Romanian Universities Research Articles

Determining factors in shaping the sustainable behavior of the generation Z consumer

Introduction: Organizations currently emphasize green marketing strategies by implementing marketing practices, aiming to design, produce, promote and sell green products. Thus, both consumers and producers have turned their attention to the category of environmental friendly products, taking into account that the concept of green marketing is now being given greater importance. Responsible organizations have begun to adapt their strategies in production, promotion and interaction activities with consumers or potential consumers of organic products in the context we are going through, when environmental protection becomes an imperative. Analysis of the sustainable behavior of Generation Z is a determining factor from the perspective of the task that this generation will naturally take on, in terms of environmental responsibility.Methods: The research aims to determine the profile of the Generation Z consumer, in order to adapt the strategic actions of the government or organizations to direct and educate as objectively and efficiently as possible towards adopting the principles of ecological, sustainable and responsible consumption. Based on the data collected through a survey, we analyzed the sustainable behavior of Generation Z consumers studying at Romanian universities where there are specializations in this field. The research is quantitative, using structural equation modelling with partial least squares (PLSSEM) to test the hypotheses regarding the relationship between the determining factors and the sustainable behavior of Generation Z consumers.Results and Discussion: The results show that there is a positive relationship between both the sustainable behavior of Generation Z consumers and the satisfaction it conveys to them, as well as their environmental protection activities. However, there is no relationship between the sustainable behavior of Generation Z consumers and the green marketing practices of the organizations, environmental issues and their identification with the environmentally responsible consumer.

Online Education Management: A Multivariate Analysis of Students’ Perspectives and Challenges during Online Classes

The aim of the present study is to find solutions for better management of online education, starting from students’ perspectives regarding the challenges they encountered in the last two years when online courses were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research methodology we used was partial least squares structural equation modelling based on data collected by applying a survey among students in Romanian universities. The novelty of our study consists in the proposed model, which has five variables: communication problems specific to online education, professors’ skill in conducting online classes, the quality of online education, the stress felt by students during online education, and the technical requirements of online education. The results revealed that despite challenges during online classes students benefited from a high-quality education because they had the support of their professors, all the educational resources that they needed, a device to connect from, and a very good internet connection. These findings are helpful for managers in the higher education system to create better educational strategies meant to satisfy the educational needs of students in the digital age.

THE WEB-BASED STUDY GUIDES IN ENGLISH – A KEY TO SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONALISATION

The scarce academic offer in English available on many universities’ webpages comes to contradict their internationalisation strategy which views first and foremost the increase in the number of international students (either exchange or full degree). The main goal of this paper is to raise awareness of the direct relation between the two by providing facts and numbers from several European universities. Furthermore, the objective is to bring to light a critical dimension of the translations from Romanian into English of the Translation Studies and American Studies degrees and course descriptions available on the Romanian universities’ webpages. The outputs are meant to highlight the importance of both the Study Guides in English and the specialized translations of these academic texts.

The mediating role of students' ability to adapt to online activities on the relationship between perceived university culture and academic performance

Research background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected higher education globally and disrupted its usual activities, according to differing perspectives. The ability to adapt to online activities was an important factor for many researchers during the pandemic period. Purpose of the article: In this article, the authors are studying the ability of the students to adapt to online activities, and also the direct and indirect effect on their academic performances. Methods: The data was collected with a questionnaire and the respondents are students from Romanian Universities. The analysis was made with an econometric model by using the PLS-SEM methodology. The goal of the paper was to find and analyse the factors used to perform academic online activities during the pandemic period. Findings & value added: The results of the paper validate the research hypotheses formulated in the introductory part and confirm that the students? academic performances are a direct result of many factors, such as: system parameters, personal demand, personal commitment, and regulatory environment. The identification of the exogenous variables with significant impact on the students? performances through online activities could help the management of the universities to implement the positive aspects and to reward them for their efforts while preventing from resilience to change. The higher education system has to acknowledge that flexible online learning opportunities are needed by students to fit their coursework around their employment and family responsibilities.

