Minister Daniel David signed the new agreement for the development of the FLEX – Future Leaders Exchange programs for Romania and FLEX Abroad (in Romania), during the ceremony organized by the American Council for International Education (ACIE).
Minister Daniel David, at the signing of the agreement PHOTO: Edu.ro
The agreement was signed based on the mandate approved by the Romanian Government. Representatives of the US State Department also participated in the ceremony, and the Romanian delegation also included His Excellency Andrei Muraru (Ambassador of Romania in the US) and the Rector of SNSPA, Remus Pricopie, former Minister of Education and one of the initiators of the FLEX program, signed in 2015.
“As I mentioned before, as a Romanian and European citizen with close professional and cultural ties to the United States of America, we considered it important not to suspend this program – despite the initial decision taken in the context of US reforms. This program brings significant benefits to Romania, representing an investment in the country’s youth, education and democratic future, and also serves the interests of the United States as part of its international engagement, the program contributing to the strengthening of Euro-Atlantic democracy. We are now committed to resume the program for the school year 2026 – 2027, and based on the analysis of the functioning of the new mechanism, we will evaluate the ways of continuation for the following years. I thank the American colleagues for their openness to our proposal to continue the program, in a revised format, co-financed equally by Romania (50%) and the United States (50%).“, said Minister Daniel David.
The FLEX and FLEX Abroad programs are supported by the US Department of State and run through ACIE. Since the initiation of the program in Romania (2015), approximately 300 young Romanian high school students, participants in the FLEX program, have volunteered in US communities, getting involved in child abuse prevention projects, creating food banks, community activities and even collaborations with local police departments.
From 2024, American students participating in the FLEX Abroad program in Romania, through the relationships they build with host families from our country, teachers, colleagues and the local community, become true ambassadors of the USA. During their stay in Romania, they develop their communication skills in Romanian, through intensive courses taught by Romanian teachers, and learn about Romanian culture, society and values, actively getting involved in the life of the local community.
