Romania’s STEM Education Shines Through Global Olympiad Wins

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Romania nurtures young minds to become skilled problem solvers, critical thinkers, and innovators by introducing advanced coursework early in their schooling. Students go through a rigorous curriculum that prepares them to compete against top-ranked universities in international Olympiads, where they earn many medals, awards, and honors.

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at:

• What contributes to the success of Romania’s STEM education, including the curriculum, extracurricular programs, and support systems that shape students into Olympiad champions
• How Romania ranks in STEM Olympiads globally and in Central and Eastern Europe—and what it means for the country’s STEM workforce and overall IT industry

Plus, we’ll discuss how Softbinator Technologies offers the support, resources, and guidance that young STEM talent requires to succeed in software engineering and other tech areas.

STEM Education in Romania

1. Ranking in the STEM Education Excellence Index

Romania ranks 15th globally in the 2023 Index of Excellence in STEM Education based on student performance in top international competitions like Mathematics, Informatics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology Olympiads.

It’s worth noting that Romania:

• Outranks countries with highly competitive education systems—including Germany, Canada, and France
• Follows closely behind Poland, the top-ranking country in CEE, which holds the 12th position globally

This ranking confirms that Romanian students have the academic foundation to compete with the world’s most gifted minds in the toughest STEM competitions.

2. Curriculum Structure

Under the Ministry of Education’s oversight, Romania cultivates a well-rounded mix of high-level STEM competencies in students across the country. Here’s a summary of the educational stages and the STEM-centric curriculum.

Eurydice, a European Commission-affiliated group, highlights that Romania has made education a national priority. The Educated Romania project, set to run until 2030, aims to improve the country’s education system and focuses intensely on STEM. Key efforts include promoting STEM, training teachers, and establishing valuable partnerships—all initiatives that will likely continue to improve the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of the nationwide STEM curriculum.

Marius Dumitran, ACM-ICPC Team Coach who has qualified for the World Finals four times and Lecturer at the University of Bucharest, stresses the importance of active cooperation between the Romanian IT industry and academia to ensure that the STEM curriculum remains practical and up-to-date:

“Partnering with the IT industry enables academia to stay current with rapid technological advancements, conduct relevant applied research, and teach state-of-the-art technologies used in the industry.”

Alin Ștefănescu, Head of the Computer Science Department at the University of Bucharest, confirms that educational plans are updated based on input from tech industry partners:

“Formal partnerships have been established with companies such as Softbinator Technologies, Bitdefender, and others to facilitate in-depth curriculum discussions for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. Each year, the university also offers a range of optional courses—with a minimum of 10 proposed and taught by tech companies utilizing the latest technologies available.”

3. Specialized Extracurricular Programs

Outside the classroom, Romanian students get hands-on experience in STEM through extremely demanding education and training programs, competitive Olympiads and hackathons, and even volunteer projects.

4. Support Systems for STEM Students

Collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and government allowed Romania to develop a strong ecosystem that supports STEM students in their studies and careers.

• Free tertiary education: STEM students who meet eligibility criteria through entry exams or Baccalaureate scores are entitled to free tertiary education—earning Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees at no additional costs. What’s more, PhD students receive a monthly stipend from the government—and those with professors as parents enjoy free student housing at public universities.
• Professors: STEM professors in Romania are highly qualified and continuously update their teaching methods to provide interactive, relevant, and applicable learning experiences. They also lead students to victory in global Olympiads. According to Alin Ștefănescu, who heads the Computer Science Department at the University of Bucharest, having a committed team leader from the teaching ranks is crucial for identifying and preparing talented students for global contests.
• Modern learning spaces: STEM facilities like labs, libraries, and classrooms are outfitted with the latest industry-standard tools, software, and resources—often supplied through partnerships with tech companies.
• Mentorship: STEM students collaborate with experienced engineers through internships, specialized training programs, and coding camps. These mentors help students grasp complex concepts and apply them in real-life situations.
• Financial support: Romanian STEM students often secure scholarships or funding from tech companies to compete in Olympiads and other international contests. The government also offers incentives, including tax reductions, to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Marius Dumitran, coach of the ACM-ICPC Team, argues that incentives for professors are equally important, as they motivate more and more educators to dedicate extra time to preparing students for global STEM contests. “Romania already has a strong reputation in STEM competitions,” Dumitran remarks. With the outstanding achievements of a fully committed (albeit relatively small) group of professors, increased funding is likely to result in even greater success.