A Babel in Bucharest: Third World students in Romania, 1960s-1980s

The article explores three interconnected perspectives on young people from the Third World enrolled in Romanian universities. The first is the relationship between Romania’s engagement with the post-colonial world and the provision of higher education to African, Asian and Latin American students. The second is the impact of students’ political agency on Romanian society and foreign policy. Third, the author shows the resilience of racial discrimination, as authorities and citizens struggled to live up to the ideal of solidarity with decolonized peoples. Merging these directions, the article shows that the local communist party was able to strike only a precarious balance among internationalism, economic priorities, and the integration of youth from developing countries in academic and public spaces. The author emphasizes that students contested the policies and attitudes they were confronted with in Romania. Their post-colonial otherness remained an invisible barrier never overcome by party officials and society. By 1989, Arab and African youth became the scapegoats of popular anger against Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship.

Advertising Models and the Romanian Academic-Practitioner Divide

The current paper presents a comparative analysis between the advertising models taught in the advertising classes of Romanian universities and those applied in the marketing and advertising industry, appraising the gap between the two worlds but also identifying the interference points. The current qualitative research is based on semi-structured interviews with professors from important Romanian universities specialized in teaching advertising, on one hand, and with experts from the most important three industry structures, marketing, account planning, and creative departments, on the other hand. According to the study’s conclusions, on one side, the Romanian textbooks include the main advertising models, but most of the professors do not insist on the subject as the students have a big reluctance to this topic. Moreover, the academicians do not know what models are used by the professionals although they make efforts to be as close to the practice as they can. On the other side, with some small exceptions, the professionals do not know and do not use textbook theoretical approaches. Furthermore, the creatives in the agencies manifest a certain reluctance against the main advertising theories as they consider them post-evaluation models that do not help them to solve the communication problem

Patterns of Academic Integrity Definitions among BA Romanian Students’. The Impact of Rising Enrolments

In light of the increasing interest in academic integrity, this paper investigates how students from three major Romanian universities conceive academic integrity. We build up an argument of dependency of such definitions on existing academic culture, and on how fast universities, faculties, or fields of study grow with respect to number of enrolled students. The findings reveal that definitions of academic integrity offered by BA students were largely confused, with some of the students being completely unable to focus on the topic. The variation in definitions depends on the size and recent history of the department and university. The universities that experienced recent growths were found have students less likely to focus on academic integrity. The department size plays a buffering role through the inertia of organizational culture and increase in department size leads to better knowledge of academic integrity. Notably, no or very little impact was found across the fields of study in the patterns of defining academic integrity. Policy makers and academic leaders should therefore be aware that in fast-growing universities, academic integrity needs careful instillment among students, and promoting it in terms of knowledge might be rewarding for the health of the organization.

Comparative and Predictive Analysis of Electrical Consumption during Pre- and Pandemic Periods: Case Study for Romanian Universities

The pandemic period was caused by COVID-19 and it has been an unprecedented event in the last 100 years of human history. Regarding universities, major changes have occurred both in the online method of education as well as in the patterns of their electrical consumption, respective of both students’ and teachers’ residential electrical consumption. The focus of this research is to conduct and assess a comparative analysis of universities’ electrical consumption during the pre- and pandemic periods. Polynomial regression is used to model the electrical consumption of four Romanian universities during the period 2019–2021. Also, this study proposes a method for predicting the electrical consumption of universities in three months of 2021, compared to that of the same months in 2020. The data analysis shows that the electrical consumption had decreased between 20.6% and 36.29% in the pandemic period of 2020 compared to that of 2019. Additionally, this study evaluates the electrical consumption of universities due to their use of computers, which represents an important percentage of the total consumption; this was between 11.28% and 60.5% in the pre-pandemic year 2019, but this was substantially reduced in 2020, to be between 57.13% and 77.27%. Based on the data that has been provided by students and teachers, the calculated values show that the electrical residential consumption increased by about 20 kWh per month and per computer unit during the pandemic.

Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Favorable Participation of Students with Special Needs in Public Tertiary Education in Romania

Even though research focused on inclusive education in Romania for institutions within the primary and secondary education system has been carried out, there are not many studies that approach the factors determining a favorable inclusion of students in higher education institutions. The central goal of the article consisted in investigating what impacts the willingness and openness for inclusive education for Romanian universities and the potential impact of five constructs of variables applied on fifteen universities from Romania. The outcomes of the quantitative (econometrical) analysis (a survey based on a questionnaire) showed the major impact of the variables of “policies and structures of the university”, “curriculum and pedagogy/teaching strategies”, “community and social integration”, and “accessibility and resources for students” (all focused on students with special needs) on the “willingness and openness for inclusive education” for Romanian universities. The variable of “communication and transparency” (focused on students with special needs) was associated with a medium influence on the “willingness and openness for inclusive education” for Romanian universities. This paper underlines the importance of incorporating the necessary training, support, flexibility, and resources to respond to a variety of student needs in order to improve inclusive education within higher education institutions in Romania.

