A wonderful opportunity to get the pulse of the Romanian students community in the UK; this initiative would need to be expanded in 2010 and become a fixture of the Embassy's endeavours to cohese the local Romanian community; a thank you note to BRCC, the Ratiu Foundation, the Embassy of Romania and all those that worked hard to bring together students, researchers and academics working in the UK.

As Vice-Chairman of the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce I welcomed the opportunity to discuss with Romanian students in the UK the prospects for the Romanian economy and the potential opportunities in Romania for those graduating from a British university and thinking of returning to Romania. As ever, the questions from the participants were perceptive and thoughtful, and I thoroughly enjoyed giving the presentation.

In difficult economic conditions, with recruitment by newspapers and broadcasters virtually frozen, with graduate training schemes on hold, and with uncertainty everywhere about how to make new media pay – never mind the widespread concern about standards – why on earth would any student want to be a journalist? Because good journalism really matters. No robust democracy can flourish without well informed citizens, and there can be no well informed citizenry without high quality media, which in turn needs reporters committed to accuracy and fairness. What’s more, it’s fun: there’s nothing quite like being there, witnessing events with your own eyes and producing – as has often been said – a first and very rough draft of history.

Professor Paul Phillips Director of Kent Business School and Professor of Strategic Management stressed the need to focus on the emergence of the economies of India and China. Education can be used as a mechanism to enhance economic prosperity in Romania. This reinforces the role that Business Schools in Romania in collaboration with overseas institutions can play in developing Romanian business leaders of the future, with the appropriate blend of theoretical and practical knowledge and experience.

Last year I had the pleasure and privilege to speak to a fantastic group of Romanian students and professors. On such an occasion while the participants draw something from the speaker the speaker draws also from the people he interfaces with. My experience was great. I was in awe by how smart were my young Romanians. Looking and listening to them you know the future of their country will be one day in good hands. Some of you will stay here, some will go back and some will go on to other parts of the world. One thing is sure that you will all gravitate one way or another to your country whether or not you live there. Try to bring the best of what you have learnt and help (whether or not living there). Your life will be better knowing you have done that. A prosperous society in Romania will benefit you wherever you are.

Lord Watson of Richmond greeted the presence of the Romanian students in the UK, emphasizing on the importance of globalising the activities of the education institutions which led to the students’ mobility and freedom of movement: “Mobility is the key to success in a globalised society.” English is the “catalyst which brings societies closer, contributing to the exchange of ideas and opinions, and amplifying the chances of growth and development of a nation.”

In today’s fast moving and knowledge-based environment, the challenge of retention and development of people could not be higher, nor could the need for a fully prepared, well trained and talented workforce. Over the last few years leading up to the more recent sombre growth rates, Romania has witnessed record levels of economic development and growth and with these, opportunities have created a more diverse suite of career options. We have for the first time in many eons see greater importance in Romania being placed on previously less obvious domains such as the voluntary sector, health, hospitality & tourism, business services, retail, training and development of people. The annual Student Conference first introduced in London in 2008 has set a precedent for a focussed forum of information exchange, knowledge transfer and debate for the many bright and talented representatives of Romania walking the corridors of the UK’s academic institutions, and the British Romanian Chamber of Commerce is a proud partner of this proactive and innovative approach to encouraging Romanian students in the UK to develop, discuss and implement some their many ideas.