Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy

The 15th of July 1995, "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Troops Academy was established in Sibiu. This institution integrated all students from: „Nicolae Balcescu“ Infantry and Chemistry Military Institute, „Ioan Voda“ Artillery and Geodesy Military Institute, „Decebal“ Signals Military Institute, „Gheorghe Lazar“ Logistics and Finance Military Institute, „Mihai Viteazul“ Armored Military Institute, „Basarab I“ Auto Military Institute and „Alexandru Donici“ Engineering, Constructions and Railways Military Institute. As the General Staff changed the name of the Land Troops component into Land Forces, as of August 2000, the institution's name is „Nicolae Balcescu“ Land Forces Academy. Establishing this new higher education institution in Sibiu was part of the military education reform, process that was mandatory considering the evolution of the Romanian society. Integrated into the national university long-term education system, the institution was meant to ensure fundamental scientific training, whereas studies would continue in branch schools where cadets would be trained for their first positions as officers of the Land Forces. As a matter of course, the higher education military system has undergone structural and functional adjustments concordant with all the changes occurred at national and European education systems level. The present-day legislative framework, materialized in the 288 Law on University Education and the Conception on Romanian Officers' Formation, Professional Development and Employment, brought about the redesigning of the formation process consistent with the exactingnesses promoted by European states by means of the Bologna Agreement. Drafting the educational curriculum on university specialties, i.e. "Military Science and Information" and "Administrative Studies", and differentiating standards on training levels (graduate and post-graduate studies), represented new challenges and opportunities for "Nicolae Balcescu" Land Forces Academy's turning into a centre of excellence in the field of education and scientific research.