Lecturer Loredana Stăncioiu
Course coordinator
Elena-Loredana Stăncioiu is an Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu, where she also coordinates the Educational Marketing and Institutional Promotion Department. Her academic and research activity is strongly focused on agritourism, rural tourism, quality management, Tourism 4.0, emerging technologies, and the digital transformation of tourism.
She is a PhD candidate in Engineering and Management at the University of Petroșani, with research centered on the development of agritourism through innovative and digital technologies. Her work explores how digitalization, smart tools, artificial intelligence, and new technological solutions can support the competitiveness, sustainability, and visibility of agritourism destinations and rural communities.
Her academic activity combines teaching, scientific research, institutional communication, and project development, with a particular interest in connecting universities, students, local communities, and the tourism sector. Through her research, she promotes sustainable agritourism, innovation, and practice-oriented education as key drivers of rural and regional development.
ORCID: 0009-0004-1710-4217
Ramona Cazalbașu is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu, and holds a PhD in Mines, Oil and Gas Engineering. Her academic and professional interests focus on environmental engineering, environmental protection, noise pollution, agrotourism, rural tourism, and higher education.
She has extensive experience in teaching, scientific research, project management, and student mentoring, with active involvement in national research projects and partnerships with the business environment, including projects focused on industrial waste recovery and sustainable development.
Her work strongly emphasizes practice-oriented and experiential education. She coordinates educational, cultural, and professional development activities for students, including workshops, competitions, career guidance initiatives, and agrotourism-related projects. Through her academic and project work, she promotes strong connections between research, education, local communities, and sustainable regional development.
ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-8604
Lecturer Ph.D Ramona Cazalbașu
Lecturer Ph.D Irina-Ramona Pecingină
Irina-Ramona Pecingină is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu, and holds a PhD in Engineering. Her academic and research interests include agricultural sciences, environmental protection, food microbiology, biodiversity, agrotourism, and engineering and management in public alimentation.
She has extensive experience in scientific research, teaching, project coordination, and student mentoring, having authored specialized books, laboratory guides, and scientific papers published in internationally indexed journals. She has coordinated national research and educational projects, including SMARTREE and SMARTREE 2.0, and is currently involved as an expert in the European University Alliance ACE²-EU.
A strong advocate of practice-oriented education, she coordinates student competitions, workshops, career guidance activities, and initiatives connecting students with employers and entrepreneurs. Since 2024, she has also served as a member of the Senate of “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu.
ORCID 0000-0002-2500-9533
Aniela Bălăcescu is a PhD supervisor in Economics at Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu, Romania,, with over 25 years of experience in higher education. Her academic journey combines teaching, research, and mentoring, with a strong interest in understanding economic and social change. Her research focuses on regional development, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and the factors that contribute to resilient and sustainable communities.
Throughout her academic career, she has placed particular value on collaboration, interdisciplinary dialogue, and the exchange of ideas. She has worked with colleagues from different academic and professional backgrounds through joint research, publications, educational initiatives, and international academic activities. As a PhD supervisor, she is particularly committed to supporting young researchers in developing their ideas, strengthening their research skills, and finding their own path within the academic community.
She sees academic collaboration as more than an exchange of knowledge: it is an opportunity to connect people, disciplines, and communities, to learn from different perspectives, and to build professional relationships that can grow into meaningful and lasting partnerships.
ORCID 0000-0002-2937-4917
Prof. Ph.D Aniela Bălăcescu
Ph.D Student Ecaterina Stan
Ecaterina Stan is a Marketing & Product Director with 15 years of experience across IT, fintech, telecom, and medtech in global markets. She has built and led teams, go-to-market strategies, products, and growth engines, including contributing to the development of a business from zero to over $94 million in just three years.
She works at the intersection of marketing, technology, product, and business, with a strong focus on automation, AI, and scalable growth. In parallel, she is a PhD candidate in Economics at Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu and has developed a course for ACE²-EU dedicated to student entrepreneurs, focused on data-driven decision-making.
Maria-Rocselana Verdeș is a Lecturer Ph.D. at the Faculty of Education Sciences, Law and Public Administration, “Constantin Brâncuși” University of Târgu Jiu. Her teaching and research interests include pedagogy, teaching methodology, pedagogical practice, curriculum, educational alternatives, assessment theory and methodology, and English language education.
She has participated in Erasmus teaching mobilities in Türkiye and Ukraine and is actively involved in developing innovative teaching and learning methods, international cooperation, and educational partnerships. Her academic activity includes more than 46 scientific articles, as well as several books, dictionaries, course materials, and workbooks in the fields of English language, legal and informatics terminology, mathematics, and education.
