Adina Munteanu
Student Workshops @ UNESCO Chair Engineering for Society

Between November and December 2024, the UNESCO Chair Engineering for Society hosted a series of practical workshops designed to build transferable skills for students — the kind of skills that bridge formal academic training and the demands of professional life, but that are rarely covered systematically in a degree programme.

The series covered six topics, each delivered in an applied, hands-on format with small groups to allow direct interaction and feedback.

Workshop topics

Data work with Excel

  • Data Modeling with Excel — building structured spreadsheet models for analysis and decision-making
  • Data Analysis with Excel — using Excel as a data analysis tool, from pivot tables to formula-driven dashboards

Communication and presentation

  • PowerPoint: Formatting & Design — visual hierarchy, typography, and slide layout principles
  • PowerPoint: Discourse Structure & Visuals — how to structure a talk so the audience follows, and how to design visuals that support (rather than distract from) the message

Academic and professional skills

  • Academic Writing for Young Researchers — practical foundations of academic writing, from argument structure to citation discipline
  • Using the Agile Principles — introducing students to project management thinking through Agile, with applications in research and team work

The workshops were designed to address a consistent gap observed across student cohorts: technical competence in a discipline does not automatically translate into the ability to structure information clearly, communicate it persuasively, or organise complex work over time. By focusing on these specific skills, the workshops gave students tools they can apply immediately — in their thesis work, internships, and early-career projects.

Format and participation

Each workshop was delivered in a session-based format, allowing students to choose the topics most relevant to them. The small-group structure prioritised direct practice and individual feedback over passive listening.

Future sessions

If you are interested in joining future sessions of these workshops, fill in this form to be notified.

Related topics

12:54 PM 21Dec, 2025
Adina Munteanu
GEBA 2025 Conference

Discussing the impact of Artificial Intelligence and Globalization: New Paradigms in Economic Higher Education

My paper was “Building global financial competence in transport education through case-based and simulation learning” .

A day full of ideas and inspiration at the GEBA 2025 Conference at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Iasi.
I listened to numerous perspectives on artificial intelligence in education, from practical applications in the teaching and assessment process, to the challenges related to ethics and digital skills.
The dialogue between researchers, academics and practitioners was very lively.
Thanks to the organizers FEAA – Faculty of Economics and Business Administration from Iași for the open academic atmosphere.
As soon as the paper will be published, you will be able to find it in the Publications section.

1:15 PM 2Nov, 2025
Adina Munteanu
AVIONIC Project Closing Conference — Madrid, September 2025

On 19 September 2025, the AVIONIC project team gathered in Madrid, Spain for the closing conference of the Creative Digital Teaching and Learning for Green Air Transport and Logistics (AVIONIC) project. The event marked the completion of a multi-year collaboration between European universities and industry partners, focused on building modern digital tools for aviation education.

Launch of the Avionic Learning Platform

The headline moment of the conference was the official launch and demonstration of the Avionic Learning Platform — the central deliverable of the project. The platform brings together interactive teaching modules, digital case studies, and learning scenarios designed for higher-education courses in air transport and logistics.

Conference participants — including academics, project partners, and industry stakeholders — were guided through the platform’s features and the pedagogical reasoning behind its design. The demonstration confirmed that the platform is ready for integration into university curricula and for use by both students and faculty in the aviation field.

Project wrap-up and lessons learned

Beyond the platform launch, the closing event served as a moment to reflect on what the project achieved across its full duration:

  • a series of student and teacher workshops held across partner institutions
  • the development of digital teaching materials aligned with green aviation goals
  • partnerships strengthened between universities and aviation industry actors
  • documentation and dissemination of pedagogical methods that can be reused beyond the project’s lifetime

The closing conference brought the consortium together one last time in a formal setting, providing space for partners to discuss sustainability of the results and future collaboration opportunities.

Creative Digital Teaching And Learning For Green Air Transport And Logistics

The AVIONIC Project represents the kind of European-level cooperation that helps modernise university teaching in a sector — aviation — where the gap between fast-moving industry practice and traditional pedagogy can be wide. The closing conference confirmed that the project’s outputs will continue to be available to the wider academic community.

