Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Ionut Cosmin GHEORGHESCU, Ioana Mihaela BALAN, Cosmin SALASAN, Natalia MOCANU, Teodor MATEOC, Adrian FIRU, Nicoleta MATEOC-SIRB

The article explores the concept of intelligent villages as a model of sustainable rural development, with a special emphasis on the role of Smart educational centers in reducing educational inequalities, poverty, limited access to technology, as well as in ensuring food security and reducing rural-urban migration. Smart educational centers combine modern infrastructure, digital tools, and sustainability principles to increase the quality of education, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen local economic opportunities, thus supporting young people in their communities.The research is based on an analysis of the specialized literature, a contextual evaluation of the rural-urban discrepancies in Romania, and the elaboration of a conceptual framework for the implementation of Smart educational centers. There is a methodological note regarding the comparative selection of three relevant international models (Estonia, Finland, India), as well as a case study applied from Ciugud commune, which illustrates the practical feasibility and the potential for replicating the proposed model. The results highlight the transforming potential of education in rural areas by reducing economic inequalities, increasing food security, and strengthening socio-economic resilience. Although there are challenges related to financing and infrastructure, the article identifies public-private partnerships, continuous training of teachers, and digital inclusion strategies as essential for the success of these initiatives. The implementation of SMART educational centers can contribute significantly to achieving sustainable development objectives, especially in the fields of quality education, poverty eradication, food, decent work, the action for climate, and the development of sustainable communities. These centers can become strategic pillars in the process of sustainable transformation of villages in Romania and can offer valuable models for other countries in similar situations.

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