The A7 Highway from the Perspective of „Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava. An Interview with Vice-Rector Ștefan PURICI

The A7 Highway is a crucial project for the connectivity and development of the Moldova region, having a direct impact on Suceava County and implicitly on „Ștefan cel Mare” University (USV)

This infrastructure will improve access to resources, markets, and national and international collaborations, bringing new opportunities for the academic environment and the student community.

Through this interview framework, we aim to explore the perspectives of the university, provided by Deputy Rector Ștefan Purici, regarding the impact of the A7 Highway on education, research, and regional development.

How do you think the A7 Highway will influence the mobility of students and faculty between Suceava and other university centers in Romania?

The European Union is the body whose economy is based on interdependence and flows of capital, goods, services, and people. Without a developed transport infrastructure, including air, rail, and road transport, the economic and social progress of the Union and each individual state cannot achieve dynamics commensurate with the needs and expectations of European nations.

At the level of the European Education Area, student and academic staff mobility represents the key to transforming higher education into a driver of development, innovation, and performance, ensuring that in the coming decades, Europe will rank first worldwide in terms of the quality of education and the qualification level of university graduates.

For „Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, international mobility and, more recently, national mobility, have become effective tools for sharing experiences with colleagues from EU and non-EU academic institutions, building joint projects in the fields of research and education, and developing professional networks. All these factors contribute to improving the quality of education and scientific research. USV supports academic mobility for students, aiming to facilitate the integration of our graduates into the highly competitive labor market, as well as to transform mobility participants into vectors of modernization in the teaching process.

At the same time, we are trying to attract as many students and professors from abroad, who, through mobility programs, will contribute to improving the approaches and strategies that our academic community can successfully implement. However, the underdevelopment of transport infrastructure hinders mobility, discouraging especially those from outside the country to choose Suceava as a destination for international mobility.

Thus, in addition to Suceava Airport, which has a limited number of flights, the future highway will become an attractive alternative for student travel. It will also encourage the organization of joint educational, sports, cultural, and associative activities by students from university centers in the Moldova region.

What impact do you think this infrastructure will have on the attractiveness of „Ștefan cel Mare” University for students from other regions of the country and abroad?

The opening of the A7 Highway will lift USV from the quasi-isolation “on the edge of the country”, making various destinations in Europe and beyond much more accessible, largely eliminating the issue of difficult access to Bukovina.

Certainly, the Moldova Highway and the future 824-bed dormitory of USV (both projects are expected to be operational in 2026) will significantly contribute to increasing the number of Romanian and foreign students.

Moreover, it will increase interest in pursuing an academic career in Suceava from specialists within the country and abroad, including in the new field of medicine we are developing this year.

Could the A7 Highway facilitate international and national research collaborations? How do you see its influence on the university’s academic and research partnerships?

Certainly, the university’s international partnerships will benefit from the opportunities offered by the Moldova Highway.

However, only the completion of the A8 Highway will allow, through the two routes – A7 and A8 – USV to connect to the European highway network, facilitating quick travel to partners in southeastern Europe, as well as those in northern or central EU.

Likewise, Suceava will become more attractive to economic actors, as well as to future students and faculty members.

In what ways do you think the university will contribute to local and regional economic development with the improved connectivity through the A7 Highway?

The highway will serve as a foundation for practical activities for students in USV’s vehicle technology and electrical and electronic equipment programs, through partnership agreements.

On the other hand, USV will be able to attract more investors to develop businesses with the modern infrastructure and resource specialists trained at the university, including through new dual education programs.

„Ștefan cel Mare” University has played an active role in the development of the dual campus and educational partnerships. How could the improved infrastructure support the expansion of these initiatives and collaborations?

The educational partnerships developed by USV extend beyond the county, reaching a regional level. Dual education is still in its early stages, with students and partners from various counties in the North-East Region needing fast and cost-efficient ways to travel to the university or the company/enterprise where they carry out practical training.

The existence of the A7 Highway will make it more attractive for students and partners from the production sector in counties farther from Suceava to join the DUAL-USV Consortium.

Could the A7 Highway have an impact on the general economic development of the region? What do you see as the university’s role in preparing future professionals who will contribute to this development?

The positive implications of the highway’s construction are easily identifiable, especially in economic terms. The accelerated development of the region will lead to the establishment of companies and production units, all in search of qualified human resources.

Thus, USV’s potential will be more effectively utilized in the local and regional economy, with many of its graduates being absorbed into the increasingly dynamic job market. USV is diversifying its program offerings in line with labor market demands, creating new specializations and eliminating outdated ones that no longer meet the shifts in the economy and society.

What are your expectations from local and national authorities to support the university in capitalizing on the opportunities generated by this important infrastructure?

USV’s partnerships with local and national authorities are solid and dynamic, offering opportunities for the academic community to be involved in solving local or national issues such as education, research, and environmental protection.

We are convinced that this cooperation on various levels will bring benefits to both the university and the community in the future. There is openness and understanding regarding the importance of partnerships from all involved actors, so the opportunities provided by the Moldova Highway will serve as vectors for deepening existing cooperation and developing new partnerships.

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