Abstract:

Preparing students requires a special attention because they are closest to the time of their entry on the labor market. Studies undertaken in education show a major discrepancy between the students’ practical preparation and the requirements in the practical sphere where they will work, which demonstrates the need for including more practical aspects in the university curricula. The project we propose answers at least two requirements of the education system in terms of fund raising and achieving effective collaboration between the academic and practical fields.
Our paper presents a master's program started in August 2010. Known as “Audit and financial management of the European funds”, our master program is financed under the European project entitled “Adaptation of the university curricula for master to the labor market requirements in Romania, in the field of the projects financed from the structural and cohesion European funds”. The master program covers two years of studies for three generation of students and will be coordinated by a partnership of two important universities in Romania.
One of the project’s activities refers to the establishment of a university curriculum to include, in addition to the existing disciplines in the field, at least 10 new teaching courses in auditing and financial management of the projects financed from the structural and cohesion funds. Furthermore, the aim of the program is to educate at least 300 students of the two faculties involved in the project (150 students for each faculty during the three years of implementation). Courses and seminars will not only have an educational character, but will be combined with an extensive practical training provided by the specialists from the labor market which operate in the European projects. In addition to teaching, students will be able to participate in four scientific sessions and four workshops with participants from both campuses and beyond, and the best presentations will be awarded. Major benefits will also have the academic teachers from the two faculties, by the fact that they will be able to publish at least 20 specialized courses, including 8 courses completely new. Exchange of teaching staff between the two partner universities will contribute to improving teaching methodologies. The practitioners involved in the project will be able to contribute to the preparation of the students according to the needs of the labor market, so that their insertion in the practical field after the graduation will become easier. The project is one with a major impact, and by now the results are exceptional.

Keywords:

Curriculum, European funds, practical implications.