Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE) has awarded Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Săvuică the Certificate of Excellence for his outstanding efforts in raising awareness on the importance of further strengthening the Europe-Asia dialogue, especially in matters regarding the EU-ASEAN relations. The certificate was awarded by Prof. Gheorghe Hurduzeu, Dean of the Faculty of International Business and Economics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, in recognition of Ambasador Săvuică’s efforts, as Founder and President of IRSEA, for his valuable contributions in terms of economic diplomacy advocacy, practice and development in the Romanian academic community.

Since its establishment, IRSEA has been a valuable partner of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. The two institutions signed an agreement in 2010 and developed multiple collaborative research, dialogue and advocacy programmes. IRSEA’s Distinguished Speakers Programme, developed in partnership with ASE, organised multiple guest lectures, featuring prominent figures in International Affairs, Ambassadors and Heads of Mission (His Excellency Diar Nurbintoro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to Romania, His Excellency Hamid Moayyer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to Romania, His Excellency Keiji Yamamoto and His Excellency Kisaburo Ishii, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Romania, His Excellency Im Han-taek, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Romania, His Excellency Dato’ Nik Mustafa Kamal bin Nik Ahmad and His Excellency Dato’ Tajul Aman Mohamad, Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia to Romania, His Excellency Safdar Hayat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan to Romania, His Excellency Tran Thanh Cong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Romania), distinguished scholars (Prof. Andrik Purvarsito, Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta, Indonesia) and decision makers (Mr. Mohammad Ridwan Kamil, Mayor of Bandung, Indonesia).

IRSEA Roundtable Programme also benefitted of the fruitful partnership with ASE. The roundtable discussions organised on the occasion of ASEAN’s 45^th and 50^th anniversaries generated stimulating discussions and greatly contributed to promoting the importance of the Southeast Asian regional organisation in the Romanian academia. Comparative analyses of EU and ASEAN regional and foreign policies had been a frequent theme of the IRSEA Roundtables held in partnership with the Bucharest University of Economic Studies.

Part of the IRSEA Diplomatic Training Programme, dozens of undergrad and postgrad students of ASE have completed the “Applied Diplomacy” course, taught by H.E. Ambassador Săvuică.

As President and Founder of IRSEA, H.E. Ambassador Săvuică is also a member of the ASE’s Advisory Board.