Dr.-Ing. Monica Ciolacu

Erziehungswissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Medienbildung

RESEARCH 

Google Scholar Profile
ResearchGate Profile


EDUCATION

  • 10/2016-07/2020 Doctoral degree, University Politehnica Bucharest, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Romania. Supervisor Prof. Dr. h. c. Ing. Paul Svasta, Cooperation with Technische Hochschule Deggendorf, Prof. Dr. Dr. Heribert Popp and Prof. Dr. Cezar Ionescu.
    Thesis: “An Adaptive Framework for Computer-based Learning Technology”, Magna Cum Laude, Ph.D. in Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technology
  • 04/1998 -04/1999 Multimedia Designer and Programmer, Multimedia Academy Bayern, Deggendorf
  • 09/1991-07/1996 University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania, Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, Specialization “Applied Electronics” 
    Thesis: “Remote controler for satellite receiver”. Degree Dipl. Engineer, Grade 9,50 (best grade 10).
  • 09/1987-07/1991 High School of Physics and Mathematics No 4, Nuclear Techniques and Technologies, Mathematics and Physics, Bucharest, Romania

 

ABOUT ME

I authored or co-authored more than 35 publications, served on various IEEE Technical conference Committees as a Program Committee Member and Reviewer for IEEE SIITME (International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electonics Packaging), IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), IEEE Access, IEEE TALE, STE (International Conference on Smart Technologies & Education) , ISM (International Conference on Industry of the Future and Smart Manufacturing) , REV, and Expat 2023 (Experiment@ International Conference) conferences.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Since 11/2025 Researcher, Chair of Educational Science with a focus on Media Education and LIONS (Ledger Innovation and Operation Network for Soveregnity) dtec.bw (Zentrum für Digitalisierungs- und Technologieforschung der Bundeswehr), University of Bundeswehr München
  • 10/2021- 11/2024 Researcher, Chair of Education Science with a focus on Diversity Research and Educational Spaces of Middle Childhood, University of Passau
    • Seminars on "Learning and teaching with/about Generative AI competence oriented teaching in primary schools”, each 2 SWS 
    • Seminars on "Fundamentals of Research Methods” each 4 SWS . 
    10/2021-04/2023 Head of Transfer Forum for Technology and Didactics (DiTech), University of Passau
    • Coordinated and developed educational, didactical, and technical initiatives for the University of Passau for nearly two years and encouraged collaboration and networking with national and international universities.
    • Initiated “DiTech Quick Dips” workshops with topics such as  “AI for Everybody”
  • 08/2018-10/2021 Initiator, Product- and Project Manager, SMART founding’s I-IV, Faculty of Applied Computer Science, Technische Hochschule Deggendorf (THD) and Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern (vhb)
    10/2019-10/2021 Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Computer Science, THD
    07/2017-09/2019 Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, THD
    09/2014-12/2015 Project Manager V(virtual), W (wissensbasiert) support - based on the knowledge of students and A (analytic) - VWA MINT Coach DIT, “Best MINT”, Ministry of Education and Culture of Bavaria, TH Deggendorf
    06/2011-05/2013 Programme Assistant to the Faculty of Business Informatics, TH Deggendorf 
  • 10/2001- 04/2011 Product Marketing, Webmaster, and Field Application Engineer Training, Kontron Embedded Modules (KEM) (JUMPtec), Deggendorf www.kontron.com
  • 10/1996-04/1997 Engineer in the General Inspectorate of Radio of the Ministry of Radio and Telecommunications, Bucharest, Romania
  • 09/1994-09/1996 Working Student at Tele Sigma “Student Television” cooperation with TV 5 International France, Bucharest, Romania 

 

PRIZES AND AWARDS
• Nomination for Bertha-Benz Foundation Award for young female engineers who have created added value for society with the results of their dissertations, 2021.
• Outstanding Paper Award for high-quality research, "Mechanical property degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) 3D printed parts under ultraviolet radiation", International Symposium on Industrial Engineering and Smart Automation (ISM). A. Zapciu, C. Ghe. Amza - University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, M. I. Ciolacu - University of Passau, E. Francalanza - University of Malta, E. Rauch – University of Bolzano, 2022.
 • Best Video Pitch Award “Ich packe meinem Koffer für den E-Learning Tag und ich nehme mit eine Schachtel Pralinen“, FH Joanneum, Austria, Okt. 2021 

