37th edition of NCORE 2025-National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education

Between May 27-31, 2025, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest participated in the 37th edition of NCORE - the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education, held in New York, USA. The event stands as one of the most significant international platforms dedicated to promoting equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice across global academic environments.

Representing the university, Mr. Andrei Cucuruz, Director of the Department for European Funds and Strategic Projects, joined education professionals, university leaders, researchers, and students from around the world to exchange ideas, experiences, and strategies for fostering more inclusive and equitable institutions.

A Global Forum on Inclusive Excellence

For over three decades, the NCORE Conference has been at the forefront of academic discussions on diversity, equity, and belonging in higher education. The 2025 edition gathered thousands of participants from leading universities and organizations, reaffirming the importance of building campuses that reflect and empower diverse communities.

The conference’s central theme this year centered on the transformative role of higher education institutions in addressing systemic inequities, ensuring inclusive access to education, and fostering environments that celebrate multicultural perspectives.

Throughout the dynamic program of plenary sessions, workshops, and roundtables, participants explored actionable solutions and shared best practices to advance inclusion in research, teaching, governance, and campus life.

Key Themes and Strategic Engagement

During the event, the POLITEHNICA Bucharest delegation engaged in discussions and professional sessions focusing on:

• - Inclusive educational leadership and policy-making models that promote diversity and representation;

• - Access and support for students and staff with disabilities, emphasizing universal design and equity in learning environments;

• - Sustainable education and SDG 4 (Quality Education), examining global pathways toward inclusive and lifelong learning;

• - The role of students as changemakers in advancing institutional transformation and social responsibility.

These thematic dialogues reflected POLITEHNICA Bucharest’s institutional priorities of sustainability, inclusion, and global engagement, aligning with the university’s broader participation in European and international networks dedicated to educational innovation and equity.