The A7 Highway, evaluated by „Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău

The A7 Highway project, also known as the Moldova Highway, represents a significant step for the economic and social development of the entire North-Eastern Region of Romania

The improved connections it will bring will not only stimulate the transportation of goods and more efficient travel but will also open up new collaboration opportunities between the economic and academic environments.

In this context, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău, under the leadership of Rector Carol Schnakovszky, plays an essential role in training specialists and supporting regional development through education, research, and collaborations with both the public and private sectors. The A7 Highway has the potential to increase the university’s attractiveness and facilitate strategic partnerships in logistics, research, and innovation.

Through this interview, we aim to explore Rector Carol Schnakovszky’s perspective on how this infrastructure will influence the development of Vasile Alecsandri University and the region, as well as how the institution can contribute to maximizing the impact of the A7 Highway on Bacău and its surrounding areas.

How do you consider that the A7 Highway will influence student and academic staff mobility between Bacău and other university centers in Romania?

The A7 Highway will have a strong impact on the development of the North-East Region by accelerating the transportation of goods and people. This will lead to the development of industrial investments, particularly in logistics. In terms of student and academic staff mobility, its impact will be minor, as the current national road DN 2 already provides a connection with university centers in Moldova (Iași and Suceava), as well as Bucharest. The problem lies in mobility towards other regions of the country, due to the lack of full interconnection with the existing highways in Romania. Completing a national road infrastructure will mean greater mobility for academic staff, especially students, which will accelerate collaborations between universities.

To what extent do you think the A7 Highway will contribute to increasing the attractiveness of Vasile Alecsandri University for students from other regions of the country and abroad?

Although the direct attractiveness will not be very significant, as mentioned above, it will help facilitate temporary mobility of one week or even a semester for students between several universities throughout a study cycle. These types of activities are widespread with universities from other countries, but are still in the exploratory phase among Romanian universities.

How do you see the impact of this infrastructure on university partnerships and academic and research collaborations at national and international levels?

Increasing the speed of road mobility will lead to increased collaboration between academic staff and researchers on various projects that cannot be carried out solely online. It will be a factor that aids socializing, collaboration, and getting to know more colleagues from other university centers. Face-to-face presence stimulates the formation of friendships and leads to the emergence of ideas for future collaboration and development. As for international collaboration, the impact on teaching and research is very limited, as air transport and online communication represent the primary channels for cooperation. A major advantage of this infrastructure is that it will make accessing more distant airports much faster and easier.

The A7 Highway will facilitate access for companies and investors to Bacău. How could the university play an active role in attracting economic partnerships and supporting local business initiatives?

With its geographical location at the intersection of the main commercial road routes in Moldova, with access to the railway and the airport capable of serving large-capacity commercial planes, Bacău will become an important commercial, logistical, and communication hub. Indirectly, this infrastructure will greatly help the university, as it can partner with many companies and future investors regarding the provision of highly qualified human resources, as well as addressing their requirements or problems through joint research projects.

What are the ways in which Vasile Alecsandri University could directly benefit from the regional economic development generated by the A7 Highway?

The social advantages that the future highway will generate will directly help Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău, by reducing migration or even bringing back people who left the region. This will lead to a demographic boost that will support student recruitment. The increased standard of living and economic development will “force” the desire for education in the local population to enable them to secure better-paid, more attractive jobs. The growing population and prosperity will also contribute to the development of cultural, sports, and lifestyle activities, leading to the creation of new study programs at the university and greater attractiveness for the institution.

How do you think the university’s research and innovation projects could support the development of local and regional infrastructure, in collaboration with authorities and companies involved in the implementation of the A7 Highway?

The university, along with several local partners (technical high schools, local and county authorities, companies, NE Development Agency), has submitted a project for a DUAL campus, which will attract young people to engineering specializations needed in the region. Another important step is the accreditation of a Technology Transfer Center at the university, which will ensure better collaboration between the academic and research environments and the local and regional economic sectors.

Do you believe the improved transport infrastructure will facilitate attracting international experts for research programs and academic collaboration at your university?

In the academic and research field, the lack of transport infrastructure is a lesser impediment to developing collaborative relationships with other experts and relevant stakeholders, as many activities can take place online. However, this infrastructure, by increasing travel speed, will encourage more mobility for academic staff, students, and researchers.

How do you see the role of the university in training future generations of specialists who will contribute to regional development in the context of the A7 Highway?

The mission of the university is to provide qualified specialists in the fields required by the economic and social environment of the region. Following the completion of the A7 Highway, new occupations will emerge, and corresponding study programs will need to be prepared. The university has already authorized an Industrial Logistics program, necessary to service the new infrastructure. As the economic environment faces a shortage of specialists in various fields, the university is ready to propose new specialization programs.

What initiatives or projects is the university planning to strengthen its ties with the economic environment and the public sector, in light of the new opportunities offered by the A7 Highway?

The university is involved in numerous development, research, and inter-university projects, as well as collaborations with the economic environment. In this regard, we will present the most relevant ones for the near future. The most significant PNRR projects are:

• EduShift: Digital Pedagogy for Pre-University Teachers, worth 43,460,780.60 RON.
• Development of Competences for Future Professions through Digitalization at UVABc, worth 17,775,293.00 RON.
• Development of an Integrated Campus for Dual Education in Bacău, worth 129,436,556.84 RON.
• Interdisciplinary Educational and Leisure Center in Vatra Dornei, worth 16,570,997.28 RON.

What expectations do you have from local and national authorities to support the university in leveraging the opportunities generated by this major infrastructure?

Regarding national and local authorities, we expect more legislative predictability, collaboration, and support for project realization, obtaining necessary permits, and greater flexibility in financial reimbursement processes.

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