Sanctions should improve business compliance and mitigate the risks of non-conformity. This premise motivated our research and led to very interesting results for the trinomen business ...performance—transport infrastructure and local development strategies—public control. We used a customized Brunswik lens model to illustrate the decision-making process based on the interactions between the analysis of sanctions in the transport sector and the projected financial judgement, as we have traditionally understood and experienced them. We clustered 186,671 cases of noncompliance sanctioned by the Romanian authorities and created a chromatic map with accents on the risks of nonconformities. We employed principal component analysis to find patterns and correlations between faulty behavior in transport activities and the evolution of financial indicators, such as exports and imports. The ROC curve was used to investigate the credibility of a possible connection between transport sanctions and the development of regional exports and imports. We found multiple challenges that interfere with the projection of a trustworthy financial judgement in transport and offer insights and recommendations for integrated local governance practices and strategies aimed at mitigating the risks of noncompliance and promoting sustainable development in transport.
The importance of studying coastal areas is justified by their resources, ecosystem services, and key role played in socio-economic development. Coastal landscapes are subject to increasing demands ...and pressures, requiring in-depth analyses for finding appropriate tools or policies for a sustainable landscape management. The present study addresses this issue globally, based on case studies from three continents: Romania (Europe), Algeria (Africa), and Vietnam (Asia), focusing on the anthropogenic pressure resulting from land use/land cover change or urban sprawl, taking into account the role of socioeconomic and political factors. The methodology consisted of producing maps and computing and analyzing indicators, correlating geospatial and socio-economic data in a synergistic manner to explore the changes of landscapes, and identify the specific driving forces. The findings show that the pressure of urbanization and tourism on coastal areas increased, while the drivers and impacts vary. Urbanization is due to derogatory planning in Romania and Algeria, and different national and local goals in Vietnam. The two drivers determine local exemptions from the national regulations, made for profit. In addition to the need for developing and enforcing policies for stopping the degradation and restoring the ecosystems, the findings underline the importance of international cooperation in policy development.
This study conducted at Ovidius University of Constanta, Romania, examines the integration of practical experiences into urban planning and construction curricula, involving 318 students from ...Construction, Law, and Administrative Sciences faculties. The study stresses the significance of these experiences in preparing students for the workforce, while assessing their perspectives on the relevance of their courses to future careers, with a particular emphasis on the influence of internships and real project involvement. The findings suggest that students who engage in practical activities view their courses as more relevant to their career advancement. This pattern is consistent across an array of courses, with various statistical analyses revealing degrees of significance. The study underscores the need of aligning educational programmes with labour market standards and professional requirements, particularly within fields that emphasise practical competencies. It also highlights the essential roles of construction engineers and public administration professionals, emphasizing the importance of understanding practical and legal aspects in their education.
Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is an integrated approach to the long-term management of maritime areas, in order to ensure sustainable development and use of marine resources, advocating the need ...for the sustainable growth as far as maritime economies are concerned. MSP is based on an integrated and participatory decision-making process which involves stakeholders from all sectors of the marine environment, tourism being one sector which requires support from a variety of stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to form a picture of the perception of the MSP stakeholders regarding coastal and maritime tourism, i.e., to see whether it is a priority from the perspective of analyzing land-sea interactions (LSI) in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area. Their views regarding the priorities and role of tourism sustainability in the local economy are needed, considering that LSI is strongly connected to the economic benefits of MSP.
The management of coastal and marine areas is a dynamic and complex one, which must take into account ways of balancing resource use and promoting the sustainable growth of the maritime economy. The ...MSP Directive (2014/89/EU) requires the Member States to consider economic, social, and environmental aspects in order to support sustainable development and the growth of the maritime sector, taking into account the interactions between land and sea. Thus, the aim of this article is to carry out an assessment of stakeholders' perceptions of land-sea interactions’ impact on the port and coastal protection activities in the Romanian Black Sea coastal area, from the point of view of their priorities: ecological, economic, and social. The analysis was performed on the basis of a questionnaire drafted within the MARSPLAN BS II project, to which MSP stakeholders, public and private entities, responded, the variables being grouped according to the scale on which the participating organization is operating: international, local and national.
Since municipal waste accounts for 7% - 10% of all waste generated in the European Union, this issue drums up major interest at the institutional level, given that increasing the levels of collected ...waste poses significant challenges to the environment and human health. The European Union adopted a legislative package which promotes the shift towards a more sustainable development model, known as the circular economy. The aim of this article is to analyze the dynamics of municipal waste management in Romania and Bulgaria in the European context, as there are deficiencies in these countries’ implementation of the European waste management legislation. Eurostat’s data for the 2000-2020 time horizon was used for the undertaken analysis. The results of the study show that both Romania and Bulgaria are facing similar challenges in terms of waste management due to the fact that some of the European directives have not been transposed into the national legislation.
Coastal areas are very important due to the ecosystem services provided to the inhabitants. However, these advantages have resulted into an increasing attraction, especially in the recent centuries. ...The human pressure determined numerous impacts on the ecosystems and ultimately on the safety and welfare of the coastal inhabitants, aggravated by the consequences of the global changes. The present study aims to explore two particular impacts, erosion and accretion, based on statistical data and unpublished studies, in an effort to increase the awareness towards the fact that the issue has a global extent. In addition, possible solutions are examined. The results indicate that erosion and accretion are present in all the three countries examined, and their extent tends to increase. Our findings suggest a need to act urgently; the phenomena need to be stopped first using engineering solutions, but a careful planning is needed in the long run, especially through restrictions meant to stop the “derogatory planning”. Last but not least, the conservation of fragile ecosystems by including them in natural protected areas is a possible solution.
Introduction: This research investigates the role of social media in institutional communication, with a focus on its effectiveness in engaging stakeholders within the educational sector. It analyzes ...the impact of digital transformation on public institutions, focusing on how governments' strategic communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of digital platforms, and Facebook's role in Romanian public administration demonstrate social media's capabilities. It highlights the effectiveness of social media in spreading information, engaging public sentiment, and enhancing communication strategies during crises. Additionally, it addresses the challenges of combating misinformation and underscores the importance of developing tailored communication strategies. Methodology: The study investigates the engagement of the Romanian Ministry of Education on social media, especially Facebook, during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. It aims to discern shifts in communication strategies and public engagement by analyzing posting frequency, engagement rates, sentiment analysis, and reaction types, employing tools like Fanpagekarma and RStudio for data collection and analysis. Results: The analysis indicates an uptick in post frequency by the Ministry of Education during the pandemic, with sentiment analysis revealing a consistently positive tone. This suggests a strategic shift towards more optimistic messaging. Engagement rates showed considerable variation pre-pandemic but stabilized during and after the pandemic, indicating effective content resonance with the audience. Conclusions: The study underscores the significant role of social media in crisis communication, evidenced by increased engagement and strategic positive messaging. It recommends institutions continue utilizing social media for flexible communication strategies, suggesting that a balance of optimistic messaging with transparent discussions about challenges can boost public trust and engagement, aiding in the development of a well-informed and resilient society.
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