Carpe diem!… with Marilena Matei, teacher at the Energy Technical College from Râmnicu-Vâlcea

When you meet her, you realize that you are dealing with a person in perpetual motion: not only literally, but also figuratively. Professor Marilena Matei researches, studies, communicates in order to know more and better. We became friends in 2022, in Italy, at a training course for Erasmus+ Ambassadors in Europe. Since then I have noticed her openness to novelty, avant-garde, experiment. It’s natural: among her many courses, Marilena Matei has engineering studies. He was deputy director and director at the Energy Technical College in Râmnicu-Vâlcea, where he has been teaching for many years as a specialist engineer.

She is also a trainer of trainers, expert in European programs, consultant and collaborator for the Ministry of Education. He was an inspector for European projects of the county. Vâlcea, coordinator of Erasmus Accreditation in the Field of School Education (2022-2027) and worked for the local Didactic House and has been collaborating with the media in the area for several years. Her last achievement was that of mentor and coordinator for a school project financed by the Științescu Fund.

As fragile as she seems, Marilena Matei hides a strong and confident being, she is a real psycho-pedagogical army concerned with the evolution of the individual and society. Marilena is a loyal and discreet friend, patient and knowledgeable of human nature. All these qualities help her to be an excellent Erasmus+ Romania Ambassador, even if her perpetual movement seems too fast for those around her. But if you follow her on her journey, you understand a little more about empathy, education and wisdom.

M. N.: – You have dedicated your life to the profession of “educator”. You are a teacher, trainer, evaluator, mentor, guide. As a child did you dream of a teaching career ?

M.M.: – Yes, I always wanted a career as a teacher (I come from a family with such a tradition). I personally think it is the noblest job because it BUILDS CHARACTER!

M.N.: – What is it like to work with specialists from other European educational systems?

M.M: – It’s always a challenge: you have to be very careful what you say, to choose your words carefully (in a language of international circulation) so that your expression has other…cultural connotations

M.N: – Although it doesn’t seem like it, you are a non-conformist person. How does this help you when writing and implementing Erasmus+ projects?

M. M: – Writing Erasmus+ projects means dreaming, creating, giving, progressing… so formality and conformity do not take place here (only when you fill out the application form).

M. N.: – Erasmus+ is the program that opened your desire for knowledge and communication even more. Can you name me another EU educator, known through Erasmus+ mobilities, who inspired you in your work at the department?

M.M: – Mrs. Marinica Stoian, secretary of state at the Ministry of Education, who is a valuable person well trained, vertical and jovial at the same time.

M. N. : – Is there any European educator who helped you in your personal life?

M.M: – Kina Dimitrova (Bulgaria) – MLFE (Motivated Learning for Everyone) coordinator, a provider of training courses. I learned a lot from her.

M. N. : – You laugh a lot, you tell jokes. Is it good for others to be a cheerful Ambassador?

M.M.: – It is even indicated, there are times when informal/para-verbal communication must be addressed, in order to be able to understand the interlocutor. Carpe diem!