Târgu-Jiu, Romania | 20 March, 2025 – The Discovery Mission: 1st ACEploration in Romania officially began on 20 March with a warm welcome delivered from the João Moutão President, Santarém Polytechnic University and ACE²-EU Project Coordinator. The opening continued with an insightful presentation of the study programmes offered by Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu-Jiu, delivered by Rector Prof. Luminita Popescu.
The event moved forward with a plenary session focused on joint learning opportunities, introduced by Chelo Perez, leader of Work Package 2 (WP 2-APP-Factory), who briefly outlined the strategic educational possibilities within the Alliance.
Participants were also invited to introduce themselves and the universities they represented at the event. The mission welcomed on-site and online attendees, with organisers making efforts to ensure full accessibility for those who could not be physically present.
The first day proved to be intense and inspiring, as participants had the chance to present their own proposals for teaching and learning opportunities. The ACE Alliance is not only a framework for developing and implementing such initiatives, but also a remarkable space for networking, collaboration, and shared growth.
The morning sessions focused on exploring collaborative opportunities in higher education, including joint programme development, academic calendar integration, and the enhancement of pedagogical approaches. Participants were also introduced to the strategic framework and resources of Constantin Brâncuși University, providing insights into new opportunities for international cooperation.
In the afternoon, practical working sessions were held where participants worked with industry experts to develop new educational initiatives, design quality assurance strategies and assess certification compliance with European standards.
In addition to ACE Alliance members, the event also welcomed stakeholders from the community, who brought valuable insights regarding real-world needs and challenges that should be addressed through future learning initiatives.
The goal is to design activities that address the needs of students across all nine participating countries, who are engaged in various academic levels and disciplines. The ACE framework offers an excellent environment for empowering students, and during this event, students were part of the organising team. Their curiosity, openness, and drive for personal and professional development continue to motivate us to deliver high-quality, impactful activities.
As we move into the second day of the event, we look forward to continuing the momentum and discovering what new ideas and collaborations will emerge.