11:46 AM 25Sep, 2025
Adina Munteanu
Academic Writing Resources for Young Researchers

Academic writing is a foundational skill for any aspiring scholar. Whether you’re preparing a journal article, a thesis, or a conference paper, strong writing can make your research clearer, more impactful, and more likely to be published. We’ve gathered a set of practical resources and tips to help you develop your writing style, structure your arguments, and follow academic standards effectively.

We highly recommend joining an academic writing course specifically designed for young researchers. While self-study is useful, participating in a group setting greatly enhances the speed and depth of learning. Interacting with peers, receiving feedback, and working through examples together fosters confidence and faster progress in mastering complex writing tasks.

Image credit: Ivan Samkov on Pexels

1. Structuring Your Academic Paper

Learn how to organise your research logically. From the abstract to the conclusion, every part of your paper plays a vital role. Make sure your methodology, literature review, and results are clearly laid out to guide readers smoothly through your work.

2. Argumentation and Critical Thinking

Academic writing is more than reporting facts. It requires building a strong argument, supported by evidence and clear reasoning. Learn how to anticipate counterarguments and improve the persuasiveness of your work, ensuring your conclusions are robust and well-defended.

3. Referencing Styles and Tools

Correct citation is essential to maintain academic integrity. We recommend learning the differences between APA, MLA, and Chicago styles and knowing when each is typically used. Beyond formatting, use digital tools like Mendeley, Zotero, and EndNote to automate your referencing process, store source metadata, and generate bibliographies effortlessly—saving valuable time and reducing manual errors.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many young researchers struggle with issues such as plagiarism, incoherent structure, improper referencing, or excessive passive voice. Understanding and recognising these pitfalls early will help you develop clean, confident, and publishable writing. Practical examples and peer-reviewed feedback—especially in workshops—can be instrumental in overcoming these challenges quickly.

5. Recommended Reading Materials

To help you start your journey, we will provide a curated list of reading materials covering academic style, structure, and publishing expectations. These resources are carefully selected to match the needs of early-career researchers and support self-paced learning alongside workshops.

Looking to practice and get feedback?
Check out our Academic Writing Mastery Series to join a supportive group of young researchers working together to improve their writing.

9:33 AM 17Apr, 2025
Adina Munteanu
Empowering First-Time Public Sector Leaders in Romania

We live in a rapidly changing professional world. Transitioning from technical roles to leadership positions in public administration can be a major challenge. That’s the question that guided my research:
How can we ease the transition for first-time managers in Romania’s public sector?

The findings were clear. First-time public sector managers often feel unprepared. Some studies* show that 26% feel they are not ready to lead, and nearly 60% received no training before stepping into leadership. As a result, this gap in preparation can slow down reforms and weaken governance.

Learning from European and North American Strategies

Leadership development strategies differ around the world. European models, like the European Skills Agenda or Romania’s National Strategy for Adult Education, rely on structured policies and collaboration.

On the other hand, North American models focus more on individual learning and flexibility. Therefore, the study suggests a combined approach. Romania could benefit from structured leadership frameworks, supported by personalised development plans.

Recommendations for Romania

Image credit: Jason Goodman via Unsplash

Here’s what Romania can do to better prepare new leaders in the public sector:

  1. Create National Training Programs for Leadership
    Leadership training must be targeted and accessible. Programs should mix theory with practice and cover soft skills, communication, and decision-making. They should also reflect the European Skills Agenda.

  2. Set Up Mentorship and Peer Learning Systems
    Mentoring helps new managers learn from experienced leaders. At the same time, peer-learning circles and coaching sessions can offer support and reduce the sense of isolation.

  3. Provide Clear Career Development Paths
    Employees need clarity on what’s expected at each career stage. Therefore, institutions should explain what skills are required and how staff can grow into leadership roles.

