UMFST Târgu Mureş completed a 30 million euro PNRR project for dual education

The "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology in Târgu Mureş completed the project "Ergopolis - Regional Consortium for Dual Technical Education", with a total value of 148.2 million lei, the equivalent of almost 30 million euros. The project, financed by PNRR, aimed at developing a technical education system adapted to the labor market requirements in Mureş County and the Center Region.

• Two-hectare vocational campus

The project ran for almost three years, starting on October 3, 2023, within Component C15 - Education of PNRR, through the call for the development of regional dual technical education consortia. According to UMFST, the main objective of the project was to build an integrated dual professional campus, located on a two-hectare area of the university's heritage, in the Tudor Vladimirescu neighborhood. The campus includes an educational center, a student dormitory, a cafeteria and spaces for sports and recreational activities. The educational infrastructure is equipped with laboratories and workshops for practical training in technical fields. Among the facilities are laboratories for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing, machine tool workshops, processing, control and injection lines for thermoplastic materials, as well as automation and applied computer science laboratories.

• 27 public and private partners

The Ergopolis consortium brings together 27 partners from public administration, education and the private sector. Alongside UMFST are the Mureş County Council, the Mureş County School Inspectorate and several pre-university education units, including the "Electromureş” Technological High School, the "Gheorghe Şincai” Technological High School in Târgu Mureş, the "Petru Maior” College and the "Ioan Bojor” Technological High School in Reghin. The economic component of the consortium is supported by companies such as Azomureş, Heineken Romania, IRUM, Hirschmann Automotive and Kastamonu Romania. The model aims to bring theoretical training closer to the activity actually carried out in companies. The time allocated to training is divided in a proportion of 50% for theoretical courses on campus and 50% for paid practical internships carried out at partner companies.

• Seven dual system bachelor's programs

Within the project, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology of UMFST offers seven dual system bachelor's programs.

The offer includes specializations such as Medical Engineering, Informatics, Automation and Applied Informatics, Energy and Information Technologies, along with other related programs. According to the university, students benefit from scholarships, accommodation and access to the technical infrastructure developed through the project. The practical component carried out in partner companies is intended to facilitate the transition of graduates to the labor market.

• The link between education and skills needs

Through Ergopolis, UMFST aims to develop a long-term collaboration model between the university, pre-university education and companies in the region. The university claims that the infrastructure and partnerships created through the project can contribute to the formation of a specialized workforce in technical and technological fields, in line with the skills needs of the regional economy. The completion of the project thus marks the transition from investment in infrastructure financed by the PNRR to its use in a dual training system that combines academic training with professional experience acquired directly in companies.