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The future of work is discussed in academic literature and reports starting with 2014. Various studies have identified artificial intelligence, robots, big data, globalization, population pressures, and changed demographic profiles as the main drivers for change in the future of jobs. Also, international organizations did comprehensive analyses of the professions' rapid technology changes. In contrast to the number of consultancy documents, there are not numerous scientific articles on the topic of the future of work. Research performed on the reputable scientific databases return a much larger number of scientific articles on the broader topic of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), including several systematic literature reviews, with 31 scientific articles on the topic. Still, the specific goal of this review is to explore the impact of job automation on the IT professions in Romania's IT industry. Consequently, the present paper is designed as a semi-systematic literature review, building on over one hundred papers written on the topic of Industry 4.0, studies that were done on the particular subject of the future of work, research papers done on the IT industry, and available studies on the IT industry in Romania. The findings are analyzed via various criteria which are meant to provide an accurate image of the state-of-the-art on the topic of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to identify the main aspects of digitalization in the EU and Romania at present, in general, and emphasizing on agriculture, because in this sector has a deep impact on infrastructure and work resources. The EU average for DESI index quantifying digital economy performance was compared with the index in the member states to show the differences in the performance of the digital economy. The aspects related to the impact of digitalization in agriculture from many points of view, but mainly on human resources have also been highlighted. Index scores differ from one country to another and reflect the performance result of the efforts that each member state has made to implement digital economy. The higher the index value, the higher the digital economy performance in that country. During the period 2017-2022, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden have maintained their top position in the EU, while Romania and Bulgaria are situated on the last places. Romania should be focused on the improvement of digital infrastructure, promotion of digital competences, innovation and entrepreneurship in order to increase its performance in digital economy. Major efforts should be done to improve connectivity, educational programmes in digital competences and to develop a favourable business environment for contributing to its digital transformation and integration into the EU digital unique market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the major pressure exerted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its management on students and teachers, the EU member states and institutions face the necessity to accelerate the digitalization of education. The EU interventions in this field open the debate on whether digital education will be another subject of Europeanisation as the supranational institutions are acquiring more competences, and whether a new European policy approach was generated by the pandemic. Therefore, the paper investigates whether the COVID crisis represents a major shift in the Europeanisation of digital education in the EU. We will thus try to assess this transformation by analysing the impact of the crisis on digital education, showcasing Romania and the manner in which the national government designed its public policies against the background of the EU positions, recommendations and measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological implementation and innovation represent essential pillars of contemporary society and are fundamental to its progress and evolution. In the urban development field, the concept of "smart city" rethinks the way of planning and managing cities by integrating emergent digital technologies that bring improvements in citizens’ way of life, while also increasing their efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. This paper aims to review a brief history of cities from ancient times until today, and the significant developments that determined the need for smart approach integration. For recent period, international and national trends and initiatives that impact smart city developments in Romania will be investigated. In addition, the innovative solutions promoted at the level of public administration will be highlighted by following the strategies and implementations in the phase of pilot projects, started or already used as prototypes, and private initiatives, as well as the impact of these smart approaches. For this purpose, an exploratory analysis is used at the level of multiple sources—town halls, county councils, various publications, specialized articles, magazines, companies, and non-governmental associations—following the mode in which the projects are framed on the thematics globally applied—people, economy, environment, governance, living, and mobility. Following the study, 1001 smart projects at the public level were identified in recent statistics, carried out by small, medium, and large cities in different stages of implementation. In addition, up-to-date private initiatives that led to urban transformation through the implementation of innovative solutions were pursued. