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Dr. Marius-Ionuț Ungureanu — Department Chair

Dr. Marius-Ionuț Ungureanu

Department chair

Message from the Chair

Public health is about improving people's lives through the research we conduct and the professionals we train to carry out that mission. At the Department of Public Health, we believe that meaningful impact comes from bridging the gap between evidence and action. Our work spans classrooms, communities, and policy-making offices, connecting rigorous research with real-world change.

In an age when information is everywhere, and artificial intelligence can answer almost any question, you might wonder what a university can still offer. The answer is simple: knowledge is not the same as judgment. We teach our students to think critically, question sources, collaborate across disciplines, and apply evidence ethically in complex, real-world situations. And we go beyond the classroom: one in three of our students is actively involved in research, and through our network of practicum partners, they apply what they learn in real professional settings. These experiences, such as working alongside researchers, engaging with communities, and solving problems that matter, cannot be replicated by a screen.

Since becoming Romania's first English-taught undergraduate program in public health in 2015, we have grown into a vibrant community of scholars, practitioners, and future leaders working alongside partners across Europe and beyond.

Whether you are a prospective student, researcher, or partner, I invite you to explore what we do and consider how we might work together toward healthier communities in Romania and globally.

Our mission

We train the next generation of public health professionals by offering state-of-the-art knowledge and experiential learning as part of our Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs. Through evidence-based research and international collaboration, we work to improve population health and strengthen health systems in Romania and beyond.

Our journey

Our history

The Department of Public Health was established in 2005 as the Center for Health Policy and Public Health within the Faculty of Political, Administrative, and Communication Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

The Center was developed through a defining partnership with the University of Iowa College of Public Health, supported by Fogarty International Center grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. This collaboration established training programs in injury prevention, environmental health, and non-communicable diseases.

In 2015, the Center formally became the Department of Public Health, coinciding with the launch of the Bachelor's program in Public Health Services and Policies, the first undergraduate public health program taught in English in Central and Eastern Europe.

Today, the Department has produced 11 cohorts of Bachelor's graduates, 9 cohorts of Master of Public Health graduates, and 1 cohort of Master in Health Policy and Healthcare Management graduates.

Our institutional home

Part of Romania's leading public university

College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences

The College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences is part of Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and is known as one of the youngest and most dynamic faculties. The mission of the faculty is to form professionals in political, administrative, and communication domains, building a strong bond between education and the labour market.

Babeș-Bolyai University

Babeș-Bolyai University is the leading public institution of higher education in Romania. With a history that dates back to 1579 and headquartered in Cluj-Napoca, it is the largest university in Romania, with an estimated 40,000 students.

Contact us

Address

No. 7 Pandurilor Street, 9th floor (entrance from 52-54 Plopilor Street), Cluj-Napoca 400095, Romania

Phone

0264-431-505 (press 2), interior 6207