Activity Report of Volunteer Office for 2021

In 2021, within the “Volunteer at UBB” program of the Volunteer Office, 394 volunteer contracts were concluded, 13% fewer than in 2020. The main causes of this decrease we consider to be both the online regime adopted by most of the faculties within UBB, which determined that most of the students, potential volunteers, to remain at home and as well as the large percentage of registered contracts from previous years that ended in 2021. However, we are optimistic, because at the end of 2021, a promotion campaign was started online and on social networks with the aim of attracting a larger number of students/Alumnus and coordinators to the program, through various informative posts and testimonials. In addition, two promotional clips will be made in 2022.

Regarding the volunteer certificates, an important component that justifies the involvement of volunteers and that confers work experience in the field of activity, in 2021 a number of 618 certificates were issued, the highest number since the launch of the volunteering program at UBB. Most of the UBB volunteers, according to the reports submitted by the volunteer coordinators, obtained for the activity carried out during the contractual period the qualification “very good” or “excellent”.

Among the UBB faculties/structures that hosted volunteers we mention: Institute of Ecclesiastical History “Nicolae Bocșan”, Center for Career, Professional Orientation and Alumni, International Institute for Studies with Studies in Psychotherapy and Mental Health, Office for Students with Disabilities, UBB Zoology Museum, Students’ Council of Babeș-Bolyai University, Japanese Cultural Center, Center for African Studies, Botanical Garden “Alexandru Borza”, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences – Department of Psychology and Education Sciences – Department of  Applied didactic training, Faculty of History and Philosophy, Faculty of Biology and Geology.

At the end of 2021, the process of digitization of the documents of the Volunteering Office was started, in order to increase the promptness in transmitting them to applicants and if the epidemiological situation requires it, to allow work from home.

Also in 2021, the Regulation of the volunteering program “Volunteer at UBB” was amended, according to the Senate Decision no. 76/June 14, 2021. Through the changes made, it was intended to simplify the process of joining within the “Volunteer at UBB” program of volunteers and coordinators by reducing the number of copies of the voluntary contract. At the same time, the amendments to the regulation facilitate the involvement of volunteers in extracurricular activities within the University by reducing the minimum number of volunteer hours per month, from a minimum of 20 hours to a minimum of 10 hours. Thus, volunteering at UBB has become a more attractive and encouraging alternative for spending leisure time while studying.

Currently, the Volunteering Office operates according to the provisions of the Regulation of the volunteering program “Volunteer at UBB” with the additions and amendments of June 14, 2021 and the Law on Volunteering no. 78 from 2014.

For most of the volunteers, the volunteering activities within the University meant, in fact, the development of skills and qualities such as: fairness, receptivity, orientation towards the new, flexibility, creativity, analytical, applied and communication skills, emotional balance, constancy in attitudes and manifestations, teamwork skills, communication skills or knowledge of related fields,  skills and competences of teamwork, seriousness and punctuality, time management and implementation of activities such as team building.