Her work promotes student-centered learning, intercultural exchange, international academic cooperation, and the continuous improvement of teacher education and educational practice.
ORCID: 0000-0001-5951-1460
Rocselana Verdeș
LAC Teacher:
Lect. Aija Lūse
Director of the Master’s Programme
“Cultural and Arts Management”
UPS Teachers:
Maria José Nogueira, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Professor at Santarém Polytechnic University, Portugal, and a researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC). With a background in Nursing, Human Ecology, and Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, her work brings together health, education, and an understanding of contemporary social challenges.
Her multidisciplinary perspective contributes valuable expertise to educational and community-based initiatives, with a particular focus on people, well-being, and the relationship between individuals and their social environment.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7412-2252
Maria José Nogueira, Ph.D
Perpétua Silva, Ph.D
Perpétua Silva, Ph.D. is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Education of Santarém Polytechnic University, with an academic background in Social Sciences. Her work is closely connected to Social Education and Community Intervention, with a strong focus on communities, social participation and educational practices. She is also involved in the coordination of the Master’s in Social Education and Community Intervention and currently serves as President of the School Assembly.
Tatiana Ferreira is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Education of Santarém Polytechnic University and a sociologist specialising in youth studies and social research.
Her research focuses on youth transitions to adulthood, education, employability, the labour market and public policies. She has extensive experience in research projects on youth policies at local, national and European levels and is also a collaborative researcher at the Research Centre in Quality of Life (CIEQV).
She is Vice-President and a full member of the European Rural Youth Observatory (EURYO), bringing a valuable perspective on youth, rural communities and social development.
ORCID: 0000-0003-1972-2575
Adjunct Professor Tatiana Ferreira
External stakeholders:
CITY HALL POLOVRAGI
Polovragi is a historic pastoral community in northern Oltenia, where sheep and cattle farming are still part of the local identity. Fruit growing, woodcarving, weaving and other traditional crafts complete a rural heritage that has been preserved for generations.
Even the name Polovragi is surrounded by mystery it has been linked to an ancient medicinal plant, Slavic and Greek origins, and even to Geto-Dacian beliefs and healing practices.
For agritourism, this makes Polovragi more than a rural destination: it offers a story built around shepherding, local food, craftsmanship, ancient legends and living traditions.
Gorj County Centre for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture (CJCPCT Gorj)
CITY HALL TÂRGU-JIU
Târgu Jiu Municipality is the local public authority of Târgu Jiu, the capital of Gorj County and one of the main cultural and administrative centres of the Oltenia region. Situated along the Jiu River and close to the Carpathian Mountains, the city acts as an important gateway between the urban centre and the rural and mountain communities of Gorj.
Târgu Jiu is internationally recognised through the legacy of Constantin Brâncuși and his monumental ensemble, which gives the city a distinctive cultural identity and places heritage at the heart of its tourism potential. At the same time, the surrounding territory offers a rich combination of traditional villages, pastoral landscapes, local gastronomy, crafts, agricultural products, natural attractions and rural traditions.
This position gives Târgu Jiu an important role in the development of integrated and sustainable tourism. The city can serve as a starting point from which visitors discover the wider Gorj region, connecting cultural tourism with rural experiences, local food, nature and agritourism.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR)
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) is a public-utility, non-governmental organisation representing and supporting the Romanian business community. Founded in 1864, CCIR coordinates a national network of 42 county Chambers of Commerce and Industry, providing a strong connection between businesses, public authorities and international markets.
With more than 160 years of experience, CCIR plays an important role in promoting entrepreneurship, competitiveness, investment and international economic cooperation. Its activities include business representation, professional support, certification services, commercial arbitration, economic missions, international partnerships and initiatives designed to strengthen Romanian companies and facilitate their access to new markets.
Within the field of rural tourism and agritourism, CCIR represents a valuable stakeholder by connecting entrepreneurship with local development. Its extensive business network can support SMEs, family businesses, tourism operators, farmers, local producers and other entrepreneurs in transforming local resources into sustainable and competitive products and services.
Asociaţia Vatra Olteniei
Vatra Olteniei is an association dedicated to the sustainable development and promotion of Oltenia’s cultural, tourism, economic and social heritage.
Its activities focus on promoting local and regional tourism while preserving the region’s traditions, crafts, gastronomy, folklore, natural heritage and historical identity. Through projects, cultural events, tourism initiatives, educational activities and partnerships, the Association connects local communities, heritage and tourism, creating new opportunities for sustainable regional development.
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