PUBLICATIONS
1. Heribert Popp, Erwin Semke, Monica I. Ciolacu, “Virtueller, wissensbasierter und analytischer MINTCoach (VWA-MINT)”, In Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Bildung und Kultus, Wissenschaft und Kunst (Ed), „Erfolgreicher MINT-Abschluss an bayerischen Hochschulen“, Oct. 2015, pp. 72-81, 2015. https://www.km.bayern.de/download/13359_stmbw_abschlussbericht_best_mint.pdf.
2. Monica I. Ciolacu, Rick Beer, “Adaptive user interface for higher education based on web technology”, Conference: IEEE 22nd International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2016), Location: Oradea, Romania, Oct. 21st-23rd, 2016, Publisher: IEEE, Research Areas: Engineering, Web of Science Categories: Engineering, Electrical & Electronic, 2016, pp. 300-303.
3. Monica I. Ciolacu, Paul Svasta, Waldemar Berg, Heribert Popp, “Education 4.0 for Tall Thin Engineer in Data-Driven Society”, Conference: IEEE 23rd International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2017), Location: Constanța, Romania, Oct. 26-29, 2017, Publisher: IEEE, 2017, pp. 432-437.
4. Monica I. Ciolacu, Ali Fallah Tehrani, Rick Beer, Heribert Popp, “Education 4.0 – Fostering Student Performance with Machine Learning Methods”, Conference: IEEE 23rd International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2017), Location: Constanța, Romania, Oct. 26th-29th, Publisher: IEEE, Web of Science Categories: Engineering, Electrical & Electronic, 2017, pp. 438-443.
5. Monica I. Ciolacu, Heribert Popp, „Lehre 4.0: Effiziente virtuelle Weiterbildung /Open Innovation Education 4.0“, Forschungsbericht 2016-2017, Wissens- und Technologietransfer der Technische Hochschule Deggendorf, Germany, 2017, pp. 52-58.
6. Heribert Popp, Monica I. Ciolacu, „Lehre 4.0 revolutioniert E-Learning in Hochschule und
Weiterbildung“, Die neue Hochschule (DNH), (4), Germany, 2017, pp. 12-15.
7. Monica I. Ciolacu, Ali Fallah Tehrani, Leon Binder, Paul Svasta, “Education 4.0 - Artificial Intelligence assisted Higher Education: Early Recognition System with Machine Learning to support Students’ Success “, Conference: IEEE 24th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2018), Location: Iasi, Romania, Oct. 25th-28th, 2018, Publisher: IEEE, Web of Science Categories: Engineering, Electrical & Electronic, 2018, pp. 23-30.
8. Monica I. Ciolacu, Leon Binder, Rick Beer Heribert Popp, “Education 4.0 für Akademiker 4.0
Kompetenzen -Blended Learning 4.0 Prozess mit Learning Analytics Cockpit”, Proceedings of
Arbeitskreis Learning Analytics der Fachgruppe E-Learning in der Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI), “Digitalisierungs(wahn)Sinn? Wege der Bildungstransformation – DeLFI und HDI Sept. 10, 2018, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Workshop, http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2250/WS_LA_paper7.pdf, 2018, pp.1-10.
9. Heribert Popp, Rick Beer, Monica I. Ciolacu, “Blended Learning 4.0: KI unterstützte digitale Lehre” –Workshop, In F. Waldherr, C. Walter (Ed.). Tagungsband zum Forum der Lehre an der Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, 16. April 2018, 2018, pp. 72-78, https://dizbayern.
de/images/documents/400/DiZ_FdL_2018_Tagungsband.pdf.
10. Heribert Popp, Monica I. Ciolacu, Leon Binder, “Smarter Blended Learning 4.0 Prozess”, Proceedings of 17th E-Learning Tag der FH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Sep. 2018, Graz, Austria, 2018, pp.101-112, http://oer.fh-joanneum.at/zml/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ELT-Tagungsband2018_final.pdf.
11. Monica I. Ciolacu, Heribert Popp: „Education 4.0: Künstliche Intelligenz gestaltet smarte Blended Learning Prozesse”, Forschungsbericht 2018-2019, Conference: 6er Tag der Forschung, Technische Hochschule Deggendorf, 10. April 2019, Germany, pp. 51-59.
12. Monica I. Ciolacu, Leon Binder, Ali F. Tehrani, Heribert Popp, “Enabling IoT in Education 4.0 with Biosensors from Wearables and Artificial Intelligence”, Conference: IEEE 25th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2019), Location: Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Oct. 23rd-26th, Publisher: IEEE, 2019, pp. 17-24.
