Youth Data Collective
The Youth Data Collective consists of an international group of scholars, technologists, designers, organizers, artists, and youth activists committed to using data to advance youth wellbeing in Romania.
Formed in 2023, the goals of the collective include the creative uses of data, mitigating harmful impacts of data bias or incomplete data, and exploring the use of AI for more accessible data analysis.
Educational Reform in Romania
Education reform is consistently rated among the most urgent issues for Romanians. Despite the country’s rapid economic growth, its education outcomes are among the lowest in the EU. The system is characterized as rigid, with an outdated curriculum and underfunded schools. A law passed in 2023 aims to improve the system through better curriculum evaluation, new resources, enhanced teacher support, and updated data systems. While this is certainly a positive development, implementing these changes will require meaningful consultation with stakeholders, especially students.
Currently, there are inadequate mechanisms to ensure the successful implementation of this law. Student councils have been invited to send feedback, but this mechanism tends to tokenize participation and provides little evidence that student voices are being heard.
We created the School of Possibilities to interrupt the cycle of tokenized input. Through its playful interface, the School of Possibilities invites students to provide specific and actionable feedback to decision-makers.
Meet the Team
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Barbara Bulc
Strategy Lead
Barbara Bulc is a social innovator and the founder of the SDG Colab in Geneva, Switzerland. Her work centers on participatory design and research to create new social arrangements that prioritize the well-being of people and the planet. She believes mental health and education offer the greatest potential for systemic transformation. She stewards OurCluj, a living laboratory focused on youth wellbeing, and co-authored “Activating Values in Urban Transitions,” a study of urban innovation inspired by the OurCluj project.
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Eric Gordon, Ph.D.
Research Lead and Senior Advisor
Eric Gordon is a Professor of Civic Media and director of the Engagement Lab at Emerson College in Boston. His work focuses on examining how digital culture shapes public life and governance. He is the author of over 50 articles and 5 books on media and urbanism and is a co-author of the report “Activating Values in Urban Transitions,”—an in-depth case study of the urban innovation ecosystem in Cluj.
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Anca D. Goron, Ph. D.
AI Advisor
Anca D. Goron is an artificial intelligence scientist and ethics advisor. With over 11 years of academic research and almost 20 years in the tech area, she developed and managed projects and solutions in fields like IoT, Deep Tech, Smart City, Space, and Astronautics. Currently, Anca is the founder of AVAResearch.ai, an artificial intelligence research and consultancy company. In 2023, Anca became a Romanian Scientific Council for Ethical AI member under the Romanian Ministry of Digitalization.
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Radhakrishnan T R
Researcher and Designer
Radhakrishnan, T R. is an architect who graduated from Harvard University. He carries design knowledge across fields with specifc experiences in designing inventive technologies for public good. He is the founder of an independent research-and-design practice—rad. He brings knowledge of participatory tool-making and phygital user experience using Generative AI from his academic work at Harvard Graduate School of Design.
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Fabian Schlag
Project Guide
Fabian Schlag has a cultural and urban studies background. Based in Hamburg, Germany, he brings novel perspectives on youth well-being to Cluj. He is the project guide for the Youth Data Collective.
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Tibor Remškar
Project & Research Advisor
Tibor Remškar is a political science student at the University of Ljubljana and is a research assistant and project coordinator.
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Daria Ciufudean
YDC Stipend / President of CJE (Consiliul Județean al Elevilor Cluj)
Daria Ciufudean is a rising high school senior and the president of the High school Student Council Cluj-Napoca (CJE). She brings to the team a deep knowledge of the contemporary educational system and the ability to represent a range of youth voices.
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Andrei Cimpan
Stipend / CJE Director of Inclusion for Vulnerable and Ethic Groups
Andrei Cimpan is a CJE member who focuses on inclusion. His participation and consultancy are crucial for the School of Possibilities' ongoing existence.
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Codrin Lenghel
Stipend / CJE member
Codrin Lenghel is a rising student at Avram Iancu High School and a Cluj County Student Council (CJE) member.
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Cristian Albu
Stipend / CJE vice-president
Cristian Albu is a rising high school student and the vice president of the Cluj County Student Council (CJE), with strong connections to various schools in Cluj.