NDSU faculty member completes Romanian teaching visit

Magda Marchowska-Raza, assistant professor of practice in the NDSU management and marketing department, represented the College of Business during an international teaching visit to Romania through the Erasmus+ mobility program.

Marchowska-Raza traveled to Cluj-Napoca, a vibrant cultural and academic hub in the Transylvania region, where she collaborated with Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai, one of Romania’s leading universities and a long-standing partner of NDSU.

During her five-day visit, she delivered lectures to students in communication and public relations, media production, and journalism programs. Her teaching centered on a content development framework she created during her doctoral research, as well as netnography, a research method for studying online communities. Students also had the opportunity to conduct a mini-netnography project using her framework. In addition to teaching, she enjoyed touring the city and experiencing its culture firsthand.

Expanding International Perspective

This visit marked the fifth Erasmus exchange between UBB and NDSU, continuing a partnership that has fostered global learning opportunities over the years. The Erasmus+ program is designed to help early-career faculty gain teaching experience in new environments and broaden their international networks, goals that aligned well with Marchowska-Raza’s interests.

Because of her focus on cultural marketing, she was eager to observe how marketing messaging is shaped in Romania and was able to gather examples to bring back to her classes.

“I was excited to see what marketing messaging looks like in Romania,” she said. “I’m glad I can now share new examples with my students at NDSU.”

Professionally, she valued the chance to compare Romania’s higher education system with that of the United States. Personally, she appreciated the opportunity to explore a new place and immerse herself in a new culture.

Impact on Students and Colleagues

After returning to NDSU, Marchowska-Raza shared insights from her experience and encouraged students to consider study-abroad and exchange opportunities.

“Exchange programs really force us out of our comfort zone,” she said. “We grow when we’re exposed to new environments, and I want my students to experience that.”

She said programs like Erasmus are especially meaningful for emerging academics, those who may not yet be invited to deliver international guest lectures but are ready to expand their teaching horizons.

Strengthening Global Connections

Throughout the planning and visit, Marchowska-Raza worked closely with several faculty and staff members at UBB. With multiple faculty exchanges already completed, she sees strong potential for future collaboration between the two institutions, including the possibility of student exchanges.

“It would be really cool if we were able to offer students an exchange with UBB,” she said.

A Meaningful Return to Europe

Although this was her first Erasmus experience, Marchowska-Raza had a personal connection to Romania through a company she partnered with during her earlier career as a freelancer. While they collaborated online for years, this trip offered her the first chance to visit the country in person.

Additionally, as someone from Poland, returning to Europe brought a sense of familiarity.

“Coming back to Europe, whichever country, feels like home to me,” she shared.

As for the trip’s most memorable highlight?

“Everything,” she said with a smile. “But I was especially curious about the city… and whether I’d get to meet Dracula.”