13. Monica I. Ciolacu, Paul Svasta, Dan Stoichescu, Ioan Tache, "Education 4.0 - Jump to Innovation IoT in Higher Education", Conference: IEEE 25th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2019), Location: Constanta, Romania, Oct. 23rd-26th, 2019, Book Series: International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging, Publisher: IEEE, 2019, pp. 135-141.
14. Heribert Popp, Monica I. Ciolacu, Leon Binder, “Education 4.0: IoT- und CoP-unterstützte Smarte ELearning-Prozesse”, Proceedings of 19th E-Learning Tag der FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences, Sept. 2020, Workshop, pp. 42-55, Graz, Austria.
15. Monica I. Ciolacu, Ali F. Tehrani, Paul Svasta, Ioan Tache, Dan Stoichescu: „Education 4.0: An Adaptive Framework with Artificial Intelligence, Raspberry Pi and Wearables - Innovation for creating value”, Conference: 26th IEEE International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME 2020), Oct. 21st -24th, Publisher: IEEE, , 2020, pp. 298-303.
16. Monica I. Ciolacu, Paul Svasta, Daniela Hartl, Stefanie Görzen, „Education 4.0: Smart Blended Learning assisted by Artificial Intelligence, Biofeedback and Sensors”, 14th IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and Telecommunications (ISETC2020), Nov. 5th-6th, Timisoara, Romania, 2020, pp. 1-4.
17. Monica I. Ciolacu, Paul Svasta, „Education 4.0: AI Empowers Smart Blended Learning Process with Biofeedback”, 12th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2021), “Women in Engineering”, April 21st-23rd, Vienna, Austria, 2021, pp. 1443-1448, https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON46332.2021.9453959.
18. Bernhard Haderer, Monica I. Ciolacu, "Education 4.0: Artificial Intelligence Assisted Task- and Time Planning System", Procedia Computer Science, Volume 200, online event, pp. 1328-1337, ISSN 1877-0509, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2022.01.334, Open Access.
19. Monica I. Ciolacu, Bernhard Haderer, Andreas Berl and Paul Svasta, "Education 4.0: Innovation Learning Lab for AI-Analysis and Concept Proposal”, 2021 IEEE 27th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME), Timisoara, Romania, 2021, pp. 45-50, https://doi:10.1109/SIITME53254.2021.9663426.
20. Monica I. Ciolacu, Alina E. Marcu, Marian Vladescu, Dan Stoichescu and Paul Svasta, "Education 4.0 Lab for Digital Innovation Units – Collaborative Learning in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic", 2021 IEEE 27th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME), Timisoara, Romania, 2021, pp. 268-271, https://doi:10.1109/SIITME53254.2021.9663606.
21. Monica I. Ciolacu, Tamara Rachbauer, Christina Hansen, Bogdan Mihailescu, Paul Svasta, and Cristina Marghescu, „Virtual Collaboration with Agile Methods in Engineering Education 4.0 – Jump to Digital Innovation Units in the New Normal”, IEEE 9th Electronics System-Integration Technology Conference (ESTC), Sibiu, Romania, 2022, pp. 282-291, https://doi.org/10.1109/ESTC55720.2022.9939480.
22. Radu Zapciu, Catalin Ghe. Amza, Monica I. Ciolacu, Emmanuel Francalanza, Erwin Rauch "Mechanical Property Degradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) 3D Printed Parts under Ultraviolet Radiation", In: Matt, D.T., Vidoni, R., Rauch, E., Dallasega, P. (eds) Managing and Implementing the Digital Transformation. ISIEA 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 525, 2022, pp. 26-33, Springer, Cham, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14317-5_3
23. Monica I. Ciolacu, Heribert Popp, „Education 4.0: KI- und IoT-unterstützte Blended-Learning-Prozesse – smart Blended Learning“, Forum der Lehre 2022, „VIELFALT LEBEN – Heterogenität in Studium und Lehre“, Bayerisches Zentrum für Innovative Lehre - BayZiel / DiZ – Zentrum für Hochschuldidaktik, OTH Regensburg, 2022, pp. 95-105, https://www.didaktikzentrum.de/images/cwattachments/FdL_2022.pdf Open Access.
24. Monica I. Ciolacu, T. Rachbauer, C. Hansen, "Education 4.0 in the New Normal – Higher Education Goes Agile with E-Portfolio". In: Auer, M.E., Pachatz, W., Rütmann, T. (eds) Learning in the Age of Digital and Green Transition. ICL 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 633, 2023, pp. 289-299, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26876-2_27.
