Sorin Cîmpeanu

Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu (Romanian pronunciation: [soˈrin miˈhaj kɨmˈpe̯anu]) is a Romanian politician who served as Minister of Education in Ciucă Cabinet. He had previously held the same position in Ponta IV and Cîțu cabinets, and, between 5 and 17 November 2015, acted as Prime Minister of Romania,^[1][2] after President Klaus Iohannis accepted Prime Minister Ponta's resignation. Klaus Iohannis's appointment of Sorin Cîmpeanu was just a stopgap measure until a new candidate for the post was selected.^[3]

Sorin Cîmpeanu
Cîmpeanu in 2015
Prime Minister of Romania
Acting
In office 5 November 2015 – 17 November 2015
President	Klaus Iohannis
Preceded by	Victor Ponta
Succeeded by	Dacian Cioloș
Minister of National Education
In office 23 December 2020 – 29 September 2022
Prime Minister	Florin Cîțu Nicolae Ciucă
Preceded by	Monica Anisie
Succeeded by	Ligia Deca
In office 17 December 2014 – 17 November 2015
Prime Minister	Victor Ponta Himself
Preceded by	Remus Pricopie
Succeeded by	Adrian Curaj
Member of the Senate of Romania
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 December 2020
Constituency	Bucharest
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 21 December 2016 – 20 December 2020
Constituency	Bucharest
Personal details
Born	Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu (1968-04-18) 18 April 1968 (age 56) Bucharest, Romania
Political party	National Liberal Party (2020–present)
Other political affiliations	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (2015–2017) PRO Romania (2017–2020)
Alma mater	University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine National Intelligence Academy

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).^[4] After, graduating the university, for a year, he was a design engineer at the Institute of Studies and Designs for Land Improvements.^[5]

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).^[4] Since 2006, he has been a PhD supervisor.^[4] 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.^[4]

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.^[4]

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,^[6] 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 a political party at that time; he was proposed and supported on the education portfolio in the Ponta government by the Conservative Party leader Daniel Constantin. He is the suspended rector of the University of Agronomy in Bucharest and suspended president of the National Council of Rectors.

Second and third terms

This time as a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL),^[7] Cîmpeanu was once again appointed Minister of Education on 23 December 2020, this time in the Cîțu Cabinet.^[8] 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)",^[7] which was first announced in 2016 by President of Romania Klaus Iohannis.^[9] 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".^[10] 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.^[11]

Nonetheless, his second and third terms were both marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact on education. The pandemic led to nationwide school closures that had been in effect in Romania since 11 March 2020,^[12] with the exception of a period between 14 September and 8 November, during which schools were open fully or to some extent in localities where the incidence rate was below 3/1,000 inhabitants.^[13][14] The measure of school closures and transition to online learning was never implemented nationwide again after the reopening of schools on 8 February 2021,^[15] with physical presence being considered the most important objective.^[16]

In 2022, Cîmpeanu initiated several reforms, starting with the structure of the Romanian academic year, such as moving the first day of school to the first Monday of September and switching from two semesters to five so-called "modules",^[17][18] later continuing with new education laws.^[19] The reforms received significant criticism, resulting even in a petition demanding "the firing of Cîmpeanu and withdrawal of the education laws", considering the laws "a new impulse given [to] [...] the industry of meditations and the industry of plagiarism".^[20] Cîmpeanu himself had been accused of plagiarism.^[21] Cîmpeanu responded to the accusations by arguing they are aimed at blocking the education laws from being adopted.^[22] On 29 September 2022, he resigned as Minister of Education,^[23] under public pressure following allegations that he had plagiarized a university course he had taught.^[24]

As 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.^[25]

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.^[26]

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.^[27] 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.^[27]

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),^[28] the Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy (2018),^[29] Ovidius University from Constanța (2018),^[30] the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (2018),^[31] and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (2018).^[32]

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,^[33] in 2004 he received the Medal "Merit for Education" awarded by the Presidency of Romania,^[34] and in 2013, he received the distinction "Personality of the Year for a European Romania", granted by the EUROLINK - The House of Europe Foundation.^[35]

