The year of birth of the economic higher education in Oradea is 1991, when the Department of Economic and Juridical Sciences was set up within the Faculty of Letters and Sciences of University of Oradea, department that managed two study programs: Marketing and Tourism – Services and a total of 40 students. In the academic year 1992-1993, the department turns into the Faculty of Economic and Juridical Sciences. In addition to the two initial study programs, that of Management is now established. The high demand for specialists in the economic field in the north – west of the country led to the establishment in the next academic year, 1993-1994, of new study programs: Accounting and Management Informatics, Finance and Insurance, International transactions. Starting with the academic year 1995-1996, the students could also opt for part-time studies, and since 1999-2000 they could opt for the form of distance learning.
In the over 25 years that have elapsed since his birth, Faculty of Economic Sciences has developed continuously on the basis of the seven fields of study (Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, International Economic Relations) whose foundation stone was laid in the period 1991-1994, becoming, thanks to the success of our graduates on the local and regional labour market, a prestigious institution of higher education and life-long learning in Economic Sciences in the North – West of Romania.
Developing from a total of 40 students in 1991, respectively two study programs under provisional authorization, the Faculty of Economics prepares today over 1,200 students within 8 study programs for Undergraduate Studies, among which 2 are taught in English: Business Administration and International Business, and 6 in Romanian: Masters and PhD. Currently, the educational offer of the Faculty of Economic Sciences includes six accredited study programs for undergraduate studies, both full-time study and distance learning, namely: Economics of Trade, Tourism and Services; International Business; Accounting and Management Informatics; Finance and Banks; Management; Marketing; 11 accredited master programs, among which 3 are taught in English: Master in Business Administration, Master in International Business, Advanced Management, and 8 in Romanian: Administration of Internal and International Business of SMEs; Administration of Regional Business; Accounting, Audit and Business Management; Economics and Business Administration in Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Finance, Banks and Insurances; Management of Organization; Marketing and Communication in Business; European Economic Relations, and a Doctoral School in the field of Economics.
The economic and social life has permanently shown us that there is increasingly larger demand for the study programs provided by our Faculty. Our graduates are among the first to find a job on the regional market.
The Faculty of Economic Sciences has formed so far over 10,000 graduate economists, 4,000 postagraduate (master) students, and over 30 PhDs in Economics – see Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1: Evolution of the number of undergratuate students and alumni in the period 1991-2016
Figure 2: Evolution of the number of gratuate (master) students and alumni in the period 1991-2016
Considering the evolution of the number of students, of study programs, of the distance learning education and masters and doctoral education, we are proud to be the most dynamic faculty of the University of Oradea.
Through numerous research and development projects and through partnerships developed by our faculty, we are responsibly involved in the regional economic development and European integration of Romania and we represent an active promoter of European values in the local community.
We want this academic record to evolve upward to enhance the reputation of the faculty and to achieve as soon as possible the requirements and standards of the European Higher Education System. We are aware that our success, and our graduates’, in terms of integration into the European Union, is based on the development of competitive advantages. Therefore, our actions are constantly aimed at encouraging active partnership between the faculty and the business environment in the interests of the local community, increasing the quality of the educational programs offered and developing international relations.