Educational Management in the Covid 19 Era. Case Study: Romanian Universities

The pandemic generated by the SARS-CoV 19 virus had, in addition to the obvious effects on the health of the population, multiple side
 effects. Of these, the effect on the education system can be found among the most important. The long period of lockdown, coupled with the transition to an online learning system, has been a daunting task for any education system. This article presents the ways to approach educational management in Romania from the perspective of higher education institutions. The research considers both the specific legislation issued during 2019-2021 and the ways of implementing and adapting universities during this period. The obtained results show us that at the level of higher education institutions in Romania there was no consensus on educational management in COVID 19 Era. The conclusion that emerges is that of the need to develop, at the national and institutional level, management plans for such periods of crisis
 and programs for the concrete implementation of these plans.

Emotional and Social Engagement in the English Language Classroom for Higher Education Students in the COVID-19 Online Context

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to perspective shifts in the approach of English language classrooms in the online higher education context. The current empirical study aims to understand the behaviour of 394 university students enrolled in agricultural, veterinary, and overall life science programmes in one of the main Romanian universities while learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) in terms of their classroom engagement during the 2020–2021 academic year. Following the application of an online questionnaire, a principal component analysis (PCA) was undertaken to determine the factors that determine students’ engagement (predominantly emotional and social), while learning EFL and ESP in the online system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the PCA results were used to identify clusters of students expressing similar behaviours towards the English learning process. Two clusters were identified: Cluster 1 consisted of moderately engaged students, and Cluster 2 consisted of highly engaged students. The clusters differed by the anxiety students express during class, the perception of the online system, the level of involvement and enjoyment, as well as class environment and dynamics, with the second cluster being the only one revealing a difference between the face-to-face and online experience. This study on students’ behaviours, attitudes, and preferences places students in the centre of the process of foreign language teaching and learning, as their enjoyment and engagement lead to a less stressful environment, especially during challenging times, and ultimately to long-term language proficiency and sustainable educational development.

Creating IoT-Enriched Learner-Centered Environments in Sports Science Higher Education during the Pandemic

In the pandemic context, creating IoT-enriched learner-centered environments was not only a tendency but a requirement for sustainable teaching and learning in universities with sports science programs for theoretical classes and practical activities. Our study aims to assess both the extent to which the sports science academic environment has been prepared for online teaching and the key features of dedicated e-learning teaching and training in sports science to provide the highest-quality educational services in pandemic conditions. An online survey was administered to academic staff in the field of sports science from two Romanian universities. The results of the study reveal that online teaching has been associated with major changes in terms of methods and methodology, but also with a new dynamic of external and internal factors regarding teachers and their relationship with students. At the same time, it depends on a solid specific infrastructure and IoT facilities (MOOCs, VR/AR, mobile devices). As a mirror of the student-centered approach, universities in the field of sports science have experienced the same concerns about the outcomes of the educational process. In this regard, universities can become sustainable if they positively integrate e-learning into their teaching system and consolidate their quality standards from an e-learning perspective.

Psychological Variables Explaining the Students' Self-Perceived Well-Being in University, During the Pandemic.

