Romania is building the next generation of digital transformation talent—and the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest is leading the way. Home to approximately 40,000 students and one of Romania's largest universities, POLITEHNICA is where Dr. Decebal Popescu, a full professor with habilitation in computer science, established the ServiceNow Academy in 2020. The program has woven industry-recognized ServiceNow credentials directly into the fabric of its academic curriculum. Students graduate not only with a degree, but with the certified skills employers are actively seeking—and in several cases, the job offer already in hand.
Embedding real-world skills into the curriculum
The ServiceNow Academy offers two distinct program tracks—one at the masters level and one for undergraduates—each designed to integrate ServiceNow University learning into core coursework rather than treating it as an add-on. The curriculum blends lab work, coursework, and ITIL certification preparation, with free certification vouchers available to qualifying students.
Masters track: Digital Government
Masters students specializing in Digital Government enroll in the "Management of e-Governmental Projects" course, which uses ServiceNow as the practical foundation for teaching digitalization solutions across government, IT, and business sectors. The curriculum draws directly on ServiceNow University content, guiding students through Welcome to ServiceNow, ServiceNow Administration Fundamentals, and IT Service Management (ITSM) Fundamentals.
This integrated approach—combining theoretical grounding with hands-on, high-demand technical content—forms an integral part of the degree. Students build a strong foundation in both business and technology skills, culminating in the ServiceNow certification process.
Vasilescu Mihai-Alexandru, a student in the program, describes what sets the experience apart, "The ServiceNow Academy provides a comprehensive and valuable learning experience for those looking to enhance their skills on the platform. Its well-structured curriculum caters to a wide range of skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. I solved exercises like tasks in the projects I am involved in at work. Ultimately, I passed the Certified System Administrator (CSA) exam and earned my certification."
Undergraduate track: Computer Networks
Undergraduate students access ServiceNow through the "Computer Networks" course, which covers networking fundamentals—routers, switches, servers—and integrates the IT Operations Management (ITOM) Fundamentals course. Through hands-on labs, students learn to automatically discover and manage devices on a network and identify problems using ITOM, connecting classroom concepts directly to enterprise-grade tooling.
The program also offers optional ServiceNow courses during the summer period—running one to two months—which can substitute for the mandatory three-month practice requirement, giving students a flexible, high-value path to earning their credentials while fulfilling degree obligations.
AI at the core
The ServiceNow Academy has evolved alongside the platform itself. Courses now incorporate artificial intelligence elements—including Flow Designer and automation workflows—reflecting the growing demand for AI-fluent ServiceNow professionals in the workforce.
The program's AI focus extends into research as well. One active master's thesis project is developing an AI solution to automatically generate comments for uncommented JavaScript code in ServiceNow environments—addressing a real pain point flagged by industry partners, who note that companies frequently inherit legacy code with no documentation.
From classroom to career
Both tracks produce graduates who are certified, confident, and ready to contribute from day one. The Academy has placed 40 students into industry roles since launching, with graduates working across Romania, Germany, and Austria. Employers have taken notice - and in some cases, raised the bar. Deloitte now mandates the Certified System Administrator certification for employees working on ServiceNow, reflecting how broadly the credential is recognized.
Hiring partners include Deloitte, ITSM Group, OMV, LSEG, NTT Data Romania, BCR Bank, NXP, Schwarz IT, and others—a range that spans financial services, energy, technology, and consulting. The breadth of industries reflects a simple reality Dr. Popescu has observed: companies increasingly prefer building internal ServiceNow expertise over relying on external consultancy, making trained specialists with verified credentials a priority hire.
Mihai-Valeriu Vilveacu, who earned his CSA certification through the program and went on to be hired as a ServiceNow developer, credits the hands-on structure of the curriculum, "A significant strength of the course was the hands-on practice sessions. These labs allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge in a controlled environment, mirroring real-world ServiceNow scenarios. This practical experience was crucial in reinforcing my understanding of the platform and preparing me for the certification exam."
Powered by ServiceNow University
The ServiceNow Academy's curriculum is built on ServiceNow University—offering learners role-based training, certification prep, and free on-demand content. By embedding ServiceNow University coursework directly into degree programs, POLITEHNICA Bucharest ensures students receive the same training used by professionals worldwide, validated through the same certification framework trusted by global employers.
This partnership model—where academic rigor and industry credentialing reinforce each other—is the foundation of what makes the Academy distinctive. Students are not preparing for a certification in isolation; they are earning a credential as part of a structured academic journey.
Looking ahead
The ServiceNow Academy is expanding on multiple fronts. A new website is in development to showcase the program's course offerings and learning environment. The Academy is also deepening its reach through a cross-university collaboration with IBM Business Process Consultant specialists—an English-language master's program—to attract a broader pool of students to ServiceNow training.
Among the most ambitious initiatives in planning is a live-streamed competition targeting Romanian government automation projects, with a prize pool of 2,000 euros. The event, which Dr. Popescu hopes to co-host with ServiceNow in 2026, would be broadcast on social media, with ministry representatives and expert judges in attendance. The format is designed to showcase what students can build on the ServiceNow AI Platform—and could serve as a replicable model for other universities.
With the continued commitment of its founding partners—National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, ServiceNow, and iTSM Trusted Quality srl / iTSM Group—the academy is building toward becoming the premier resource for ServiceNow upskilling and reskilling in Romania and beyond.
Bottom Line
By embedding ServiceNow University content directly into degree programs and keeping pace with the ServiceNow AI Platform evolution, POLITEHNICA Bucharest has created a model for academic-industry partnership that produces certified, job-ready graduates at scale. Forty placements. Eight-plus hiring partners. Students working across three countries. The ServiceNow Academy demonstrates that when universities and technology platforms build curriculum together, students win—and so do the employers waiting to hire them.