The 2023 activity report of the Doctoral School of Automatic Control and Computers (SD-AC) will be presented by the SD-AC Director during the General Assembly on December 11, 2023; the report summarizes the school’s academic results, research projects, and strategic directions.
Admissions and Student Progress
The 2023 admission session concluded with 75 admitted candidates (54 in Computers and Information Technology – CTI and 21 in Systems Engineering – IS), 70 of whom secured state-funded places. As of October 2023, the monthly doctoral scholarship was set at 3,200 RON, and female students account for approximately 40% of the total cohort. Across the entire Bucharest university center, 565 doctoral students were admitted. Plans for the 2024 admission cycle include updating the methodology, establishing a four-year program duration, and potentially introducing the field of Computer Science.
Human Resources and New Habilitations
The faculty has expanded to include Anca Morar and Radu-Ioan Ciobanu as full members, while five other professors (C. Chiru, M. Dascălu, M. Popovici, E. Apostol, C. Truică) are currently undergoing CNATDCU validation. Additionally, the new CNATDCU minimum standards for habilitation were reviewed, covering Web of Science (WoS) publications, Q1/Q2 rankings, patenting, and research grants. Completion of Studies and Research Activity
In 2023, 44 doctoral theses were defended (31 in CTI, 13 in IS), marking an increase compared to 2022 (33 theses). The distinction *Summa cum laude* (Excellent) was awarded to 13 graduates, while 24 received *Magna cum laude* (Very Good). The OPTIM project concluded in November 2023, yielding 63 publications resulting from the work of 26 doctoral students and 9 post-doctoral researchers. The scientific performance of the SD-AC includes 96 ongoing projects (46 international) and over 244 publications (125 in journals, including 23 in Q1 and 33 in Q2).
International Events and Partnerships
The portfolio of events included the CSCS Doctoral Symposium and the Post-Doctoral Symposium. The “Studio et opere excellens” award was presented to Dr. Andrei Tănăsescu (CTI) and Dr. Andrei Sperilă (IS). Under the “Eugen Ionescu” Program, three trainees conducted activities in 2023, and applications for 2024 were reviewed.
Legislative Framework and Organization
The report highlights the impact of Law 199/2023: the duration of doctoral studies is set at four years (with the possibility of a one-year reduction); the supervision quota is limited to a maximum of eight doctoral students per supervisor (with exceptions allowing up to twelve starting in the 2026–2027 academic year); and an Academic Integrity Commission is introduced prior to the public defense. Internally, new student representatives to the SD-AC Council have been elected, the administrative team has been expanded, and plans are in place to open a dedicated office.