IntroductionIn the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Romanian universities switched to emergency relocation and online education, with students experiencing a sense of isolation, which affected their well-being, pace and normal learning style, relationships with other colleagues, and Professors. Beyond the technological obstacles that have arisen in learning, the aim of this study is to highlight the psychological variables that are associated and that explain the self-perceived well-being of students, in university, in the pandemic. The psychological variables studied were the following: the level of openness and personal autonomy, as personality traits of students but also the mechanisms for regulating their academic motivation.MethodWe used a questionnaire-based survey, wherein all four research instruments had been validated and adapted to the investigated population. The subjects were BA and MA students at the University of Oradea, Romania (N = 150), the majority being females (95.5%) with the age range of 27 years old. Pearson Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression were used to test the two hypotheses.ResultsResearch data obtained in the correlation analysis, point out association relationships with moderate and high effects size, between positive attitude toward self, others and student life and: openness to learning, openness to aesthetics, behavioral autonomy, cognitive autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and identification motivation. Furthermore, in regression analysis, it was revealed that regarding the variance of results concerning students’ self-perceived well-being in university (positive attitude toward oneself, others, and student life), it contributes both of students’ personality traits (such as openness and personal autonomy) and their intrinsic motivation and identification motivation.ConclusionThe fundamental conclusion of the research is that, although the personality traits of students explain in a higher percentage the variability of results in students’ self-perceived well-being (in terms of positive attitude toward self, others, and student life), motivation regulation mechanisms play an important role, especially in the conditions of online activities. The results have direct implications for the work carried out in universities. The educational policies developed by specialists and government will have to emphasize the ways of forming resilient student communities in periods of sudden transition and adaptation to change which take place in education and society.

Perspective of Teachers and Students towards the Education Process during COVID-19 in Romanian Universities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created important changes in all areas, highlighting many vulnerabilities, but also opportunities based on the use of technology. This paper aims to provide an overview of the online educational process from two perspectives—that of students and that of professors from Romanian universities. Data were collected from 844 students from Romanian universities disregarding the area of study. To achieve the main goal of this paper, both qualitative (in-depth interviews) and quantitative methods (surveys) were used, the data being processed using the SPSS Statistical software. The results of this paper highlight the discrepancy between the perspectives of the two parties directly involved in the university educational process. The study shows that the pandemic forced both stakeholders to work harder than before, which negatively affected the way the educational process unfolded, the pleasure of the teaching/learning process, the level of enthusiasm, and sometimes even the academic results. The final conclusions of this paper also highlight the need to make financial investments for the acquisition of licenses to create virtual animations or simulations, as well as for training teachers in their use. Research also indicates that to maintain students’ attention in class, especially online, teachers should use new teaching strategies, such as the use of debates and brainstorming sessions.

Development of the ethical self of accounting versus non-accounting students – an institutional analysis

Research Question: How do accounting versus non-accounting Romanian students perceive the factors influencing the construction of the ethical self? Motivation: The answer is important in the context of accountants’ ethics being increasingly under scruity following corporate scandals. Probably because in Romania we do not have the same context, prior research on accounting ethics is scarce, so little is known about how various educational aspects impact skills and behavior. Idea: In this study we offer insights about the academic ethics education in Romania and discuss its complexity, usefulness and effectiveness. To this purpose, we involve the Romanian end-users of the academic accounting ethics education (the students) to ask for their perception regarding the role education plays in developing the ethical self. Data: We survey 413 students from five Romanian universities. Tools: We conduct descriptive statistics, cross-sectional analysis and regression analysis on the data from the survey and we mobilize an institutional-based theoretical framework (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983) to discuss the factors associated with the construction of the ethical self. Findings: Our results indicate that while all isomorphic pressures are present in the creation of the ethical self, the most important factors appear to be the coercive (from classes on ethics) and mimetic ones (resulting from the need to follow immediate proxies such as classmates, professors, and the profession), and to a lesser extent the normative ones. Contribution: Understanding students’ perception of their ethics education will help both academia and professional associations adapt their style of teaching ethics so that it becomes more effective and applicable to the users.

Cross-Sectional Study to Evaluate Knowledge on Hand Hygiene in a Pandemic Context with SARS-CoV-2.

Background and Objectives: The basis of any infection control program is hand hygiene (HH). The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of HH among medical students. Materials and Methods: Students were randomly selected from two Romanian universities and a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between January and May 2021. The answers regarding demographic data and knowledge concerning the methods, the time and the antiseptics used for HH were collected. The selection of the study group was made according to selection criteria in accordance with ethical issues. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and a chi-square test was used for data comparison, with a cut-off point of 0.05 for statistical significance. Results: The results indicated that the attitude of the students towards the practice of HH improved significantly. Most students believe that simple HH can control infections. Significant differences were found by the year of study in terms of the hand surfaces included and recommended duration (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the study shows that most respondents have sufficient knowledge on HH, meaning that a higher compliance is required to control infections. The indicated reasons of non-compliance with HH are emergencies and other priorities.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Romanian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the SDGs Framework.

