self evaluation report - Universitatea de Ştiinţe Agricole şi Medicină ...

international research papers and journals; the University has provided 307 internet rooms (with 50
computers each) opened for students free access, in the Campus and in the university’s Library. Increasing the
use of the eLearning platform in the teaching activity represents a target which can be fulfilled by a joint effort
of the teaching staff (by providing more learning material and involving the platform’s facilities in the teaching
process), of the students, and of the administration (by making the platform more user-friendly).
Investments in the development of modern laboratories and teaching rooms provide students with access to
up-to-date concepts, methods and tools, creating a support network for students. Publication and
documentation resources are available through the University library, as well as through individual faculty
resource centers, with basic subscriptions constantly renewed. There is also useful information related to
opportunities and services offered by the university, published on the university web site.
The Student Guide offers comprehensive information about all the university facilities, and useful informations
about the city.
The University is constantly investing in increasing the comfort in the students’ residences. Currently, the
students’ residences are located closely to University Campus and in the Agronomia students’ residence,
offering over 1047 accommodation places, fully refurbished in the past four years, with video-surveillance
systems and Internet connection in each room. The sports facilities (Sports Halls and Grounds) are constantly
developed; a University Sports Club, a folkloric music team “Traditii”, is also part of USAMV Cluj-Napoca. The
Students’ Club and Pub are very active and visible throughout the academic community (see: Appendix –
Facilities for students).
The Student associations are active components concerning the support services provided for the students.
They are self funded, by student programs, and provide a wealth of information, communication sessions,
competitions, debates, cultural activities, trainings (sales, marketing, and fundraising), festivals and cultural
exchanges. They are flexible organizations in which any student can be part. The student associations offer
information on professional and career development, mainly through career events in which companies
participate. The student associations’ network is one of the major factor that contribute to the enhancement
of students’ achievements by all the services they provide. It is felt, however, that the University could support
these associations even more, maybe by a more active involvement of the faculties and the study program
tutors.
International exchange programs for students (Erasmus, Leonardo) represent excellent opportunities for
students to acquire educational and research experience abroad, and are actively promoted, including those
managed by the students associations.
The University developed a Career Orientation Information and Consultancy Centre, in 2006, offering career
advice and specialized consultancy (e.g. the Student Guide in relation to career opportunities), and organizes
periodical Job Fares; still, the students ask for more support in career and professional orientation services.
Other support services that aim to enhance student development are the USAMV Cluj-Napoca and the
faculties’ sites, a financial support system for the financially disadvantaged students (social scholarships, tax
reduction), as well as for top performers (who are also rewarded by the University by a special excursion to
partner EU universities and foreign country visits), public transportation subventions (the local bus network
and national railway service), as well as the student medical health centre.
4.5. Funding
USAMV Cluj-Napoca is financed based on public funding, and on funds resulted from students’ fees, RTD and
education & training grants and contracts, sponsorship, etc.
The public financing is yearly allocated based on: (1) the number of budget-funded students and (2) on quality
criteria. The percentage of financing based on quality criteria is yearly increasing, being 30% in 2010.
Therefore, the public share of the university budget is carefully designed by a steady increase in the number of
budgetary students (with a focus on master and doctoral students), while continuously enhancing in the
quality of the academic processes according to the standards and indicators defined by the assessment bodies
Page 18 SELF-EVALUATION REPORT, March, 2012