Global J. of Engng. Educ., Vol.10, No.1 © 2006 UICEE Published in Australia

The Romanian Contribution to the Development of Engineering Education

Constantin Oprean Lucian Blaga University of 10 Victoriei Blv., 550024 Sibiu,

The current article presents the author’s scientific achievements, including those performed as Rector of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBUS), Sibiu, Romania. The LBUS is one of the Romanian universities that has gained wide international recognition. Also covered in this article is the author’s significant contribution to the development of engineering education and his close and active association with the UNESCO International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE), in general, and his leadership of the Balkan Region Centre for Engineering Education (BRCEE), a satellite centre of the UICEE, in particular.

INTRODUCTION universities, whereas the application of quality assur- ance systems for higher education is a sine qua non Engineering education is a major component of the condition with regard to performance achievements educational process that takes place in universities, for academic strategic management and international and which involves knowledge, defined as a sum recognition. of information, habits and attitudes whose value In this context, the author of this article, as an determines the professional competences of the engineering professor and manager, has well future specialist. understood the real mission in this double position of In a knowledge-based society, the labour market initiating and promoting these new concepts in order demands an ever-increasing level of qualification to actively contribute to achieving representative (brain workers), which requires a balance in the results, especially in engineering education [1]. academic curriculum between theoretical and applied disciplines, by creating a new learning environment RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND with new methods and technologies for teaching and SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES IN learning. This includes Problem-Based Learning ENGINEERING EDUCATION (LOCAL (PBL), Work-Based Learning (WBL), Project-Based AND INTERNATIONAL) Learning (PjBL), Computer-Based Learning (CBL), Continuing Professional Development (CPD), etc. Grants The development of a suitable teaching culture is a prerequisite of the academic world, once the prin- The author has participated as a coordinator and ciple to have learned to learn has been promoted. member in international and national research projects On the other hand, the development of the concept of in various fields of engineering, including: information sustainable employability determines that the technology, industrial management, education in engi- university trains people to become future profession- neering, etc. Presented below are some of the repre- als with basic competences: cognitive, social and sentative research projects: affective, allowing them to achieve creative and effective professional performances in quick-change • A group decision support system in the academic work environment. and public administration environment as a The increase of educational offers requires a premise for the decentralisation and democrati- significant increase in the level of competition among sation of the decisional system;

45 46 C. Oprean

• The measuring and monitoring of welded parts in position of a chief production engineer. He has also an SPC integrated system; significantly contributed to the efforts regarding • An information system regarding the acquisition, quality in Romanian higher education [6]. processing and visualisation of old books’ fund designed to facilitate community access to the THE RELEVANCE AND IMPACT ON national cultural patrimony; BOTH THE LOCAL AND • A distributed information system for monitoring INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES the quality of urban public transportation services; • Design of statistical methods and instruments The recognition of the author’s scientific and profes- to keep technological manufacturing processes sional activities is reflected in his nomination as a under control, in compliance with the QS 9000 member of various national and international organi- system; sations, as follows: • An e-business solution for the academic environment; • Corresponding member of the Romanian- • A system of measuring and monitoring the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; aspects, parameters and characteristics that • Member of European University Association impact upon the environment, applicable to the (EUA); machine-building industry; • Member of the Romanian-Chinese Friendship • Modelling the design and management of ISO Association; 9001:2000 quality systems using reference • Member of the Association of Romanian Bursa- architectures; ries in ; • Modelling quality system processes at Romanian • President of the Romanian-Italian Association; universities; • President of the General Association of Teachers • Research into the adaptability of integrated- and Professors in Romania; production reference architectures to the demands • Member of the General Association of Engineers of the machine-building industry and to that of in Romania; Romanian engineering education; • Member of the Academy for Non-Conventional • Tools and accessories designed to expand the Technologies; generating possibilities of electrical discharged • Vice-President of the National Council for processed surfaces; Quality Management in Romanian Higher • Designing and implementing a quality assurance Education; service in higher education, particularised for • Member of the Permanent Bureau of the National Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu [2][3]; Council of Romanian Rectors; • Quality Evaluation of Services and Training • Member of the National Council for Scientific (QUEST) PHARE – TEMPUS UM – JEP Research in Higher Education. 13377-98. The author has also been awarded a number of ACHIEVEMENTS distinctions and medals, including:

