On May 18, 2024, the Technical University of Moldova hosted the sixth edition of the “Database Management – 2024” student competition. This event has become a cherished tradition, gathering 50 third-year students from the Faculty of Computers, Informatics, and Microelectronics (FCIM) at UTM’s Department of Software Engineering and Automation, all part of the Information Technology study program.
The 50 students were divided into 10 teams of five members each. These teams demonstrated their database design and creation skills, applying the knowledge they gained in their “Database” course. The competition served both as a practical test of their abilities and a form of knowledge assessment, aiming to improve the quality of university education by introducing innovative evaluation techniques and promoting continuous collaboration with IT companies for effective knowledge transfer and hands-on experience in database management.
The event kicked off with an inspiring speech from UTM’s Vice-Rector for Digitalization, Associate Professor Dr. Dinu ȚURCANU, who encouraged students to push their limits, prioritize continuous learning, and excel in their field:
“The student competition ‘Database Management – 2024’ is more than just a contest; it’s a platform to showcase your knowledge, creativity, and teamwork. You are here not only to compete but also to learn, innovate, and connect with industry specialists. In our constantly evolving digital world, the skills you acquire here will open many doors and lay the groundwork for a successful career. Remember, this competition is not just about winning prizes; it’s about the learning and development process. Embrace new ideas, collaborate effectively in your teams, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Learning comes from both successes and failures. I wish you all the best and encourage you to bring all your bold ideas to life.”
Inspirational speeches were also delivered by Dumitru CIORBĂ, Dean of FCIM, who highlighted the essential role of such competitions in students’ professional development and preparation for the job market. Ion FIODOROV, Head of the Department of Software Engineering and Automation (DISA), emphasized the importance of efficient database design and management in the modern world.
Other notable guests also spoke at the event’s opening, providing valuable insights and encouragement for the students. These included Veaceslav NASTASENCO, Associate Professor, Director at Allied Testing; Daniela ROMAN, HR Business Partner, Human Resources Department at maib; Alexandru FRECĂUȚAN, Data Consultant at Endava; Ion MORARU, Head of Analytical Systems and Databases at maib; Iurie HOHAN, Senior Tech Lead at Mixbook; and Boris GALCENCO, BI Team Lead at Monsanto.
The jury, chaired by Ion Moraru, Head of Analytical Systems and Databases at maib, comprised esteemed representatives from various IT companies. This diverse panel of experts ensured an objective and professional evaluation of the students’ performance:
1. Mihai MANDÎȘ, Allied Testing, Automation Testing Team Lead
2. Anatol MOGOREANU, Allied Testing, DB QA Specialist
3. Alexandru FRECĂUȚAN, Endava, Data Consultant
4. Oleg UNGUREANU, Endava, Data Consultant
5. Ion MORARU, maib, Head of Analytical Systems and Databases
6. Virgiliu VOLOȘIN, maib, Senior Data Engineer
7. Iurie HOHAN, Mixbook, Senior Tech Lead
8. Artur BORDENIUC, Mixbook, Senior Software Engineer
9. Boris GALCENCO, Monsanto, BI Team Lead
The competition followed a structured format:
– Team Presentations: Each team presented their home assignment to the audience;
– Stage 1, Theoretical: Teams underwent a private theoretical evaluation, presented to the jury via GitHub;
– Stage 2, Practical: Teams delivered a public presentation.
The competition’s theme, brought by the sponsor company maib, focused on developing a database for managing “Consumer Credit” product data. The teams were evaluated based on several criteria:
– Oratory Skills and Ingenuity
– Logical Database Design
– Database Creation and Constraint Definition
– Database Querying
– Database Transactions
Among the 50 participants, 30 students were awarded prizes. The rankings were as follows:
– First Place: 1 team
– Second Place: 2 teams
– Third Place: 3 teams
First Place: Team 5 TI-215 “Fixiki”
– Leader: Mihail Musteața
– Members: Nicolae Plamadeala, Valentina Golubciuc, Eutalia Pistrui, Marinela Roman
– Prizes: Vouchers worth 1100 lei for the Darwin store; prize kits from Endava; smartwatches from Monsanto; power banks, T-shirts, and prize kits from Mixbook; backpacks and T-shirts from Amdaris.
Second Place: Team 2 TI-212 “Data Devils” and Team 8 TI-218 “Data Daemons”
– Data Devils: Radu Șchiopu (leader), Dorin Apareci, Dumitru Vartic, Mariana Lunca, Lucia Talmazan
– Data Daemons: Inna Pugaciova (leader), Alexandr Novicov, Vladimir Perepelita, Maxim Socolov, Oleg Somov
– Prizes: Vouchers worth 600 lei for the Darwin store; prize kits from Endava; power banks from Monsanto; T-shirts and prize kits from Mixbook; and prize kits from Amdaris.
Third Place: Team 3 TI-213 “IT Factory,” Team 7 TI-217 “52 Queries,” and Team 1 TI-211 “Query Masters”
– IT Factory: Nicolae Druța (leader), Antonio Lupu, Nicoleta Leu, Eliza Caraman, Cristian Racu
– 52 Queries: Maxim Saveliev (leader), Artiom Porcescu, Alexandr Caraman, Alexandr Moșan, Marc-Augustin Stepanenco
– Query Masters: Cristian Budeanu (leader), Cătălin Popa, Dan Conicov, Vasile Caspirovschi, Elizaveta Tobultoc
– Prizes: Vouchers worth 400 lei for the Darwin store; prize kits from Endava; prize kits and T-shirts from Amdaris.
The event concluded with FCIM Dean Dumitru Ciorbă extending heartfelt thanks to the competition’s sponsors: Allied Testing LLC, Amdaris LLC, FIE Endava LLC, CB maib JSC, Mixbook LLC, and Monsanto JSC, for their generous support and active participation. He also acknowledged the contribution of the competition organizer and moderator, Dorian Saranciuc, and his team of professors who taught the “Databases” course: Olga Grosu, Gabriela Cebotar, Boris Galcenco, and Mihail Țurcanu.
The sixth edition of the “Database Management-2024” competition was a remarkable success, reaffirming UTM’s dedication to fostering academic excellence and collaboration with the IT industry. It was a superb opportunity for students to demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, equipping them for real-world challenges ahead.
Congratulations to the students and professors for their effort and dedication. Your collaboration and passion have led to outstanding achievements. Wishing you ongoing success, dear UTM students!
