Burlacu Irina

About

Dr. Irina Burlacu, originally from the Republic of Moldova, is an outstanding specialist in education and research, with a career dedicated to university teaching, science communication, and social policy. Passionate about teaching and research communication, she has specialized in social policy, focusing on social security coordination, cross-border work, and the impact of tax and benefit systems on the well-being of mobile workers in the European Union. Among her notable achievements are influential academic publications, such as a comparative study of welfare state regimes in transitional countries like Romania and Moldova, and analysis of migrants' access to social protection, contributing to international debates through microsimulation models and articles in prestigious journals. Initially active in the Republic of Moldova, Irina Burlacu has collaborated with institutions such as the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance in the Netherlands, where she developed expertise in European social policy, and promoted initiatives like the "Mobility Era Game" to connect the scientific community with the private sector and society. Although education-oriented, she has been involved in multidisciplinary projects, including visiting fellowships and analyses of European solidarity practices at borders, such as those in Maastricht-Liege or Chamonix. As a certified social entrepreneur, she creates digital synergies for knowledge dissemination, inspiring researchers to go beyond traditional academic publishing. Settled in the Netherlands for the last decade, Irina Burlacu de Paoli combines her professional life with advocacy for the role of researchers in society, sharing unique experiences of the European welfare state. Although details of her personal life remain private, her Moldovan roots motivate her to promote best practices in education and social protection, potentially influencing the diaspora and transatlantic collaborations, including in the context of educational activities in the United States through global academic networks.