25. Monica I. Ciolacu, B. Mihailescu, T. Rachbauer, C. Hansen, C. Ghe. Amza, P.  Svasta, "Fostering Engineering Education 4.0 Paradigm Facing the Pandemic and VUCA World", Procedia Computer Science, vol. 217, 2023, pp. 177-186, ISSN 1877-0509, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2022.12.213 Open Access.
26. Fabian Obster, Josephine Brand, Monica I. Ciolacu, Andreas Humpe, „Improving Boosted Generalized Additive Models with Random Forests: A Zoo Visitor Case Study for Smart Tourism“, Procedia Computer Science, vol. 217, 2023, pp. 187-197, ISSN 1877-0509,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187705092202292X, Open Access.
27. Monica I. Ciolacu, Gustavo R. Alves, Claudius Terkowsky, Abdallah Y. Zoubi, Konrad E. R. Boettcher, Maria I. Pozzo, and Alexander A. Kist, “Developing Future Skills in Engineering Education for Industry 5.0: Enabling Technologies in the Age of Digital Transformation and Green Transition”, REV 2023 - 20th IEEE International Conference on Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation International Association of Online Engineering (IAOE) Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. 01-03rd March 2023, pp. 1019–1031, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-42467-0_94.
28. Monica I. Ciolacu, M. Brandl, F. Stelzer, C. Hansen, W. Gamerith, K. Plank, T. Rachbauer, M. Würdinger-Gaidas, "Building a sustainable, student-centered and resilient higher education 5.0 through intra- und interinstitutional collaborations", IEEE EXPAT’23, University of Evora, Portugal, 05-07th June 2023, 6th Experiment@ International Conference (exp.at'23), pp. 169-174, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10546235.
29. Monica I. Ciolacu, Heribert Popp, "Education 4.0 – Smarte (IoT- und KI-gestützte) Hochschulbildung",  Buch Künstliche Intelligenz in der Bildung. In: C. de Witt, C. Gloerfeld, S. Wrede (Hrsg.) Verlag Springer VS. ISBN 978-3-658-40078-1, Nov. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-40079-8.
30. S. Baciu, Monica I. Ciolacu, A. Esau, J. Chow, B. Roffelsen, L. Levak, B. Castleforte, Y. Marimoto, M. Ball, M. Barreto, L. Bennett, S. Hull, W. Peak, “AZIMUTH from AI to Zenith: An Alphabet Adventure – AICC AI Children’s Companion”, Amazon, https://lmy.de/btkFl, June 2024.
31. A. Al-Zoubi, M. I. Pozzo, Monica I. Ciolacu, G. R. Alves, A. Kist, (2024). “University 4.0: The Future of Higher Education in the Age of Technology”. In: Auer, M.E., Langmann, R., May, D., Roos, K. (eds) Smart Technologies for a Sustainable Future. STE 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1027, Springer, June 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-61891-8_12.
32. Monica I. Ciolacu, Cristina Marghescu, Bogdan Mihailescu, Paul Svasta, “Does Industry 5.0 Need an Engineering Education 5.0? Exploring Potentials and Challenges in the Age of Generative AI”, 2024 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), Kos, Greece, 2024, pp. 1-10, https://doi:10.1109/EDUCON60312.2024.10578712.
33. Monica I. Ciolacu, C. Marghescu, M. Sorecau, B. Mihailescu, E. Sorecau, P. Bechet, “Education 5.0: Transforming Engineering Education in the Age of Generative AI”, IEEE 30th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging (SIITME), Sibiu, Romania, pp. 303-308.
34. Fabian Obster, Monica I. Ciolacu and Andreas Humpe, "Balancing Predictive Performance and Interpretability in Machine Learning: A Scoring System and an Empirical Study in Traffic Prediction" in IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 195613-195628, 2024, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3521242.

35. Monica I. Ciolacu, Konrad E.R. Boetcher, Gustavo R. Alves, Andreas Pester, Abdallah Y. Zoubi, "Engineering Education 5.0: Navigating Pedagogy and Technology in the Age of Generative AI", Procedia Computer Science,
Volume 277, ELSEVIER, 2026, pp. 3540-3549, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2026.02.389