that the efficiency of engineering education in this country will increase in a significant manner in the near future.

References

1. The Polytechnic Institute of Iași. Iași, 1962. pp. 8-20 (Collective work In Romanian).

2. Chronology of Science and Technics. Scientific and Encyclopedic Press, Bucharest 1979 Chapter 1. (Collective work. In Romanian).

3. Stefan I.M. Nicolau E, A Brief History of Science and Technics in Romania. Albatros Press, Bucharest, 1981. Ch. 6. (In Romanian).

4. Teodorescu H.N. The First X-ray Diagnosis System in Romania. Rev. Med. Chir. Iasi, vol. 92 (1988), nr. 3 (Romanian).

5. Teodorescu H.N. The Beginning of wireless communications in Romania. Proc. Symp. on Electronics, Iasi Polytechnic Press, 1983 (in Romanian)

6. States of the World. Second Edition, Scientific and Encyclopedic Press, Bucharest 1976. (Collective work. In Romanian).
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# Portrays of National Engineering Education Systems

**Denmark:**

O. Vinther et all. (1996)

*European Journal of Engineering Education*, 21/1, pp.21-25 **France:**

M. Trouet (1990) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 15, pp.349-355

**Germany:**

E. Tittes (1989) *SEFI News*, Nr. 32, pp. 13-16 **Greece:**

T.P. Tassios (1988) *SEFI News*, Nr. 29-30, pp. 3-5

**Ireland:**

V. McCabe (1988) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 13, pp.63-66 D.

McGrath (1992) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 17, pp.29-36

**Italy:**

G. Augusti (1988) *SEFI News*, Nr. 29-30, pp. 6-8

**Portugal:**

M. Ramalhoto (1988) *SEFI News*, Nr. 29-30, pp. 15-18

**Romania:**

A. Adascalitei & H. N. Teodorescu (1990) *SEFI News*, Nr. 35, pp. 9-10

**Spain:**

C. Martinez (1988) *SEFI News*, Nr. 29-30, pp. 9-14

**Sweden:**

J.-O. Hjalmered (1992) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 17, pp.17-21

**Switzerland:**

H. Hodel (1990) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 15/2, pp.153-164

**The Netherlands:**

H.J. van Oort & J. Pinkster (1992) *European Journal of Engineering Education*, 17, pp.9-16 **UK:**

V. John (1990) *SEFI News*, Nr. 35, pp. 12-13 **Hungary,**

**Czechia, Slovakia, Poland:**

T. Lajos & S. Zagoni (1990) *SEFI News*, Nr. 35, pp. 3-7

Condensed descriptions of the engineering education systems
in all European countries may be found in the [SEFI-Guide](#).

**Home Page**

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Last update: May 8, 1996/ Hd