The author’s academic career began in 1978, first as • Order Education Merit, high-rank officer; a teaching assistant, then as an assistant professor • Doctor Honoris Causa; and an associate professor. Since 1992, he has been a • Honorary Citizen of Sibiu. professor and doctoral advisor in the field of industrial engineering. Under his doctoral supervision, 12 engi- SELECTED PUBLICATIONS neers have obtained a doctoral degree in the field of ACCOMPLISHED industrial engineering, and 23 engineers are currently involved in this doctoral programme [4]. In his academic career, the author has written and co- As an academic manager from 1988, the author written many publications. These include books, manuals, has held several managerial positions, including: Vice- refereed conference papers and journal articles. Dean, College Director, Vice-Rector and, at present, Rector of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBUS), Books: Sibiu, Romania [5]. The author’s managerial experience in the field of industry has enriched • Quality and Environment Management. Sibiu: his managerial abilities, since he also occupied the Lucian Blaga University Publishing House (2003). The Romanian Contribution to the Development... 47

• Strategic Management. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga learning projects. Proc. 8th UICEE Annual University Publishing House (2002). Conference on Engineering Education, • Quality Management. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga Kingston, Jamaica, 31-36 (2005). University Publishing House (2002). • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., The • Quality Engineering. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga Balkan Region Centre for Engineering Education University Publishing House (2002). (BRCEE). Global Journal of Engineering • Public Administration, the Councilor and the Education, 8, 1, 101-109 (2004). Citizen. Lucian Blaga University Publishing • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., House (2001). Occupational health and safety management • Quality Management in Higher Education. systems at universities. Proc. 4th Global Arad: Vasile Goldis University Press (2000). Congress on Engineering Education, Bangkok, • Quality Assurance Policy in Higher Educa- Thailand, 15-18 (2004). tion. Bucharest: Paidea Publishing (2000). • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., Quality • Management of Nursing Education. Sibiu: models for university evaluation. Proc. 6th UICEE Lucian Blaga University Publishing House Annual Conference on Engineering Education, (2000). Cairns, Australia, 39-43 (2003). • Quality Management in Public Administration. • Oprean, C., Tîtu, M. and Kifor, C.V., The process- Sibiu: Lucian Blaga University Publishing House ing of experimental data for the modelling and (2000). optimisation of the technological processes in the • The Dictionary of Non-Conventional Technolo- MA courses in quality management. Proc. 6th gies. Bucharest: Technical Publishing (2000). UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering • Quality Assurance Policy in Higher Education, Cairns, Australia, 122-126 (2003). Education. Bucharest: Ars Docendi Publishing • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Electrical discharge (1999). machining of smart materials parts. Proc. • University Management. Brasov: Lux Libris Conference on Computational Methods for Publishing (1998). Smart Structures and Materials (SMART ’98), • Equipment and Device Design, Security and Rome, , 272-280 (1998). Quality Standards. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga Univer- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., sity Publishing House (1998). Managing processes within the Master • Strategic Management Case Studies. Sibiu: Programme in Quality Management from Lucian Lucian Blaga University Publishing House Blaga University of Sibiu. Proc. 6th Baltic (2004). Region Seminar on Engineering Education, • Control Systems, Sibiu: Lucian Blaga Univer- Wismar/Warnemünde, Germany, 137-141 sity Publishing House (1997). (2002). • L’usinabilite des Materiaux. Toulon: University • Kifor, C.V. and Oprean, C., A generic process Toulon et du Var Publishing (1995). model for higher education institutions based on • Material Processing by Cutting. Sibiu: Lucian ISO 9001:2000 and IDEF0 language. Proc. 5th Blaga University Publishing House (1994). UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering • Quality Assurance. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga Univer- Education, Chennai, India, 93-99 (2002). sity Publishing House (1995). • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Process alignment in • Elements of Operations Management. Sibiu: higher education. Proc. 5th UICEE Annual Lucian Blaga University Publishing House (1994). Conference on Engineering Education, • Theory and Application of Cutting Tools, Chennai, India, 85-89 (2002). Vol.I, II, and III. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga University • Oprean, C. and Kifor C.V., Strengthening Publishing House (1994). scientific research at Lucian Blaga University • Geometric Measurements in Mechanical of Sibiu. Proc. 3rd Global Congress on Engineering. Bucharest: Scientific and Encyclo- Engineering Education, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, paedic Publishing (1998). 457-460 (2002). • Various course notes and laboratory guides. • Oprean, C. and Kifor C.V., Strategies for implementing quality systems in higher education. Papers: case study at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. Proc. 4th UICEE Annual Conference on • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., Engineering Education, Bangkok, Thailand, Applying the six sigma approach in problem-based 447-450 (2001). 48 C. Oprean

• Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., The Engineering Education, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, Balkan Region Centre for Engineering Education: 457-460 (2002). a satellite centre of the UNESCO International • Kifor, C.V. and Oprean, C., A business process Centre for Engineering Education. Proc. 2nd reengineering framework based on a generic ISO Balkan Region Conference on Engineering 9000:2000 process model. Proc. 28th Congress Education, Sibiu, Romania, 15-17 (2003). of the Romanian-American Academy of • Volovici, D., Oprean, C. and Volovici, R.M., Science and Art, Montreal, Canada, 390-395 Measures of similarity between students. Proc. (2001). 2nd Balkan Region Conference on Engineer- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Sofonea, C., A ing Education, Sibiu, Romania, 85-89 (2003). process approach for the environment manage- • Kifor, C.V., Oprean, C. and Suciu, O., Managing ment systems. Proc. 28th Congress of the quality at the Quality Management Research Romanian-American Academy of Science and Centre. Proc. 2nd Balkan Region Conference Art, Montreal, Canada, 155-160 (2001). on Engineering Education, Sibiu, Romania, • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Strategies for imple- 90-94 (2003). menting quality systems in higher education: case • Oprean, C. and Tîtu, M., Theoretical and study at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. experimental considerations on the techniques and Proc. 4th UICEE Annual Conference on methods of improving the quality presented in the Engineering Education, Bangkok, Thailand, university courses on Industrial Engineering. Proc. 447-450 (2001). 2nd Balkan Region Conference on Engineer- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Viorel, A., Applying ing Education, Sibiu, Romania, 128-131 (2003). quality function deployment for the evaluation of • Oprean, C. and Lobon, L., Using process modelling student satisfaction. Case study: Lucian Blaga to create a link between industry and engineering University of Sibiu. Proc. 8th International education. Proc. 2nd Balkan Region Conference Science and Engineering Conference, on Engineering Education, Sibiu, Romania, Sevastopol, Ukraine, 184-191 (2001). 214-216 (2003). • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Viorel, A., Implement- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., Quality ing quality system in electric energy distribution. models for university evaluation. Proc. 6th UICEE Proc. 8th International Science and Engineering Annual Conference on Engineering Education, Conference, Sevastopol, Ukraine, 191-196 (2001). Cairns, Australia, 39-43 (2003). • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Electrical discharge • Oprean, C., Tîtu, M. and Kifor, C.V., The process- machining of smart materials parts. Proc. ing of experimental data for the modelling and Conference on Computational Methods for optimisation of the technological processes in the Smart Structures and Materials (SMART ’98), MA courses in quality management. Proc. 6th Rome, Italy, 272-280 (1998). UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering • Kifor, C.V. and Oprean, C., Reengineering Education, Cairns, Australia, 122-126 (2003). company using quality management process mod- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V., Suciu, O. and Lobont, L., els. Acta Universitatis Cibiniensis, 48, 33-38 Using failure mode and effect analysis technique (2002). for designing automotive parts. Proc. 3rd Inter- • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V., Sofonea, C. and Suciu, national Conference on Advanced Engineering O., Implementing environmental management Design, , Czech Republic (2003). systems in automotive components companies. • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V. and Georgescu, N., Case study: S.C. Compa SA. Proc. 27th Managing processes within the Master Congress of the Romanian-American Academy Programme in Quality Management at the Lucian of Science and Art, Oradea, Romania, 340-344 Blaga University of Sibiu. Proc. 6th Baltic (2002). Region Seminar on Engineering Education, • Oprean, C., Oprean, L., Tîtu, M., Kifor, C.V. and Wismar/Warnemünde, Germany, 137-141 (2002). Barbu, H., Environmental management – an • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Process alignment in important goal of the organisational strategy. Proc. higher education. Proc. 5th UICEE Annual Conf. Conference Tehnologii Moderne, Calitate, on Engineering Education, Chennai, India, Restructurare (TMCR ’99), Chiºinãu, Moldova, 85-89 (2002). 5, 481-486 (2001). • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Strengthening • Oprean, C., Kifor, C.V., Volovici, R. and Drãghici, scientific research at Lucian Blaga University G., Modélisation du processus de conception dans of Sibiu. Proc. 3rd Global Congress on les systémes de management de la qualité ISO The Romanian Contribution to the Development... 49