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes us on a methodological journey, analysing the efficiency of implementing information technologies in the business environment. In the context of digital transformation of the SMEs in the EU, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova emerges the necessity to focus on implementing information technologies in the business area, as the primary factor of boosting organisational performance. The aim of this research is to shed light on the possibilities of implementing information technologies in the business environment of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The methodology of this scientific endeavour has been geared towards using multiple methods of research, among which stands out the quantitative research, the inquiry used as a research tool, namely a questionnaire. The results of the research show a direct interconnection between implementing information technologies and customer satisfaction, particularly organisational performance. Thus, organisations aspiring to grow their performance should remodel their management system in terms of implementing new information technologies which will increase customer trust, improve client satisfaction, and gain customer loyalty to the products/services provided by the company concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Green Deal sets out a detailed vision for Europe to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050 by providing clean, secure, and affordable energy. Thus, with the aim of providing a market-oriented perspective on the economic potential of biomass-related activities, several data were analyzed in this research paper. The positive impact of the green transition is necessary to be studied both at macroeconomic and microeconomic levels. In this context, the research question addressed was: What is the impact of the green transition on farms' performance and national economy? A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out in order to prove the importance of specific crops, taking into consideration the movements in the energy market and the farmer's constraints in the era of the European Green Deal. The main objective of this research was to determine if biomass is one of the optimal solutions able to gather all these European desiderates. This conference paper identifies the best scenario for an agricultural farm using diversification activities and the macroeconomic impact of the biomass crops. Currently, the European context is the most favorable for resorting to biomass crops, especially if considering the recent global energy market dynamics. Additionally, there is a need for activities diversification at the farm level in order for them to become greener and to boost their socio-economic and environmental performance. Results confirm that there is considerable economic potential for biomass production in Romania. The added value of the paper is provided by both microeconomic and macroeconomic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the technological changes that have occurred in the last years, Education 4.0, a new educational paradigm has emerged. Romania, as any other country in the world, will face some challenges in order to adapt to the new educational context. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of measures undertaken by our country in order to adapt to the changes. This paper relies on a theoretical study of the actions proposed by Romanian authorities. These actions will be analyzed in comparison with the regulations proposed by the European Union. Moreover, the study will focus on the degree of implementation of the actions and the perspectives our country has in order to meet the new global context. Overall, this paper contributes to the literature by placing Romanian education system in the new educational context brought to public attention by the Education 4.0 paradigm. In addition, it will find arguments in favor or against the alignment of our country with the new educational tends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) is one of the most important indicators of the Research and Development area, part of Science and Technology and Digital Society branch on the data navigation tree of the EUROSTAT Database. In this paper we analyzed the evolution of GERD in Romania and EU countries on the last ten years with the available data (2013-2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes the influence of digitalization on managerial activity in agriculture and highlights how the use of farm management software has an impact on overall economic efficiency. Romania is at the level of the European Union the country with the largest number of agricultural holdings. Farm management is one of the factors of production that can favor a positive result of the activity carried out, and innovation in this field can bring added value to the activity both in terms of organizing production processes and forecasting and especially the control performed. The study highlights and proposes Geofolia software as an example of a useful tool in digitalizing agricultural activity and how to manage the farm indicating the advantages and the need for such a tool as part of the overall process of globalization. The statistical data used in the study is represented by the National Institute of Statistics, Eurostat and Faostat, the methods used being diagnostic analysis, statistical data analysis and case study. The results of this study are indicating that farm management needs to adapt to the global trend of innovation in organizational and informational systems in order to ensure efficiency, the advantages of a farm management software being ways to increase competitive advantage in a global market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitalization of public administration is a pertinent and significant subject matter at the European Union level, and by extension, at the national level in Romania. The primary goal of this study is to examine the process of digitalization in public administration and assess the implications generated by the adoption of e-government services on several macroeconomic variables, namely economic growth, quality of life and potential growth. In this perspective, we shall undertake an analysis of the advantages that digitalization confers, as well as the trajectory that digitalization follows within Romania's public administration. Also, the paper shows several models of best practices with varying levels of digitalization observed within public administration and public