INDES – Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities
(INDES – Incluziune, Diversitate și Egalitate de Șanse)

The INDES project – Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities – was launched with the aim of promoting the educational offer of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu” among students from disadvantaged communities and supporting young people from these backgrounds to become students of our university. At the same time, current students at risk could benefit from preparatory courses for the entrance exam, through soft skills training sessions, mock job interviews and financial support.

One of the activities carried out in the project was the promotion of the educational offer of UMF “Iuliu Hatieganu” in 6 high schools in rural areas and towns under 10.000 inhabitants in the North-West region. Teachers and students of the three faculties of the university were involved in these activities. The activities included visits to four high schools in Cluj county: “Dumitru Tăuțan” Theoretical High School Florești, “Gelu Voievod” Theoretical High School Gilău, “Octavian Goga” Theoretical High School Huedin, “Vlădeasa” Technological High School Huedin and three other high schools in Bistrița-Năsăud county, in Feldru, Maieru and Rodna. Students from these high schools were informed about the offer of our university and about the special places for those coming from rural high schools. They also received promotional material and talked with teachers and students who participated in the visits.

Other specific activities included six career guidance and counselling seminars, also for students from rural areas and high schools in towns with less than 10,000 inhabitants, with the aim of guiding young people towards higher education by completing and interpreting a career test and supporting students with very good results in school.

During the guidance and counselling seminars organised in the 7 high schools, students completed an online career guidance questionnaire. 21 young people with very good academic results who attended the seminars and expressed their interest in applying to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hațieganu” in Cluj-Napoca received prizes consisting of promotional items.

Establishment of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Centre – INDES, a structure that will be responsible for the objectives related to equal opportunities, non-discrimination and inclusion of people with disabilities. At the same time, the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities has been established under the supervision of the Prorectorate for Academic Development and University Administration, an Introductory Guide and materials presenting the centre have been developed.

100 UMF “Iuliu Hațieganu” students at risk benefited from soft skills training sessions, as well as a series of training courses in the areas of problem solving, assertive communication, stress management, decision making and taking responsibility, time management, conflict management, emotional intelligence, creativity and critical thinking, ethics, organized on 23 November and 7 December 2022.

Under the project, 100 students at risk of dropping out received financial support of 800 lei for two months. As for the management of the project, the funds came from the Educational Development Fund for 2022, respectively from own contribution. The objectives and results of the project were 100% achieved.