9000:2000. Proc. Conference Modélisation • Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, de la Connaissance pour la Conception et la Scotland, UK; Fabrication Intégrées, Sibiu and Timisoara, • Hochschule Wismar - University of Technology, Romania, 131-155 (2000). Business and Design, Wismar, Germany; • Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Modelling the • Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania; processes in ISO 9000:2000 quality management • The Pedagogical Network for Engineering in system using the IDEF0 language. Proc. 7th Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark. International Conference on Quality, Reliabil- ity, Maintainability, Sinaia, Romania, 29-36 This consortium submitted an application in the (2000). SOCRATES PROGRAMME for ERASMUS NEW Curriculum Development (CD) projects, with the SPECIFIC ROLE WITHIN THE UICEE title: Master in PBL in Engineering. The proposal GLOBAL NETWORK was successful and work effectively began in 2003. It should also be noted that the first three institutions The author has been a member of the UNESCO listed above are Partner members of the UICEE. International Centre for Engineering Education (UICEE) since 2001 and, in September 2002, he SPECIFIC AND OUTSTANDING became the Director of the Balkan Region Centre INVOLVEMENT IN CONFERENCES ON for Engineering Education (BRCEE), a satellite ENGINEERING EDUCATION centre of the UICEE established at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBUS). Staff and close associates of the author, representing He was awarded the UICEE Silver Badge of the BRCEE, have participated at the following UICEE- Honour for Distinguished Contributions to Engineering organised conferences: Education in 2002, and the UICEE Gold Badge of Honour was conferred upon him in 2004. Prof • 4th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Constantin Oprean is a member of the editorial Education, Bangkok, Thailand, 7-10 February advisory boards of many international journals, 2001. including the International Journal of Engineering • 5th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education and the World Transactions on Education, Chennai, India, 6-9 February 2002; Engineering and Technology Education. He has • 6th Baltic Region Seminar on Engineering participated at numerous UICEE organised Education, Wismar/Warnemünde, Germany, conferences and chaired sessions. He has also 23-25 September 2002; coordinated the organising of the 2nd and 3rd Balkan • 6th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Region Conference on Engineering Education Education, Cairns, Australia, 10-14 February (2005 and 2007) as General Chairman of these 2003; Conferences. • 3rd Global Congress on Engineering Education, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 30 June - 5 July 2003; SPECIFIC LINKAGES WITHIN AND • 4th Global Congress on Engineering Education, OUTSIDE THE UICEE GLOBAL Bangkok, Thailand, 5-9 July 2004; NETWORK • 8th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education, Kingston Jamaica, 7-11 February During the 3rd Balkan Region Conference on 2005; Engineering Education, an Agreement of Coopera- • 9th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering tion was signed between Hochschule Wismar - Education, Muscat, Oman, 11-15 February 2006. University of Technology, Business and Design, Wismar, Germany, and Lucian Blaga University of Participation at this conference included the Sibiu. The agreement was signed with the main presentation of papers in the field of engineering purpose to promote friendship and to cooperate in a education and the chairing of some of the conference mutually beneficial association. Lucian Blaga sessions. University of Sibiu is already a partner in various international research and education projects. FUTURE PLANS AND MILESTONES In 2002, a consortium, coordinated by Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark, was established