services at the European Union (EU) level, as a possible direction that Romanian policy makers can adopt, considering the current level of digitalization and the competitiveness environment al EU level when it comes to the future of IT&C. The paper concludes that countries that had a forward-looking perspective and adopted digitalization measures for public administration in the past will now use the Recovery and Resilience Funds to develop Internet 4.0 elements to solve problems and compute data, as a way of revolutionizing how governments operate and serve their citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania and Estonia both have young fintech ecosystems that are growing rapidly and closing the gap with the more developed ecosystem in Western Europe. Although Romania is larger both in terms of population and GDP, the Romanian fintech ecosystem is almost 4 times smaller than the Estonian one. In this paper the author examines what are the factors that are contributing to the faster development of the Estonian ecosystem and whether some of these factors can be replicated in other countries, besides Romania. My results indicate that factors such as a government that is open to innovation and working with startups, a more international mindset of the startups and better collaboration between fintech startups themselves and between the startups and universities can accelerate the development of the ecosystem and help the startups grow faster. My results both confirm existing studies on the subject and can help the stakeholders in the ecosystem better work together to accelerate the development of the ecosystem and, ultimately, better service their clients. These success factors that have contributed to the faster development of the Estonian ecosystem can most, if not all, be replicated in Romania and other countries in the region to achieve similar, if not better results. The silver line between all this factor is a change in mindset that allows for a better collaboration between the stakeholders in the ecosystem, but also for improved individual business models and more innovative products and services that we can all benefit from. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research probes into the digital transformation shifts in Romania and sets them against a backdrop of certain EU countries. Its primary objective is to spotlight digitalization's significance and assess its level of integration within the Romanian banking landscape. Our approach relies on a detailed examination of the adoption of digital banking instruments in Romania through correlation and ANOVA assessments. The ANOVA analysis of the DESI index and its associated dimensions reveals how Romania's digital transformation stands in relation to other EU member states. Our findings emphasize the numerous advantages Romanian banks have garnered from increasingly embracing digital innovations and artificial technologies. These perks span from optimized operations and efficiency to enhanced customer experiences and a sharpened competitive advantage. The research indicates a strong positive correlation between a bank's return on assets and its liquid assets to deposits and short-term funding ratios. This suggests that as digital integration deepens, there is a marked upturn in financial robustness. Additionally, the study sheds light on the perks of individuals adopting digital banking offerings and delves into factors that propel and impede the digital evolution in the banking arena. Overall, this paper presents valuable insights into Romania's digital banking trajectory and the sector's long-term viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper outlines the online banking penetration of the current financial market, the investment volume in FinTech, its potential to accelerate the digital transformation in the banking sector and the main premises of the FinTech development in Romania. The main objective of the paper was to explore the customers' awareness related to digital services and FinTech and to test their trust in such solutions using both analytical and descriptive methods. The value of the paper was amplified by the individual customers' perspective related to the financial industry transformation, which was extremely relevant for the main assumptions of the current research. There were analyzed the clients' opinions regarding disruptive technologies and their attitudes towards the digital transformation of the financial sector in Romania. The results of the paper provide a clear overview of the Romanian banking sector in terms of digital innovation from the clients' perspective, relying on the ratio between the main FinTech advantages and risks. The paper revels a surprisingly competitive mechanism between banks and FinTech corporations, sustained by a high level of awareness of FinTech services among customers and a reactive position of the banks which empowers them with more authority and expands the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to disconnect is an increasingly urgent issue in the context of labor law and human resources, because in the digital age connectivity often has negative effects on the mental health of employees. The phenomenon is not new, but in the 1990s what started naively with an urgent telephone conversation once a week between the employer and the employee outside working hours, quickly progressed into dozens of e-mails or conversations on WhatsApp groups between the company's employees, the pursuit of which is of course not a contractual obligation, but rather an expectation from the employer. This paper is focusing on the existing legal framework on the European Union level, Romania and other member states and the directive proposal regarding the right to disconnect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Service Industries Journal is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aims to analyze the extent and the ways in which Romanian public administration institutions are currently using social media, involving citizens in active collaboration within society. It