Biography
Sorin Cîmpeanu was born in Bucharest on April 18, 1968. In 1986, he graduated from the city's Saint Sava National College, and then, in 1991, the Faculty of Land Improvements and Environmental Engineering of the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMV). After, graduating the university, for a year, he was a design engineer at the Institute of Studies and Designs for Land Improvements. In 1992, he started his university career, following all the stages: preparatory (1992–1995), research assistant (1995–1997), head of works (1997–2001), lecturer (2001–2006), and professor (since 2006). Since 2006, he has been a PhD supervisor. He was a vice-dean of the Faculty of Land Improvement and Environmental Engineering at the USAMV (2004–2008), later, the dean (2008–2012), and then, from March 2012 to December 2014, he became the rector of the University. He is a member of several professional associations and organizations, including: National Administration of Land Improvements, Romanian General Association of Engineers, Romanian Foundation for Rural Development, National Society for Soil Science, National Association of University Managers, National Committee for Drought Control, Land Desertification and Degradation, Centre for Research in Rural Engineering and Environmental Protection and Centre for Research in the Field of Biotechnologies.Political career
As Minister of Education
First term
Cîmpeanu was appointed Minister of National Education in the Fourth Ponta Cabinet, on 17 December 2014. During his first mandate, Cîmpeanu initiated the controversial Emergency Ordinance that amnestied plagiarists, allowing doctors to give up the title, given that then Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, was accused of plagiarizing his doctoral thesis. Subsequently, lawmakers voted against this ordinance. Cîmpeanu was not part of aSecond and third terms
This time as a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Cîmpeanu was once again appointed Minister of Education on 23 December 2020, this time in the Cîțu Cabinet. The reason given by then PNL president Ludovic Orban was that "Cîmpeanu is the guarantee of the implementation of the program ''România Educată'' (Educated Romania)", which was first announced in 2016 by President of Romania Klaus Iohannis. His appointment in the Cîțu Cabinet was criticized due to his activity in the first mandate, particularly around the legislation "that protected those found to have plagiarised their academic theses". On 25 November 2021, he was subsequently appointed for the same ministerial position in the Ciucă Cabinet, the successor of the Cîțu cabinet, for a third term. Nonetheless, his second and third terms were both marked by theAs acting Prime Minister
After his appointment, Cîmpeanu assured investors and creditors that "Romania is and must remain a factor of stability". He also told Romanians that as balanced an economy as possible is needed in order to preserve trust in the country. He also indicated that the interim government would continue to work on the country's 2016 budget plans, although it is not empowered to pass new laws.Scientific and Research Activity
Sorin Cîmpeanu has written over 80 scientific articles and 11 specialty books/ university manuals, participating in over 60 projects as a member of the pool of experts or expert consultant, among which in three international projects. Since 2012, Cîmpeanu is the corresponding member of the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences, Corresponding member of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences "Gheorghe Ionescu Șișești" and general secretary of the National Council for the Certification of Titles, Diplomas and University Certificates, and since 2013, the president of the National Council of the Rectors of Romania.Awards and honors
Sorin Cîmpeanu was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa from several Romanian universities: Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (2014), University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (2015), University of Craiova (2017), the Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy (2018), Ovidius University from Constanța (2018), the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (2018), and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (2018). In 2002, he was honored with the "In Hoc Signo Vinces" award for his research activity by the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education, in 2004 he received the Medal "Merit for Education" awarded by the Presidency of Romania, and in 2013, he received the distinction "Personality of the Year for a European Romania", granted by the EUROLINK - The House of Europe Foundation.References
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