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The specific outcome of the three-week professional internship of Romanian economist Ana-Maria Bercu from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi at the Faculty of Economics is a proposal for a joint research plan that will focus on analyzing the functioning of public administration at the government level and its links to public policies. The cooperation will focus primarily on the sustainability of public services and health systems, and a comparison of selected EU member states, with a focus on Romania and the Czech Republic. "The cooperation with Ana-Maria Bercu significantly expands our international contacts and opens up space for new scientific projects," said Pavlína Hejduková, head of the Department of Finance and Accounting. 

"My visit included very inspiring discussions in a friendly atmosphere about cooperation on European projects. We explored ongoing initiatives such as the BEAGLE project and discussed potential areas for new joint proposals where our institutions could actively contribute," said Ana-Maria Bercu. The BEAGLE project aims to discover new markets that have not been explored yet. It is based on an approach called Blue Ocean, which involves searching for unexplored territory where companies can operate without competing with others.

One of the key components of the internship was also FEK's involvement in the preparation of the Jean Center of Excellence project, which A. M. Bercu will submit in 2026 together with other foreign partners. These centers bring together leading experts dedicated to the development of research, teaching, and international activities in the field of European integration. "For the Faculty of Economics, involvement in the preparation of the project represents an opportunity to expand international cooperation, engage with the European professional community, and collaborate with world-class experts on a long-term basis," added Pavlína Hejduková.

During the visit, preparations were also made for the conclusion of an Erasmus+ agreement, which will facilitate exchanges not only for students but also for teachers. "This is the first step towards formalizing cooperation. Mobility within Erasmus+ is the easiest way to visit each other, exchange contacts, and enable doctoral students to travel abroad," explained Jiří Preis, Vice Dean for Internationalization and External Relations at the Faculty of Economics.

During the internship, a proposal was also developed for a series of future professional activities, including webinars and professional meetings, focused on the areas of digital public administration, sustainability, administrative capacity building, and skills development in public administration. During her visit, A. M. Berca also attended the XB-CON conference, organized by the Faculty of Economics, and gained insight into the cultural environment of the Pilsen region.

Ana-Maria Bercu has been working at her alma mater for more than 23 years, where she has been actively involved in research on public administration performance, the impact of European policies, and skills development in the public sector. She also gained experience at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Tel Aviv University. Cooperation with the Faculty of Economics is planned for the period 2026–2028.