also explores the main issues that need to be considered when implementing an e-Government strategy. Our paper aims to shed a light not only on the scarce literature on the field, but also the particularities of this research provides empirical references, analyzes opportunities and challenges for more effective e Government processes and to provide better public services. In the same time, there are highlighted the main issues that local public institutions need to take into account when managing the transition to operations in a social media environment. In doing so, we explore how experts and public servants in Romania acknowledge the importance of social media and new tendencies, how they refer to the tools they use and the way they approach stakeholders and citizens. With the help of semi-structured interviews with practitioners in Romania, we aim to structure a frame of looking at the new tendencies in Public Administration Development, with a particular focus on new technology and social media in e-Government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study underscores the vital importance of conducting a census to obtain accurate population data, crucial for informed decision-making in various domains. Censuses are pivotal national events, requiring effective promotion. Adapting to technological advancements and societal needs is imperative, with a shift from traditional paper questionnaires to digital tools for enhanced data quality and reduced costs. The 2021 census in Romania, organized amid the COVID-19 pandemic, introduced unique challenges and transformed communication strategies. Evolving public attitudes, influenced by factors like census complexity, question sensitivity and time constraints, underscore the need for adaptable communication and promotion approaches. This research sheds light on census promotion dynamics, social media engagement, and public perceptions, offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and government agencies striving to enhance census efforts and build public trust in an increasingly digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Information Technology & Automatic Control / Revista Română de Informatică și Automatică is the property of National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics - ICI Bucharest and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cultural globalisation, made possible by the enhancement of digital infrastructure, has led some scholars to reconsider the dynamics of core-periphery transfers, stressing the immediacy with which popular culture crosses national and linguistic borders. This is the case of Theory in the 'Post' Era: A Vocabulary for the 21st-Century Conceptual Commons, which in its preface proposes an epidemiological model of the transfer of cultural capital. In my paper, I want to relate "the contagion theory" to the import of Posthumanism in Eastern Europe and contemporary Romanian literature. The links between Posthumanism and contemporary literature have provoked sometimes productive, sometimes controversial local debates. The way in which this philosophy/theory is naturalised calls into question the instantaneity with which ideas circulate, since there are cases in which its core meanings are hijacked in Romanian culture. This cultural dysmorphia (along with other cultural products considered self-colonial) demonstrates how the unequal relations between centre and periphery are not completely dissolved by the digital turn but generate a new paradox of asymmetrical instantaneity. The aim of my article is to see how the theory of posthumanism travels from the centre of Anglo-American cultural studies to the semi-periphery of the Romanian literary field, where several mutations can be noticed: first of all, the shift from SF literature to poetry, which has a greater symbolic capital in Romania. I will analyse the contexts of the "regimes of relevance," the transformations brought about by Romania's accession to the European Union, and the mechanisms of diffusion of posthuman theory in the local space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-government plays a vital part in the progress of countries in the European Union, especially in Eastern European Member States. It facilitates citizens, irrespective of their geographic location or socioeconomic status, in accessing government services and information, as well as participating in digital interactions with public authorities. The current paper analyses the evolution of e-government in Eastern European Member States in terms of the general populations' ability to utilize the internet for downloading and submitting government official forms. Also, the current research paper aims to provide a predictive model of the evolution of digital interactions with public authorities in Romania by using time series data, specific statistical tests, and Holt's additive double exponential smoothing model for forecasting. The results suggest that Romania has potential for growth in digital interactions with public authorities and acknowledge the need for investments in digital literacy programs, simplification of administrative procedures, and improvement of regional digital infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the importance of digitizing education for Romania, given that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the education system is not yet ready for online education. Then we will proceed to the next step, the digital transformation of education, a process that involves the integration of digital technologies in all areas specific to education, with an effect on the efficiency of the activities and services offered. The paper examines the main European funding programs for the digitization of education in the programming period 2021-2027. Numerous programs contribute both to the development of the institutional capacity of educational units from a digital point of view (equipment, software, connectivity, applications, platforms) and to the development of the digital skills of pupils/students, teaching staff, auxiliary