  4. Encourage Feedback and Reflection
    Leaders grow through feedback and self-awareness. Encourage tools like leadership journals or team reflection sessions. This helps new managers adjust and improve quickly.

  5. Align Training with Romania’s and Europe’s Priorities
    Training content must support national reforms. It should focus on priorities like digital services, sustainability, citizen-focused governance, and innovation.

  6. Build Long-Term Political and Institutional Support
    Leadership development needs stability. Thus, Romania must ensure consistent funding, legislation, and a national framework that embeds training into public institutions.

  7. Use Data to Improve Programs Continuously
    Regular assessments help fine-tune training. Surveys and performance data should guide updates to ensure the content remains relevant and effective.

By taking these steps, Romania can build stronger, more confident public sector leaders. This will not only support good governance but also help the country meet national and European goals.

Read the full article here: Leadership Development in the Public Sector in Romania: Learning from European and North American Strategies.
You can also read more of my paper in the Publication page.

8:38 AM 17Apr, 2025
Adina Munteanu
Conferința Dialoguri despre Educație, ediția a II-a — Iași, 10–12 aprilie 2025

În perioada 10–12 aprilie 2025, am participat la cea de-a doua ediție a conferinței Dialoguri despre Educație, organizată de Academia Română — Filiala Iași. Evenimentul a reunit cercetători, cadre didactice și practicieni interesați de transformările prin care trece educația contemporană — atât la nivel pedagogic, cât și tehnologic.

Lucrări prezentate

Educational Message in Aviation 4.0

Lucrarea analizează cum trebuie reconfigurat mesajul pedagogic în contextul transformării digitale a sectorului aviatic — Aviation 4.0. Pornind de la noile competențe cerute de industrie (automatizare avansată, gestionarea datelor, sustenabilitate), discut implicațiile pentru curriculumul universitar de aviație și pentru modul în care formăm viitorii profesioniști.

AI in Education — Reconfiguring the Pedagogical Message

A doua lucrare extinde discuția dincolo de domeniul aviatic și examinează cum integrarea inteligenței artificiale în procesele educaționale schimbă rolul profesorului, structura activităților de învățare și natura evaluării. Lucrarea propune un cadru de reflecție pentru deciziile pedagogice luate într-un context în care AI nu mai este o noutate, ci o prezență constantă în viața studenților.

Lecturi conexe

9:41 AM 13Apr, 2025
Adina Munteanu
Learning Information Systems for Aviation Workshop — January 2025

On 21 January 2025, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair “Engineering for Society” and ROMATSA SA, hosted the Learning Information Systems for Aviation workshop. The event brought together academia and the Romanian air navigation services provider to review and shape the digital teaching tools being developed within the AVIONIC project.

Workshop focus — the Avionic Learning Platform

The central topic of the workshop was the Avionic Learning Platform, the main pedagogical deliverable of the Creative Digital Teaching and Learning for Green Air Transport and Logistics (AVIONIC) project. Participants saw a live presentation of the platform’s modules, its scenario-based learning design, and the way it integrates aviation-specific content with interactive teaching methods.

The format was deliberately designed to invite feedback from industry stakeholders. ROMATSA, as Romania’s air traffic services provider, brought operational expertise that helped identify where the platform’s content can be refined and where it can be expanded to cover additional aviation domains.

Workshop

Why involve industry early

Aviation education has a long tradition of being shaped jointly by academia and industry — but in practice, this dialogue often happens too late, when curricula are already designed and digital tools are already built. The AVIONIC workshop model reversed that pattern: industry stakeholders were brought in during the development phase, with concrete deliverables to review and improve.

This approach has two practical benefits:

  • the adoption path is smoother, because industry partners are already familiar with the tool before it reaches the broader market
  • the final product is more relevant to actual industry needs and operational contexts

Outcomes and next steps

The workshop produced a clear list of feedback points that the AVIONIC project team integrated in the months that followed. The Avionic Learning Platform continued to evolve until its formal launch at the project’s closing conference in Madrid in September 2025.

Related

8:13 AM 23Jan, 2025
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