References

1. "Klaus Iohannis îl numeşte premier interimar pe ministrul Educaţiei, Sorin Cîmpeanu. "Am decis să chem la consultări societatea civilă şi strada"". Mediafax. 5 November 2015.
2. Larisa Bernaschi, Carmen Vintilă (5 November 2015). "Ministrul Educaţiei, Sorin Câmpeanu, premier interimar. Klaus Iohannis, către protestatari: "V-am văzut, v-am auzit, voi ține cont de solicitările voastre!. Voi convoca societatea civilă și strada la consultări"". Evenimentul Zilei.
3. Kit Gillet (5 November 2015). "Sorin Cimpeanu Is Appointed Interim Prime Minister of Romania". The New York Times.
4. Marina Bădulescu, ed. (5 November 2015). "Sorin Cîmpeanu, numit premier interimar - fișă biografică". Agerpres.
5. "Biografie: Sorin Cîmpeanu, rector la Agronomie, vine la Ministerul Educației". Mediafax. 14 December 2014.
6. Raluca Pantazi (5 November 2015). "Cine este Sorin Cîmpeanu și cum a ajuns noul prim-ministru interimar. Cîmpeanu a inițiat Ordonanța care permitea amnistierea plagiatorilor". HotNews.
7. "Orban despre numirea lui Câmpeanu la Educație, după o serie de scandaluri privind plagiatul: "E garanția implementării programului România Educată"".
8. "Miniștrii Guvernului Cîțu, avizați pe repede înainte / Document programul de guvernare".
9. "Au trecut cinci ani de când a început proiectul "România Educată". De la promisiuni la "discuții constructive"".
10. "Women left out in the cold as Florin Cîțu becomes Romania's PM". 24 December 2020.
11. "Cum arată Guvernul Ciucă. Rotativă în 2023 pentru premier și trei ministere. Premierul desemnat, prima ședință cu miniștrii propuși". 23 November 2021.
12. "Orban: Toate școlile din România se închid în perioada 11-22 martie. Măsura ar putea fi prelungită".
13. "Klaus Iohannis: Școala începe la 14 septembrie. Majoritatea elevilor vor merge fizic la instituțiile de învățământ". 7 August 2020.
14. "Toate școlile din România se vor închide de luni. Orban. "Măsurile nu au dat rezultate"".
15. "Școlile din România se redeschid din 8 februarie / Klaus Iohannis: De luni, majoritatea copiilor merg fizic la școală".
16. "Sorin Cîmpeanu, criticat de George Simion la audieri că l-a lăsat pe Arafat să ia decizii în educație. Ministrul a primit însă aviz pozitiv".
17. "Radu Szekely, consilierul ministrului Educației: S-a luat hotărârea ca școala să înceapă de acum înainte în prima zi de luni a lunii septembrie / În mod normal, media semestrială nu are o justificare pedagogică". www.edupedu.ro (in Romanian). 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
18. "Structura anului școlar 2022-2023. Care sunt principalele modificări și când au vacanțe elevii". Stirileprotv.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2022-09-07.
19. Cornea, Ovidiu (24 August 2022). "Legile Educației: dezbaterea s-a încheiat, controversele au rămas. De ce refuză ministrul continuarea discuțiilor". Europa Liberă România (in Romanian). Retrieved 2022-09-07.
20. "O petiție pentru demiterea ministrului Cîmpeanu și retragerea proiectelor legilor Educației a strâns peste 10.000 de semnături după 18 ore de la lansare". G4Media.ro (in Romanian). 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
21. "Emilia Șercan publică plagiatul comis de ministrul educației, Sorin Cîmpeanu, care și-a însușit 92 de pagini din munca a doi profesori într-un curs universitar. Apoi le-a furat de tot lucrarea, semnându-se el" (in Romanian). 26 September 2022.
22. "Prima reacție a lui Cîmpeanu, după acuzațiile de plagiat: Principalul obiectiv e blocarea legilor educației". www.edupedu.ro (in Romanian). 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
23. "Sorin Cîmpeanu anunță că a demisionat din funcția de ministru al Educației". G4 Media (in Romanian). 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
24. "Romanian education minister resigns after plagiarism accusations". Reuters. September 30, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
25. "Romania names new interim prime minister amid tension over nightclub fire". 5 November 2015.
26. "Romania appoints new interim PM after deadly nightclub fire". 5 November 2015.
27. Eliza Avram (5 November 2015). "Biografia lui Cîmpeanu: Șeful Consiliului Rectorilor, după Ecaterina Andronescu, a scris 11 cărți". România liberă.
28. "Sorin Cîmpeanu, Doctor Honoris Causa al Universității din Craiova". Gazeta de Sud. 27 October 2017.
29. "Domnul prof. univ. dr. Sorin-Mihai Cîmpeanu, D.H.C. al Academiei Forțelor Terestre "Nicolae Bălcescu"". Academia Forțelor Terestre „Nicolae Balcescu” din Sibiu. 12 January 2018.
30. "Zilele Universității "Ovidius" 2018". Universitatea „Ovidius” din Constanța. 16 March 2018.
31. "Hotărârea nr. 11/09.02.2018 cu privire la aprobarea acordării titlului onorific de "Doctor Honoris Causa" domnului prof. univ. dr. Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu" (PDF). Senatul Universitar. Academia de Studii Economice din București.
32. "Doctor Honoris Causa al USAMV Cluj, pentru fostul ministru al Educației, Sorin Cîmpeanu". Radio România Cluj. 17 July 2018.
33. "Premiile CNCSIS 2002" (PDF). Unitatea Executivă pentru Finanțarea Învățământului Superior, a Cercetării, Dezvoltării și Inovării.
34. "Medalia "Meritul pentru Învățământ"". Cancelaria Ordinelor.
35. "Doctor Honoris Causa, prof. univ. dr. Sorin-Mihai Cîmpeanu". University of Craiova.

External links

• on gov.ro

Political offices
Preceded by Victor Ponta	Prime Minister of Romania Acting 2015	Succeeded by Dacian Cioloș