teaching staff and research in order to could use information and communication technology in information, communication and problem solving in all fields of activity. The changes that will mark the George Bacovia University in Bacău, in the context of digitalization, are also highlighted, through the implementation of a project financed by the National Resilience and Recovery Program, component 15 Education. These changes target the key drivers of digitalization: digital technology, digital skills for teachers, and key skills for students to adapt to the new demands of the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the new curriculum in Romania, fractions are introduced in the second grade. The present study analyses Hungarian elementary mathematics textbooks on the topic of fractions focusing on the types of tasks in the textbooks, the significance of representations and the proportion of word problems. Additionally, the paper presents a questionnaire-based research on teachers' opinion regarding the adequacy and sufficiency of the digital materials and exercises related to fractions in the textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected lithiasis patients, which has led to an increase in the number of internal stents that have been installed. In this paper, two studies were carried out, a clinical study and a quantitative study. The aim of the first study was to evaluate the incidence and the prevalence of bacterial urinary colonization in patients with obstructive urolithiasis who needed internal stents implanted. In the second study, a multiple linear regression was created to identify the opinion of urologists regarding the importance of using digital technologies to improve the communication process. The result of the clinical study illustrates that the prevalence of urinary colonization in patients with internal stents carried out for obstructive urolithiasis was 35%, with this value being influenced by co-infection with COVID-19. The results of the quantitative study illustrated the fact that urologists are open to using new online technologies to facilitate communication with patients. The results have high importance for both doctors and patients, illustrating the main factors that have the ability to influence the communication process. The hospital managers should take into account the results obtained in this study when they choose to use certain online communication technologies with patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization is characterized by continuous development, with a focus on digitalization, which introduced new forms of employment and organization on the labor market, considering the flexibility to the needs and interests of all parties involved, including employers, employees, as well as the unemployed. Today’s growing number of jobs rely heavily on remote working, and this trend is predicted to continue to grow in the future. The objective of this paper was to identify the preferences of young people regarding digitalization and new forms of employment, referring both to the advantages and the impact on their professional performance. The results show that the main forms of remote work adopted by Romanian employees were working from home and telework, followed by portfolio work. The main advantage perceived by young people who worked remotely consisted of the increased balance between personal and professional life, followed by the benefit of freedom in their projects at work. The disadvantages indicated by the respondents were the lack of communication, isolation, or even disconnection from their specific attributions. Nevertheless, digitalization is considered to be developing at a steady pace, supporting the remote working method for most companies in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of technology and the rising desire for more effective, accessible, and affordable government services, the digitization of public services has become a common trend in recent years. The goal of this paper is to present an overview of Romania’s public service digitalization, including its current state, difficulties, and prospective effects on people, governments, and society. In this regard, the authors analysed the United Nations study on the efficiency of electronic government at the international level, the Study carried out by the European Commission on the digital performance of European Union countries, the IMD World Study on digital competitiveness, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Romania, and the National Catalog of Public Services. The digitization of government services in Romania has accelerated recently as a result of the nation’s initiatives to modernize its public sector, boost transparency, and enhance the effectiveness of public services. However, Romania still faces many barriers to the adoption and use of public services, and this digitalization approach has to be promoted and adopted not only by the government but also by companies and citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper departs from the hypothesis that in the era of agriculture 4.0, start-ups specialised in digital agricultural technology (AT) have the potential not only to rapidly grow, but also to have a beneficial impact outside the core countries of agricultural innovation. To validate this assumption, we compiled data about a sample of Romanian and Hungarian AT start-ups entering the market with self-developed digital solutions. Based on extensive desk research, we identified the main distinctive features of the surveyed startups, compared to their peers in advanced economies, and answered the related key research question: how meaningful is the impact of these start-ups on the much-needed upgrading of agricultural production in these countries? Our analysis reveals that although local AT startups in these countries do develop innovative solutions in the field of precision farming, farm management software, applications, and e-marketplaces, their number is below a threshold where they could have an impact on the upgrading of local