David-Matei’s Robotics Internship in Sweden, Backed by ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation
ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation supports young people who set ambitious goals and are willing to put in the work to reach them. Passion matters, but it rarely goes far without the right support behind it, someone taking care of the practical details so a person can focus on what they do best.
David-Matei Maria is one such example. He is a third-year Mechatronics student at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Automotive and Robotics, part of Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV), and this year he was selected for an Erasmus+ internship at Örebro University in Sweden, a three-week Blended Intensive Programme focused on robotics and intelligent autonomous systems, combining classroom study with extensive hands-on practice.
Sweden has a strong track record in technological innovation, and Örebro University is particularly well known for its research in AI and robotics. For a student this dedicated to the field, spending time there meant working directly with technologies that most people only read about.
Over his three weeks in Sweden, David-Matei kept a demanding schedule. The robotics program brought him together with students, professors, and researchers from universities across Europe.
The program was largely hands-on. In the photo above, David-Matei is working with mobile robots built from LEGO components, which students then tested on marked courses. Beyond assembling the robots, students also had to program and debug them.
Today's job market calls for a different set of skills than it once did. The ability to work within a multicultural team, adapt quickly to new technical environments, and solve automation problems on the spot has become increasingly valuable in recent years.
How ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation Supports Students in Suceava
Being accepted into a program like this takes talent, but talent alone doesn't cover flights or accommodation. That's why ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation covered David's accommodation, transportation, and meals for the full three weeks he spent in Sweden.
The goal was straightforward: remove the financial pressure so David could focus fully on the program and on representing Suceava while he was there.
From the Suceava Children’s Palace to Ștefan cel Mare University: Investing in Tech Education
Supporting David is not an isolated gesture. It is part of a broader, long-term commitment at ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation: raising the standard of technical education in Suceava.
We believe that interest in science and technology should be nurtured at every stage, from a student's first robotics kit in school through to university-level research:
- Early Tech Education: We helped equip the Suceava Children's Palace (a local extracurricular center for youth and technology) lab with modern hardware kits, 3D printers, and sensors, giving middle and high school students the tools to prepare for national and international competitions.
- Support for Suceava’s University Students: High school students remain our main focus, but we're glad to support university students as well, whenever the opportunity fits. That includes helping USV students access international internships like this one.
Investing in students who are passionate about robotics extends beyond a single internship. It benefits the local economy too, since these students tend to return with new ideas and skills they can put toward projects here.
Supporting Talented Students in Suceava: Building Toward a Local Tech Scene
A community grows when it recognizes and supports the people worth investing in. David's Erasmus+ experience is one example of Suceava producing specialists able to compete at a high level.
Congratulations, David-Matei, on your hard work and persistence. ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation remains committed to supporting young people in the community and helping them turn their ideas into reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Was the Robotics Program David Took Part In?
David-Matei Maria’s Erasmus+ internship in Sweden was a BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) hosted at Örebro University. Over three weeks, students focused on AI and robotics, building, programming, and testing intelligent autonomous systems and mobile robots in the university’s labs.
2. Why Did ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation Support This Program?
The financial burden of international programs can be a significant barrier for students in Suceava, and that is precisely what ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation aims to remove. Covering accommodation, transportation, and meals is part of a broader goal: connecting local students with opportunities at the European level.
3. What Did the Hands-On Work in Sweden Involve?
Students built robotic vehicles, some using LEGO components, and equipped them with onboard microcomputers and optical sensors before writing their own control software. The robots were then tested on marked courses, where they had to navigate autonomously, recognize markings, and avoid other robots without any remote control.
4. What Other Tech Education Programs Does ASSIST Humanitarian Foundation Support?
The Foundation supports technical education at a few different levels:
- Pre-university (our main focus): Equipping the Suceava Children’s Palace lab with modern robotics kits, sensors, and 3D printers.
- University level: Supporting mechanical engineering and robotics students at Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava with access to international internships.
5. How Does This Kind of Support Help Suceava?
Access to technical education in Suceava and international experience gives students practical skills and a broader outlook. Some bring that back to local projects, which over time helps build a stronger tech community in the region.