G.E. Palade UMPhST of Târgu Mureș and the Romanian Football Federation are opening a new chapter in sports education and research through the signing of an innovative collaboration protocol.

Professor Leonard Azamfirei, PhD, Rector of the University, and Răzvan Burleanu, President of the Romanian Football Federation, highlighted their mutual commitment to developing educational programmes and advancing research in key areas such as sports medicine and performance training. The partnership also aims to support a variety of community-focused projects that promote sports engagement.

This strategic protocol – endorsed and supported by Olympic champion Gabriela Szabo, currently a scientific researcher at UMPhST’s Centre for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research (CCAMF) – has the potential to reshape the landscape of Romanian sport and education. Beyond its formal framework, it serves as a crucial bridge between two closely interlinked spheres: academia and athletic performance.

UMPhST has long been recognised as a centre of continual advancement. In the realm of sport, where structured training is essential, this partnership offers students direct access to the world of professional football. It will provide internships, specialised courses, collaborative research initiatives, and genuine career opportunities. In modern football, talent alone is no longer sufficient – success depends on scientific insight, strategy, data analysis, nutrition, recovery, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Here, the university plays a vital role: delivering applied research and training specialists capable of raising the level of professionalism in Romanian football.

Together with the Romanian Football Federation, this collaborative approach is expected to produce tangible results – not only on the pitch and in research laboratories, but also in the lives of young people, empowering them to become both skilled athletes and responsible citizens.