Seminars

The Importance of Project Management Competences for Strengthening Business Resilience (13 May 2025)

The seminar delivered by Prof. Mikel W. Cole represented an important component of the DO RE BIZ project’s educational dimension, complementing the series of roundtables and study visits aimed at disseminating knowledge about European economic integration, business resilience, and EU funding mechanisms. As a Fulbright Specialist with extensive international experience in organizational planning and educational leadership, Prof. Cole brought an external perspective—both comparative and practice-oriented—on how project management competences serve as strategic tools for strengthening business resilience in complex, uncertain environments.

The main purpose of the seminar was to expose students to the foundational principles of project management, highlight the competencies that modern professionals need in a rapidly changing economic landscape, and illustrate how these skills contribute to building resilient organizations capable of anticipating, absorbing, and adapting to shocks. For students outside the traditional business field, the seminar also served the broader Jean Monnet Chair objective of promoting interdisciplinarity and increasing awareness of EU processes and managerial tools beyond economic studies.

The seminar concluded with a series of key messages:

1. Project management competencies are no longer a specialized niche, but essential skills for any professional operating in modern, dynamic environments.
2. Business resilience emerges from structured planning, continuous learning, and adaptability, all of which are cultivated through sound project management practices.
3. EU-funded projects provide major opportunities for Romanian companies, but their success depends heavily on competent project planning, risk management, communication, and execution.
4. Universities have a crucial role in developing these competencies through practical, interdisciplinary training.
5. Students should prioritize critical thinking, leadership, and digital competencies, which are among the most transferable and future-proof skills.

This seminar contributed significantly to the educational objectives of the DO RE BIZ project by:

• strengthening students’ understanding of resilience in business,
• equipping them with practical skills relevant for the European labor market,
• fostering awareness of project-based tools essential for EU funding absorption,
• and enhancing the international dimension of the learning experience through the participation of a Fulbright Specialist.

In conclusion, the seminar reinforced that project management is an indispensable foundation for organizational resilience and that universities play a central role in cultivating these competences. By integrating structured planning, flexible execution, and reflective learning, young professionals can significantly enhance the ability of Romanian businesses to thrive in a complex European context.

The Economy of the Self: From Resilience to Creativity. A transformative workshop on managing inner resources — ideas, competencies, and knowledge — as a foundation for development (24 September 2025)

agenda

The online seminar “Game Changers: Business, Creativity, and Resilience” was organized on the Zoom platform, bringing together 30 participants from a wide range of professional and academic fields. The session was moderated by Mr. Sorin Mazilu and aimed to explore contemporary perspectives on entrepreneurship, creativity, and resilience within an evolving economic landscape.

The participant group included individuals from diverse domains such as: undergraduate and master’s students, university professors, economists, a principal consultant, a judge, a photographer, a therapist, a travel consultant, a software tester, legal advisors, a resident physician, schoolteachers, and university teaching staff. This diversity contributed to a rich exchange of perspectives and a multidimensional understanding of the seminar themes.

The event featured two special guests: Mr. Lucian Avădani, digital nomad, and Mr. Alexandru Handrache, professional photographer. Both speakers presented their entrepreneurial paths and shared insights into the development and operational management of their businesses. They discussed challenges encountered, opportunities arising in creative and mobile work environments, and key know-how derived from their own professional experiences.

The seminar also included an engaging Q&A session, offering participants the opportunity to interact directly with the invited speakers. Discussions covered topics such as digital entrepreneurship, creative practice, resilience in uncertain contexts, and strategies for navigating competitive markets.

Overall, the seminar provided a valuable learning environment that combined practical insights with reflective dialogue, contributing to a deeper understanding of how creativity and adaptability serve as essential drivers of contemporary entrepreneurial ecosystems.