Why Romania?
What made you choose Romania as your study destination?
Every time people ask me this question, I somehow do not know what to answer. But now I can confidently say that I chose Romania as my study destination because of its beautiful nature, great hospitality, delicious food, and the fact that Romania, as part of the EU and the Schengen Area, offers amazing opportunities. It’s the perfect place to study abroad without worrying about your future career, you can openly and widely access opportunities across Europe.
How has your experience in Romania been so far?
Tell us about your studies, daily life, and what stands out most to you. (In what ways has this experience supported your
academic or professional growth?)
My studies in Technical Project Management at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca have given me a strong foundation in managing projects while emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. Beyond the classroom, my involvement with the Indonesian Students’ Association in Romania as Head of Creative Design, and the Overseas Indonesian Students’ Association Alliance as Head of Multimedia and Content Production, has allowed me to apply what I have learned in real contexts. Managing creative teams and producing content for international audiences has strengthened my leadership, communication, and time management skills. These experiences taught me how to balance technical precision with creativity and cultural awareness.
What do you think about your study programme, instructors (teachers, staff), and university facilities?
How do they compare with what you expected before coming here?
I have received a lot of help from the International Relations Office, the kind faculty secretariat, and very supportive professors. Before starting each class, many of them kindly ask whether I understand Romanian, and if I do not fully grasp the lesson that day, I can always reach out to them for further explanations, either through messages or direct discussions. Speaking of facilities, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca provides excellent facilities, both in the student accommodations, such as a free laundry room, a clean kitchen, a study and conference room, a library, a football field and for academic buildings, they provide many laboratory rooms which support our courses and other facilities.
What have you learned in Romania — academically, professionally, or personally?
What’s something valuable you can truly say “I learned that in Romania”?
Being an international student means stepping out of your comfort zone and overcoming challenges on your own. Personally, I have always been an introverted person who does not enjoy long conversations because they can be draining. However, since coming to Romania and becoming a student ambassador, I have learned to open up more, to be cheerful, enjoy meeting new people, and bring joy to the table. Academically and professionally, I have also grown so much through Romania’s education system, the life lessons shared by professors, and the professional experiences I have gained from my colleagues. All of these have taught me valuable lessons which only I Learned that in Romania.
What do you enjoy most about living in Romania?
(It could be about the culture, people, food, cities, or your university experience)
As an Asian, I can be a bit picky with food sometimes, but Romania is a special exception for me. I have truly enjoyed its traditional dishes like sarmale, ciorbă, zacusca, papanași, and even something as simple as gogoși which made by simple ingredients and no need special method. The warm hospitality of the Romanian people has also made me feel at home, so I have never really felt homesick during my studies. So far, I have visited a few cities and I have loved the authenticity and charm of every city. I also learned that in Cluj-Napoca, people use a simple slang word “ioi” as an expression for all kinds of situations, or you can use “no” which a discourse particle that can mean “well,” “so,” “come on,” “yeah,” “okay,” or even “right?” depending on tone and context.
Do you have any advice for future international students considering studying in Romania?
What would you say to someone thinking about studying in Romania?
For anyone thinking about studying in Romania; do not overthink it, just go for it! At first, it might feel unfamiliar, but you will soon realize how warm and open people are here. Try the traditional food, join local events, and explore the country, because every city has its own story.
Also, be prepared to learn in different ways. Romanian universities encourage critical thinking and hands-on experience. And trust me, once you feel the support from your classmates, professors, and even random locals, you will understand why so many international students fall in love with this place.