that The most important objective is to establish strong included the following partners: partnerships in view of promoting engineering 50 C. Oprean education, as well as disseminating experience and 6. Oprean, C. and Hang, C., Quality Manual for the new ideas in a wide area, thus leading to the world’s Faculty of Engineering. Sibiu: Lucian Blaga progress. University Printing House (1995). Creating and developing new sciences requires a thorough specialised knowledge, as well as inter- BIOGRAPHY disciplinary approaches. Constantin Oprean was born SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS in Spring, , Romania, in 1948. He gradu- The development of a sustainable society in a ated as an engineer in knowledge-based world requires joint efforts in view mechanical engineering in of accomplishing the objective of improving the 1971 and gained his doctor- quality of life, with its well-known components: ate in industrial engineering in 1985. He went on to • The quality of occupational health; become a professor in 1978 • Spiritual quality; and a PhD adviser in 1985 • Environmental quality. at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (LBUS), Sibiu, Romania, after accomplishing A prerequisite for the accomplishment of this experience as an engineer in the industrial production objective is to insure the introduction of technical field between 1971 and 1978. progress and to develop societal culture. All these rely In 1992, Prof. Oprean was promoted to Vice- on the manner that the LBUS has invested in educa- Rector for Quality Management and Scientific tion – essential elements for generating knowledge, a Research at the LBUS. In this role, Prof. Oprean source of richness for any future-oriented society. coordinates policies in the field of quality at the LBUS. He also supervises the evaluation procedures for the REFERENCES University and the implementation of the quality system. 1. Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Strengthening scien- He coordinated the work for the first Quality tific research at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. Manual in Romanian education: the Quality Manual Proc. 3rd Global Congress on Engng. Educ., for the Faculty of Engineering. In recognition of his Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 457-460 (2002). noteworthy contributions to the field of quality and 2. Oprean, C., Volovici D. and Kifor, C., University university management, Prof. Oprean was elected evaluation in ISO 9000: 2000 Quality System. Proc. Vice-President of the National Council for Quality Quality Management, Evaluation and Assur- Management in Higher Education. In 2004, he ance in Higher Educ., Brasov, Romania (2000). was elected Rector of Lucian Blaga University of 3. Oprean, C. and Kifor, C.V., Strategies for imple- Sibiu. menting quality systems in higher education: case Prof. Oprean is a recognised specialist in the fields study at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu. of quality management, university management, Proc. 4th UICEE Annual Conf. on Engng.Educ., strategic management and technological transfer. He Bangkok, Thailand, 447-450 (2001). has participated in numerous international conferences 4. Oprean C., Kifor C.V. and Georgescu, N., and congresses in the USA, France, the UK, Italy, Managing processes within the Master Germany, , Denmark, Belgium, the Nether- Programme in Quality Management at the Lucian lands, Finland and Australia. Blaga University of Sibiu. Proc. 6th Baltic He has written over 24 books/handbooks and Region Seminar on Engng. Educ., Wismar/ published 276 scientific papers, 82 of them being Warnemünde, Germany, 137-141 (2002). presented at international conferences. He is the 5. Universitatea Lucian Blaga Sibiu (2005), author of 24 inventions and has coordinated over 50 http://www.ulbsibiu.ro/en/universitate/ scientific research projects at the national and inter- lucian_blaga/blaga.htm national levels.