HISTORY, OVERVIEW, PERSPECTIVES
The tradition of higher technical education in Targu Mures dates back to 1976, when the Institute of Higher Education focused on the preparation of specialists in the technical field, in three specializations. Later, it became a Technical University, operating with four sectors of mechanical and electrical engineering specializations. With this structure, generations of highly dedicated professors of our university have developed a diversified institutional higher education system. Today, professors and students from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology contribute their work and passion for technology, adding value to the activity of the university in the spiritual and material space of the Mures academic education.
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology is strategically oriented to develop educational and research programs that address the critical needs of the profession, as well as the vast social needs.
The faculty offers undergraduate degrees in each of the three cycles of study: bachelor, master and PhD. All these are accredited by the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (RAQAHE).
There is a great diversity of specializations: Automation and Applied Informatics, Power Systems Engineering, Medical Engineering, Computer Science, Machine Building Technology, and Economic-Industrial Engineering. The multicultural character of the university and the labor market requirements have facilitated the introduction of courses in Computer Science in the Hungarian language. The offer of study programmes in foreign languages will be further expanded.
Graduates of bachelor studies have the possibility to continue the professional preparation through master’s degree programmes accredited by RAQAHE, in each undergraduate programme of the faculty.
The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology includes a Doctoral School preparing doctoral candidates in two scientific areas: Engineering-Management, and Computer Science.
The study programmes are included in „European Engineering Education Database” and are listed in the European Engineering Ranking Engirank.
The development vision of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology is to reach a leading position in the hierarchy of technical faculties at a national scale.
The educational programs are lined up with the current level of knowledge in the field, and their performances are regularly monitored through a system of indicators. The faculty curricula reflect the requirements of specialty training that have been identified along with our partners from the economic field, as well as our actual level of scientific knowledge from the technical fields.
The educational training, teaching, learning and tutoring processes use digital information resources. We implement a student-centered, interactive type of learning that uses innovative methods: Project- Based Learning, Problem- Based Learning, Blended- Learning, Mobile- Learning.
The professional training is approached horizontally through diversifying elective and optional courses in a new organizational framework.
By means of a process called “Smart Quality”, and with the use of the computerized evaluation platform, student feedback regarding the quality of educational services is collected each semester, in order to improve didactic and research processes within the University and to increase student satisfaction.
Each department from the Faculty has an academic e- Portfolio that records and makes students’ learning visible, directly impacting the attractiveness of faculty specializations.
The thesis papers and the dissertation work required upon completion of the study programmes are based on applicative research on subjects derived from the economic environment. The connection with the economic environment is enhanced by students’ internships, practical training or part-time employment.
The Faculty ensures students’ advanced training in scientific research methodology and provides the context of scientific student clubs. Research results are disseminated within the Innov8ing scientific student conference.
The concept of interdisciplinarity in Engineering is promoted among students through competitions in hackathon teams that address real issues from the industrial environment, with the participation of managers and specialists of the involved companies.
“Smart Recruitment” ensures the human resources capital, aiming to attract the best talents: students, teaching staff and specialists from the industry. The proactive measures of candidate recruitment are conducted in partnership with the Mures County School Inspectorate through activities such as “School in a different way”, which helps potential candidates discover the prospects of an engineering career prospects prior to university admission.
The Faculty has numerous contacts with employers from the region, which translated into a high number of partnership agreements for practical training assignments and internships, curriculum development, and lab development with the support of the companies: Bosch Rexroth, Azomures, Hirschmann.
The communication with the companies is facilitated by the platform u2b.umfst.ro, which is the online framework supporting the centralized and structured access of information related to the collaboration between the University and the economic environment.
The faculty organizes events such as “Employers’ week in the University”, and weekly meetings such as “Company hours”, where the economic agents present topical technical issues and facilitate students’ direct integration in the industry.
The micro-production center, fully equipped with industrial machinery and 3D printers, prepares students for industrial activity by producing industrial prototypes.
Engineering students may join ESTIEM students’ league, an independent organisation to which they may freely adhere. Volunteering activities are encouraged through the program Volunteer for the benefit of the University.
Students can apply to University-funded Erasmus+ outgoing mobility programs, for a period of one semester, in partner universities from across Europe.
The teaching staff periodically participates in training courses organized by foreign universities to stay updated with the latest technical knowledge. Specialists recognized both nationally and internationally are invited periodically for teaching.
The teaching and research laboratories are equipped with digitized teaching and research equipment. The Industry 4.0 and Intelligent Manufacturing laboratories are designed to illustrate the concepts of combining cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, and the Internet of Systems. They play a pioneering role in preparing students who will work in innovative enterprises and are training for a new paradigm of collaboration between humans and machines: Industry 5.0 and exponential technologies.
The laboratories and classrooms form a "Smart campus" modernized with the help of "green building" elements. Events related to environmental protection and sustainability are frequently organized in collaboration with relevant agencies and economic partners.
The scientific research activity within the faculty is conducted through three research centers: the Center for Advanced Research in Information Technology, the Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, and the Center for Research in Quality Engineering and Digital Manufacturing. The research strategy and topics align with the national research strategy and the priorities of the European Horizon 2020 program.
The faculty's scientific journal, "Acta Marisiensis – Seria Technologica," is published by DeGruyter – Sciendo and is indexed in numerous relevant databases, including Ebsco, Index Copernicus, ProQuest Engineering Journals, ProQuest Illustrata: Technology, ProQuest SciTech Journals, ProQuest Technology Journals, DRJI, DOAJ, Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory, and others.
Since 2003, the international conference "Interdisciplinarity in Engineering INTER-ENG" has been organized annually in the first decade of October, in partnership with prestigious institutions such as the Academy of Technical Sciences of Romania, McMaster University, Zagazig University, with continuous support from the Mureș County Council and the Târgu Mureș Local Council. The conference volumes are published by renowned international publishers such as Scopus, Springer, MDPI, and are indexed in the most representative databases, including Clarivate Analytics and Scopus.
Through initiatives that encourage innovative teaching models, the attraction of the most talented youth to academic life, and the stimulation of research excellence, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology is committed to achieving excellence in every activity.