Wednesday, April 30 2025, starting at 13:00, in the amphitheater A01 of the UVT headquarters (main headquarters blvd., Vasile. Pârvan no. 4, ground floor) the project launch event will take place "Be the first, become your best!” (code 323824) implemented by West University of Timișoara (UVT) in partnership with the "Mircea Eliade" National College (Reșița, Caraș-Severin County) and the "Clisura Dunării" Technological High School (Moldova Nouă, Caraș-Severin County).

The project aims to contribute to combating university dropout and increasing the number of university graduates from a very specific social category, often ignored by existing support measures: young people from families with a low educational level, whose parents did not graduate from university and who could thus become the first students in their families. Therefore, both students in this category in the final years of high school studies and students in the undergraduate university studies cycle will be supported, in order to provide them with the necessary support to pursue university studies. In addition to them, the project will also support students with disabilities or from other disadvantaged categories, as well as Roma students. The project proposes a complex range of activities dedicated to its beneficiaries, from counseling sessions, workshops for the development of study skills to remedial teaching activities and the provision of monthly subsidies, similar to a resilience scholarship, as well as support for accommodation, meals or IT equipment.

The general objective of the project aims to develop and implement a complex support program, educational and vocational counseling and guidance, remedial teaching activities and financial support for students from the "Mircea Eliade" National College in Reșița and the "Clisura Dunării" Technological High School in Moldova Nouă, respectively for students from the West University of Timișoara, coming from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, in view of ensuring access to and participation in quality university studies.

The project is funded by the Education and Employment Program (PEO), the "First Student in the Family" program, lasting for 36 months, taking place in the period 2025-2028. The total value of the project is 7.948.379,18 lei, of which the non-reimbursable financing amounts to 6.756.122,30 lei, and the total own contribution (of UVT and partners) is 158.967,58 lei.

The specific objectives of the project are:

• Supporting the completion of high school studies in order to access higher education for 181 students from disadvantaged groups from the "Mircea Eliade" National College in Reșița and the "Clisura Dunării" Technological High School in Moldova Nouă, by organizing activities to help them continue their studies, guide them in choosing the right educational path, allow them to make informed decisions regarding their academic future and increase awareness of the importance of pursuing university studies, during the three years of the project.
• Reducing university dropout by 90% and improving academic performance and socio-emotional skills for 200 students from disadvantaged groups at the West University of Timisoara, through integrated counseling services, academic support, remedial teaching activities, financial support and supporting the costs of accommodation and meals, until the end of the project.
• Improving access to education for 110 students from disadvantaged groups or with disabilities, through IT equipment and specific educational support, facilitating their full participation in academic activities, by the end of the project. The objective also aims to make UVT accessible for 110 students from disadvantaged groups or with disabilities through the acquisition of IT equipment and digital literacy.

Project beneficiaries will be at least 181 students, enrolled in grades XI and XII la "Mircea Eliade" National College in Reșița and "Clisura Dunării" Technological High School, Moldova Noua, as well as at least 200 students enrolled in the undergraduate degree cycle at the West University of Timisoara (UVT), with domicile or legal residence in Romania, who come from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups in university education.

I can benefit from the project activities students from the two mentioned high schools that fall into the following categories:

• students who come from families with low parental educational level – come from families where neither parent has a higher education;
• students who meet the conditions for granting social scholarships;
• Roma students;
• high school graduates from the last two years who did not pass the baccalaureate exam.

Also, UVT students from the undergraduate university studies cycle who may be part of the project's target group fall into the following categories:

• students with low parental educational level – come from families where neither parent has a higher education;
• students who meet the conditions for granting social scholarships;
• Roma students.

Students with disabilities will have priority in the target group selection process.

Activities/facilities provided within the project for students who will be selected in the target group:

• remedial programs;
• providing subsidies for students (300 lei / month, for 12 months);
• financial support for accommodation and meals*;
• information sessions and educational orientation;
• individual/group counseling sessions;
• guidance in choosing the right educational path;
• personal development webinars for students;
• visits for students – "Discover student life at UVT".

Activities/facilities provided within the project for students who will be selected in the target group:

• academic integration activities during the Initiation Week at UVT;
• granting subsidies for students (330 lei / month, for 18 months for each of the 200 students who will be selected in the target group during its implementation period);
• financial support for accommodation and meals*;
• provision of IT equipment (laptops)*;
• analysis of educational needs in order to develop support programs;
• remedial programs;
• individual and group counseling;
• group mentoring;
• workshops for developing study skills;
• psychoeducation workshops.

*These facilities will only be granted to pupils/students who are part of the target group, depending on the identified needs and project resources.

All information about the project, the activities carried out, the possibility of registering in the target group or eligible beneficiaries will be available on the website. bethefirst.uvt.ro, and details can be requested at the e-mail address bethefirst.project@e-uvt.ro.

Education and Employment Program 2021-2028

Project: "Be the first, become your best!" (MySMIS Code 323824)

Coordinator: West University of Timișoara (UVT)

Partner 1: "Mircea Eliade" National College, Reșița / Partner 2: "Clisura Dunării" Technological High School, Moldova Nouă

Email Address: bethefirst.project@e-uvt.ro / Website: bethefirst.uvt.ro