Urban Practitioners Network

The Urban Practitioners Network is a space for common support and sharing innovative practices between motivated urban professionals. The Network is now being established and aims to bring together professionals from various countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEAM

Team Proiect Urban Practitioners Network

Ana-Maria Chirila, M.A.

Team Proiect Urban Practitioners Network

Lev Fejes, Ph.D.

Team Proiect Urban Practitioners Network

Mihai Racu, Ph.D.

Team Proiect Urban Practitioners Network

Ștefan Cibian, Ph.D.

Ana-Maria Chirila, M.A.

Since the beginning of her career, she has been an active participant in the community while supporting the activity of the Institute and the Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation. She holds a BA in Biotechnical Systems Engineering and an MA in Environmental Engineering.  Ana-Maria considers that community engagement is an important part of one’s life, therefore, it is important that we create and collaborate, as we are sharing life experiences every day. Ana-Maria is passionate about exploring new places and sports, such as endurance biking, swimming, and hiking.
 
FRI PublicationsExpert CommentsNews and mass-mediaOther publicationsEvents

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Lev Fejes, Ph.D.

Lev holds a doctorate in criminal justice from the School of Criminal Justice within Michigan State University (MSU) and an MA in Nonprofit Organization Management from Babeș-Bolyai University. As the Head of Research at the Association for Community Relations (ARC) he is responsible for coordinating the organization’s research efforts related to philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. He is a founding member of the Initiative for European Democratic Culture (ICDE) think-tank, and a Research Fellow at the Făgaraș Research Institute and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD). An enthusiast of research methods, at ARC he utilizes his research experience developed at the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) within MSU in designing and implementing studies aimed at furthering the understanding of philanthropic behavior in Romania and at informing decisions with regards to the development needs of Romanian NGOs. In his other capacities, Lev pursues various topics related mainly to urban safety and policing. His area of expertise includes anti-counterfeiting strategies, consumer behavior, corporate social responsibility, philanthropy and public policy. His main academic research interests relate to criminology, product counterfeiting, policing and urban safety. He is also interested in more applied research on the topics of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility and is passionate about turning the world into a better place for each and all.

Mihai Racu, Ph.D.

Dr. Mihai Racu is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and Vice-president at the Romanian Architects’ Union Cluj Chapter. He is an architect and urban planner concerned with the sustainable development of the built environment. Since 2012 he’s been teaching at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He presented his PhD thesis concerning the coherence of recent Romanian urban developments analysed using digital methods in 2015. He published several articles that look at the particularities of urban sprawl in local contexts.

Ștefan Cibian, Ph.D.

Dr. Ștefan Cibian is a member of the Board and the executive director of the Făgăraș Research Institute. Stefan teaches courses related to international relations, international development, international organizations, peacebuilding, and postcolonial Africa at the M.A. in International Development at the Political Science Department, Babeș-Bolyai University and the M.A. in International Public Affairs at the Political Science Department, University of Bucharest. Previously, Stefan worked as an Academy Fellow at Chatham House – The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Africa Programme and Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs, the World Bank Group, the European Commission, the Association for Community Relations, and Central European University. His research interests include international development, community development, Africa-CEE-EU relations, development policy, international relations theory, peacebuilding, fragile states, the link between research, policy, and practice, higher education policy, and global affairs. Regarding his geographic focus, Stefan is primarily concerned with Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, the European Union, and transatlantic relations. Stefan is an Executive Committee member of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) and is a member of the International Studies Association, European International Studies Association, Central and Eastern Europe International Studies Association, and UACES. Stefan also focuses on civil society development in CEE. He is the President of ARCADIA – The Romanian Association for International Cooperation and Development and GRASP, and a Board Member with Țara Făgărașului Community Foundation (FCTF), UiPath Foundation, the Association for the Practice of Transformation, and the Romanian Federation of Community Foundations. Stefan is a member of the following networks: Bosch Alumni Network, BMW Responsible Leaders’ Network, and Mercator Foundation TEFF Alumni Network. Stefan received his Ph.D. in political science and international relations (2012) and his M.A. in public policy (2006) from Central European University. He holds a B.A. in political science (2004) from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and a B.A. in law (2005) from the 1st of December 1918 University, Alba Iulia, Romania. Stefan also studied or conducted research at Salzburg University, the University of Ljubljana, and UCLA.
FRI PublicationsExpert CommentsNews and mass-mediaOther publicationsEvents

Disbanding USAID – Stefan Cibian: “Cataclysm for the international development aid system”

Building and strengthening democratic ecosystems in local communities – A small guide

Mapping the mobilization of the Industry for Good® in countering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the level of the Cluj-Napoca Metropolitan Area

Effects of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – article

Transformative leadership for successful crisis management and effective multilateralism – Workshop

Book Launch – The Demographic Dividend and the Power of Youth

Daring New Spaces – Summit on the European Public Sphere

Interview – Daring New Spaces – Summit on the European Public Sphere

Desktop diplomacy: Training for European Diplomats

Brain Drain, Brain Gain and Social Innovation

Global Diplomacy Lab 2020 Summit

AIESEC 26: A Family Reunion

Mercator Winter Forum 2020

World Responsible Leaders Forum, Mexico

Pathways to Power Symposium: New Ways of Deciding and Doing. Taking #Shift the Power to the next level

Turkey – European Union Relations

The Europe of the Post-89ers

Emerging Engagements Between Central & Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa: Common Interests and Cooperation

The 11th Global Diplomacy Lab – Global Power Shifts: Political and Economic Inclusion for the Next Generation. Collaborating to Realize the Potential of the Demographic Dividend

Antall József Summer School, Budapesta

10th Global Diplomacy Lab – Collaborating to Realize the Potential of the Demographic Dividend in Africa: An Introduction to Ghana and Africa

Lithuanian Development Cooperation: Contribution to the Africa-EU Partnership

Atlas Network’s 2019 Europe Liberty Forum

Europe Think Tank Essentials Training Session, Belgrad

Turkey-Europe Future Forum Alumni Workshop

Departments/units: Policy Analysis and Outreach Department, Center on Global Affairs and Post Development

Regions: Europe, Global

Topics: Cities, Architecture and Urbanism, Philanthropy and Community Development, Civil Society, European Union

The project aims to build an interdisciplinary network of professionals who care for the quality of public and collective spaces, aimed at providing support and learning opportunities for its members. While we see a value-added for such a network in the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe, we foresee a global network that provides the necessary space for common support and sharing innovative practices. The project would consist of two parts. The first part consists in forming the interdisciplinary network of professionals working on increasing the quality of the built environment – public and collective spaces, with a special focus on rural areas and small towns, but not only. The second part is a regional launch event in the form of workshops focused on sharing experiences and good-/bad-practices.

International

Team: Silvia Chakarova and Nurhan Redzheb from Place make

Founder: International Alumni Center Berlin

Institutul de Cercetare Făgăraș