More than 80 students and academic staff from across the ACE²-EU Alliance joined Virtual Coffee #30, an online pre-arrival session designed to prepare participants for their upcoming ACExperience mobility in Târgu Jiu, Romania, in October 2026.
During the approximately one-hour session, participants had the opportunity to meet the local organising team, connect with fellow students and staff from partner institutions and receive practical information to help them prepare for their journey to Romania.
The meeting introduced participants to Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu and provided essential guidance on travelling to Romania and reaching Târgu Jiu, arrival arrangements, accommodation, local transportation, university facilities, course locations and the academic, cultural and social programme awaiting them during the mobility week.
Practical guidance for a safe and enjoyable stay
A special guest of the session was Miruna Prejbeanu, an officer of the Romanian Police, who offered participants useful guidance on general rules, personal safety and appropriate conduct during their stay in Romania.
Her contribution focused on practical aspects that international participants should be aware of while travelling and spending time in the country, helping them better understand how to approach everyday situations responsibly and safely. Participants also had the opportunity to receive advice on appropriate behaviour and general precautions that can contribute to a smooth and enjoyable mobility experience.
Preparing for four learning experiences
Particular attention was given to the four learning programmes that will bring participants together in Târgu Jiu:
- ABC – Fake News and Social Impact
- ABC – Circular Economy and Long-term Impact
- Flavour School – Agritourism, Local Traditions and Impact in the Communities
- Shaping Europe’s Future Together: Perspectives on Global Challenges
Participants learned more about how the activities will be organised, what they can expect from their programmes and what they should prepare before departure. The organising team also shared practical recommendations regarding travel documents, clothing, meals, local services, communication and everyday life in Romania.
A first meeting before the journey begins
Beyond practical preparations, Virtual Coffee #30 offered participants something equally important: a first opportunity to get to know the people with whom they will share their mobility experience.
Students and staff from different ACE²-EU partner institutions were able to meet their future course colleagues, interact with members of the organising team and raise practical questions in an informal and welcoming online environment.
With more than 80 participants joining the session, the Virtual Coffee highlighted the strong interest surrounding the upcoming mobility week and provided an early glimpse of the international community that will soon gather in Târgu Jiu.
The October mobility will extend far beyond participation in an individual course. Participants will arrive during one of the most dynamic periods of the 2026 ACE²-EU academic year, with the mobility activities coinciding with the ACE²-EU Annual Congress and the Kaleidoscope Culture Festival 2026 – “100 Voices – One Future.”
Taking place from 28 to 30 October, the Kaleidoscope Culture Festival will add a strong intercultural dimension to the experience, creating opportunities for cultural exchange, creativity and dialogue across the Alliance.
Together, the learning programmes and Alliance-wide activities will bring students, academics, university staff and stakeholders into a shared international environment where they can exchange perspectives, build new connections and experience the diversity of the ACE²-EU community.
From fake news and its social impact to circular economy and sustainability, agritourism and local traditions, and Europe’s response to global challenges, participants will explore contemporary societal issues from different disciplinary and cultural perspectives.
From Virtual Coffee to a shared experience in Târgu Jiu
Virtual Coffee #30 marked the first step of this shared journey.
What began with more than 80 participants meeting online will continue in October when students and staff from across the Alliance meet in person in Târgu Jiu, ready to learn together, exchange ideas, discover Romanian culture and contribute to a vibrant European university community.
The session reinforced one of the central ideas behind the ACExperience: international mobility is not only about travelling to another university or attending a course. It is also about meeting people, discovering new perspectives and becoming part of a wider academic and intercultural community.
Social media:
☕🌍 Virtual Coffee #30 | Getting ready for Târgu Jiu!
More than 80 students and staff from across the ACE²-EU Alliance joined our latest Virtual Coffee, an online meeting dedicated to preparing participants for their upcoming ACExperience in Târgu Jiu, Romania, this October. 🇷🇴
During the session, participants received practical information about travel, accommodation, local transportation, university facilities and the academic, cultural and social activities awaiting them.
👮♀️ A special guest was Miruna Prejbeanu, officer of the Romanian Police, who shared useful guidance on general rules, safety and responsible behaviour during their stay in Romania.
The meeting was also a great opportunity for participants to connect with their future colleagues and the local organising team before meeting in person.
From the first online conversations to a shared international experience, the journey to Târgu Jiu has already begun! ✨
#ACE2EU #ACExperience #VirtualCoffee #TarguJiu #InternationalMobility #EuropeanUniversities