The purpose of this research is to explore barriers and challenges that HEIs in Romania must overcome in order to incorporate education for sustainable development (ESD), but also to provide key recommendations regarding factors that can facilitate sustainability in higher education in Romania. In terms of the approach, a qualitative approach was used consisting of semi-structured interviews involving seven actors from Romanian HEIs, actors who are in charge of ESD adoption. All respondents were in charge of ESD adoption within the Romanian universities that were part of the analysis. The research outlined that the analyzed Romanian universities have implemented ESD, but in terms of planning and practices, they have taken isolated actions. Moreover, major barriers and challenges have been highlighted, such as: funding deficiencies, a lack of experienced officers to adopt SD, change difficulties and improper public policies. The originality of the article resides in the fact the approach is holistic, which adds value to the literature in the area, particularly since, so far, research on ESD in Romanian higher education has focused only on particular factors.

Thrown into Deep Water: Feedback on Student Satisfaction—A Case Study in Hungarian and Romanian Universities

As a result of the COVID-19 health epidemic, online life has exploded into our daily lives, forcing most of us to move previously seemingly irreplaceable “face-to-face” activities into “non-face-to-face” meetings and activities in many sectors. One of the biggest challenges has been in the field of education: This sector, compared to other sectors, was less digitized. Under these circumstances, the entire education process was transferred to online space overnight, which was/is a major challenge for everyone. Thus, a questionnaire survey was conducted among students from two universities in Hungary and Romania, the results of which are included in the present article. The aim of the research was to measure students’ satisfaction and to examine the benefits of online education, for example, in terms of introducing hybrid education over the long term. Descriptive statistics as well as the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to analyze the database. The results showed that, from a practical point of view, there was no significant difference between the Hungarian and Romanian respondents who had a fundamentally positive view of digital education. In this respect, positive feedback can be seen as encouraging, especially for those individuals and social strata who may find online education much more attractive than traditional physical teaching. Online education could be an attractive, accessible, sustainable form of further education in the long run.

Foreword

The Congress of Automotive and Transport Engineering is an annual scientific event initiated in 1990 by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Romania (SIAR) and various Romanian universities with an interest in Automotive and Transport Engineering. This Congress is endorsed by FISITA (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Ingénieurs des Techniques de l'Automobile) and EAEC (European Automotive Engineers Cooperation).The XXXI-st edition of SIAR's International Congress with the theme “Automotive and Integrated Transport Systems-AITS 2021” was organized for the first time by the Department of Transport of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Transport from the Technical University of Moldova with the support of the State Agrarian University of Moldova and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) as co-host.The Congress purpose is to gather members from academia, industry and government and present their possibilities for investigations and research, in order to establish new future collaborations in the automotive engineering and transport domain.List of Acknowledgement, Honorary Committee, Scientific And Technical Committee, Organizing Committee, Sponsors are available in this pdf.

How Do the Romanian Students Consider the Research Competencies Appropriate for Their Future Career?

Students’ research competencies are seen today, for any specialist, as necessary, both in terms of their use in academic training but also for the future careers. The analysis of educational practices in various education systems shows that the development of those skills starts sooner or later along the educational paths. We consider that research competencies are necessary in more and more diverse contexts, together with the development of educational practices that should develop the research competences in the initial and continuous training processes. This study aims to capture the correlation between the perceptions of Romanian students concerning the need to develop research competencies, and the extent to which they are effectively formed in actual higher education programs. The steps made for the development of each career, but also the successful completion of the university studies imply the development and practice of research competencies. The research aims to identify how students from several Romanian universities perceive the need to gather research competencies, what is the meaning of those skills, in what situations are used, but also what barriers are encountered in the research activity. Seeking to minimize any negative impact of research on the well-being status, we believe that a key factor in facilitating well-being is related to responsible research and innovation. Another important aspect of this research is offered by the identification of the respondents’ perceptions considering the importance of research in the students’ future professional activity, which could implicitly determine the interest in ensuring the individual and organizational well-being. For the present research, we aim to find a correlation of research competencies with the well-being status, to identify the necessary research competencies among the objectives of training, to determine the structural elements of research competencies, to identify situations / contexts in which such skills may be useful, to identify aspects that alters the well-being status in research activities, as well as solutions for promoting the well-being status in research activities.