Optic fibres and their networks are essential in today's world. They enable fast and efficient transmission of data, images, and sound worldwide. These technologies have transformed the way we communicate and interact globally and are crucial for the continuous development of digital society.
The growing labour market demand for telecommunication experts is strongly voiced by Cornel Bărbuț, Vice President of Fiber Optic Association (AFOR), who supports the idea that initial vocational education and training (IVET) students need to have the option to specialise in the field and have access to highly demanded and financially rewarding future careers.
The project Experts and centres of excellence in telecommunications involved AFOR and WorldSkills Romania to contribute to shaping the next generation of telecommunications professionals according to international standards.
The project has already offered 23 IVET teachers specialised in-company training in optic fibre networks, introduced the optic fibre networks subject for IVET students in telecommunication colleges as part of their ‘locally developed curriculum’, offered training to more than 300 students from 10 IVET schools of telecommunications across the country, established 10 centres of vocational excellence in telecommunications within IVET schools, and updated their laboratory equipment with the necessary tools for building networks.
In addition, in May-June 2024 the project organised a national competition for optic fibre networks. It focused exclusively on practical challenges, based on the WorldSkills format. Ten finalists from 10 IVET schools were selected to compete in the national phase in Cluj-Napoca. The best three formed the WorldSkills Romania national team.
Intensive training of the national team for the European and International WorldSkills Competitions in Information Network Cabling was supported by AFOR and WorldSkills Romania. An international skills exchange was hosted in July 2024 by Vcom Education, Guangdong Industry Polytechnic University (GIPU), where IVET Romanian students and industry representatives shared their best practices and discussed challenges and solutions.
Stefan-Mario Stan, a student at Gheorghe Airinei Technical College of Post and Telecommunications Bucharest, selected from the team to represent Romania in the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 competition, demonstrated an outstanding performance in the information network cabling, showcasing achievements in skill enhancement and innovative applicationst.
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| Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Romania, & Cedefop (2025, January 22). Romania: growing demand for telecom qualifications. National news on VET. |