5. Education Grants

Students need access to cutting-edge STEM education to succeed academically and make a real difference in their fields. Education grants play a vital role in supporting professors to:

• Refresh course materials to improve education quality
• Integrate new technologies into teaching practices
• Develop better teaching methods that boost student achievement

One great example is the ANIS Grants program—an initiative that helps faculty members under 40 innovate university curricula. Focus areas span blockchain, big data, cybersecurity, AI/machine learning, health tech, and more. Softbinator Technologies, one of the program’s partners, gives out yearly scholarships of 5,000 € to support innovative projects led by young forward-thinking professors.

Romania’s Global and Regional Standing in STEM Olympiads

1. Performance in International STEM Olympiads

Globally, Romania is ranked within the top 10 for total medals won in four major international STEM Olympiads: Mathematics, Physics, Informatics, and Chemistry.

© The data is sourced from the IChO and Wikipedia’s articles about the International Mathematical Olympiad, International Physics Olympiad, International Olympiad in Informatics, and International Chemistry Olympiad.

Romania has a long history of achieving exceptional results in STEM competitions. Ciprian Manolescu, now a professor at Stanford University, was a top scorer in the International Mathematical Olympiad on three different occasions: in 1995, 1996, and 1997.

More recently, a 10th grader from Romania scored the highest in the Math-Geo-Tech category at the International STEM Olympiad.

Beyond their achievements in the main five STEM competitions, Romanian students have collected numerous medals and honorable mentions in other prestigious contests, including:

• The International Collegiate Programming Contest
• The Asian Physics Olympiad
• The Junior Science Olympiad

What’s more, a Romanian team claimed gold at the US Genius Olympiad with a firefighter robot—while another won the 2024 World Robotics Championship in Houston.

2. Romania’s Ranking Among CEE Nations

Based on its medal tally, Romania is one of the top-performing countries in CEE across the top five international STEM Olympiads.

These standings solidify Romania’s status as a leader in STEM among neighboring nations.

3. Implications of Olympiad Success for the STEM Workforce

Achieving success in scientific Olympiads contributes to the strength of the STEM workforce. Here’s how:

• Exceptional talent: Olympiads serve as a platform to identify high-potential students with extraordinary capabilities and nurture their growth.
• Career paths in STEM: Competing in Olympiads can motivate participants to explore careers in STEM fields, where they will likely become innovators in research, academia, or industry.
• Workforce quality: Olympiad alumni are talented problem solvers who think outside conventional frameworks and bring a wealth of expertise to their fields—often setting new standards for innovation.

Therefore, joining these competitions is important for securing a strong STEM future.

4. Future Prospects and Their Positive Effects on the IT Industry

Romania’s public and private sectors are working together to help students succeed in STEM competitions worldwide. This strategic focus helps cultivate a skilled workforce with high-demand STEM competencies, which directly benefits the IT industry by:

• Closing the STEM skills gap: Well-prepared for high-impact roles, Olympiad participants can fill STEM vacancies in both Europe and the US.
• Fueling technological innovation: Those taking part in Olympiads are trained to solve problems from unique angles. They can help drive major technological breakthroughs and create new commercial applications in IT.
• Enhancing global competitiveness: Through Olympiad programs, Romania develops a highly educated workforce that can boost the competitiveness of its IT industry on the global stage.

The outlook is extremely positive, with ongoing STEM efforts expected to support the growth of Romania’s IT sector.

5. Story of a Romanian Olympiad Champion

Hear directly from Florian Ușurelu, a top-performing Olympiad competitor who represented Romania at the 2022 International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals in Bangladesh. He explains why he chose to join global competitions, the valuable skills he gained as an Olympiad participant, and much more.

Softbinator Technologies Supports STEM Students in Achieving Top Performances

The Bottom Line

Olympiad success is largely attributed to the high-level STEM education in Romania.

Year after year, this robust educational system helps drive Romanian students to the top of the most challenging global contests. Plus, these high achievers are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills sought after by the biggest tech companies around the globe.

Softbinator Technologies remains committed to fostering innovation in higher education and is actively supporting STEM students as they progress through their academic paths toward their dream careers in software engineering and beyond.

by Rareș Cârligeanu HR Manager