At the current stage in which Romanian society finds itself, we feel obliged to recognize that, not only from an economic and social point of view, we are at a decisive crossroads. Due to repeatedly incomplete or postponed reform processes, and especially in light of the desired beneficial integration into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as well as within the Union of Skills, with the aim of achieving better governance and the well-being of citizens, it becomes imperative that the key protagonists of these far-reaching societal changes address the respective challenges for the benefit of completing the modernization and Europeanization process to which we owe a special debt to future generations.

As such, we are currently positioned between two major transitions: the green transition and the one driven by digitalization and AI. Both require meeting and refining the demand for increasingly specialized skills in the evolving fields of today’s society. As highlighted in a recent study published by “Intereconomics”, real and pragmatic alignment with the requirements set by the EU Compass, as well as the OECD’s “Transformative Skills 2030” approach, will only be truly possible when Romania learns how to fully meet the emerging needs of the European Single Market, thereby promoting ”competitiveness, ensuring the fair distribution of the benefits of innovation, and preparing the workforce for future challenges”.

It is therefore up to decision-makers, as well as all involved stakeholders, to turn the key-points proposed for the debate into viable opportunities, enabling both Romania’s accession to the OECD and the successful implementation by 2027 of the emerging national roadmap regarding AI. This is also necessary to embody its ethically stimulating consequences within the framework of the educational lifelong learning concept.

AGENDA of the event

13.30 – 14.00 Registration of participants – Welcome coffee

14.00 – 14.30 Introductory welcome message on the behalf of the host institution – Presidium of the Romanian Academy; National Institute for Economic Research (INCE)

14.30 – 15.00

• Video message on the behalf of:
  • OECD – Directorate for Education and Skills
  • OECD.AI Policy Observatory
  • European Parliament – MEP Vice-President Prof. Victor NEGRESCU (t.b.c.)  
  • European Commission – DG Union of Skills
  • UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (Hamburg)
• Short proceedings of the Round Table – Prof. Dr. Habil. Eric GILDER, Chairman of the CIO-SUERD ”Jean Bart” Consultative Scientific Council / PNG Technological University / Lucian Blaga University Sibiu
• Presentation of the main topics advanced by the civil society in the field of the transformation of education – Assoc. Prof. Sever AVRAM, General Coordinator, CIO-SUERD ”Jean Bart”

15.00 – 15.30 Key-notes 

(previsional list of invited guests) 

• Luca NICULESCU – Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Romanian Ministry of Education and Research   
• Prof. Dr. Mircea DUMITRU – Vicepresident of the Romanian Academy 

15.30 – 16.30 Plenary discussion

High representatives of the  following institutions:  

• General Secretariat of the Romanian Government – Department for Sustainable Development
• Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism
• Ministry of Investments and European Projects
• CES – The Economic and Social Council of Romania
• Institute of Sciences of Education
• Prof. Dr. Andreea Maria PAUL – President of the Initiative for Competitiveness – INACO
• Econ. Dipl. Mihaela Shilbaya-Matei – Monitoring Council for the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Prof. Dr. Dumitru BORȚUN – SNSPA 
• Prof. Dr. Ovidiu PÂNIȘOARĂ – Director of the Department of Teacher Training – University of Bucharest
• Prof. Dr. Marilen PIRTEA – Rector of the Western University of Timișoara
• Prof. Dr. Gabriel RAICU –  Rector of the Maritime University of Constanța  

Co-moderators:

• Prof. Dr. Habil. Ion IFRIM – ”Andrei Rădulescu” Legal Research Institute of the Romanian Academy / Dean of the Faculty of Legal Sciences, Hyperion University in Bucharest
• Assoc. Prof. Sever AVRAM – General Coordinator, EUSDR International Honorary Chair ”Jean Bart” / Executive President, EUROLINK-House of Europe Foundation

16.30 – 17.00

– Questions & answers.

– Presentation of the ”Final Statement and Call” in favor of the accession of Romania to OECD and of successfully completing the AI National Road Map.

– The Awarding Ceremony of Title &  Diploma of Excellence ”Lifelong Learning Visionary Education Ambassador” on the occasion of the celebration of 13 years since the launch of the International Honorary Chair ”Jean Bart” (CIO-SUERD) and of 28 years since the foundation of the EUROLINK-House of Europe in Bucharest.

17.00 Networking & Lobby Session. Buffet

How to become Partner / Sponsor of our event

We are pleased to remind you that the European Round Table is held under the auspices of the European Commission through the CERV Programme, within the EUNET Network, with the support of the European Robert Schuman Centre (Scy-Chazelles, France).

Companies and organizations motivated to contribute to supporting Romania’s accession to OECD, as well as to express their interest in participating in entrepreneurial-educational joint partnerships under the auspices of the “Union of Skills,” may contact the organizers in writing or by phone for details regarding the related Packages of Benefits.

Registration to the event

The attendance is free of charge and limited to max. 50 still available places. The final formal confirmation is valid after the closing of registration period and is to be communicated in due time to the selected persons by the Technical Secretariat of the conference. 

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