agriculture. More importantly, the reduced size of the local market for technology and other hard-to-overcome barriers make it barely possible for them to grow as rapidly as some AT start-ups do in advanced economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to show the changes underwent by the education system worldwide during covid-19 pandemic both in schools and universities. The education system is undergoing radical changes, with a significant increase in e-learning, distance learning through digital platforms. The main problem with digitizing education is that not all children/students have access to the Internet or do not have the necessary technology. The closure of schools and universities, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had negative consequences both on children/students’ educational progress and on their emotional health and, moreover, on their online safety. One of the urgent measures recommended was to support families affected by poverty, so that all children/students participate equally in the online educational process, providing them with digital devices such as laptops and a secure wi-fi connection. After the initial shock, teachers, professors and members of administrative and technical bodies in education systems around the world reacted in a truly extraordinary way, trying to transfer the entire teaching activity to the online environment and, in just a few weeks, to become familiar with the operation of digital platforms such as Zoom, Google Meets and Microsoft Teams, which in most cases they were not even aware of before this crisis. Most of them have adapted surprisingly well to the new systems, appreciating the advantages they bring and trying to quickly overcome the inherent problems. The pandemic also had negative effects on interpersonal relationships, as students/children no longer have the context to work and collaborate as a team to develop a task. An undesirable conclusion is that, regardless of the country, the poorest and most marginalized children are in danger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation or digitisation is one of the global megatrends leading to structural and organisational reforms in the public and private sector by adopting information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to optimise operations and provide improved services to customers or citizens. The first and last parts of the paper present the content and strategic objectives of the European and Romanian Digital Single Market as well as the risks involved in the development of the digital economy. The measures adopted by the European Commission to support digitisation in the Member States are also presented, as well as those to reduce the risks generated by cyber-attacks. The paper also includes a quantitative analysis of the evolution of digitisation in Romania compared to the EU 27 average. This analysis highlights the significant gap between Romania and the majority of Member States in the field of digital services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imminent digitalisation of education in Romania is described and announced by the "Strategy on the digitalisation of education in Romania" (document in public consultation). This will bring a number of updates to primary education but, to analyze this transition, this paper sets out why the focus on digital education is needed, what will be left behind by the future update in the primary education curriculum and the prospects for updating it. The analysis of the actual curriculum indicates that only two of the competences specific to all subjects in primary education tangentially support the development of digital competence. This analysis was carried out under the common terminology used in definitions of digital competence extracted from European education policies as well as common reference tools at European and national level. For a more accurate correlation of the curricular projection with the targeted key competence were analyzed, based on the same terminology, even the learning activities suggested by school curricula, finding a low proportion of integration of digital competences in teaching. Therefore, tomorrow's school projections viewed through the "Strategy on the digitalisation of education in Romania", in relation to the data of this paper, are welcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology has been gradually introduced into the Romanian education system in recent decades, with reluctance and hesitant steps at first, but with growing confidence and enthusiasm nowadays, leading to promising results in the future. Open educational resources illustrate that physics, a practical science par excellence, can study real-world phenomena in a creative and active way, using virtual tools. In this paper we illustrate the multiple possibilities and options that digital resources can offer to the physics teacher and highschool students. We also present some of our own contributions to modernizing physics lessons, emphasizing the importance of digital skills as integral part of learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-Transactional materials are materials equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and communication capabilities that allow them to automatically report their location, use, and condition to a central system. The paper used a combination of literature review and a case study. The integration of RFID technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) into Supply Chain Management (SCM) has gained ground in recent years as a way to improve efficiency, traceability and visibility. The study aims to investigate the impact of "Self-Transactional" materials that are equipped with RFID tags and integrated with a shared IoT database platform in SCM, which can improve inventory management, logistics, procurement processes and supplier-communication client. The study results indicate that Self-Transactional materials can significantly improve SCM by providing real-time visibility into the movement and status of materials, facilitating more efficient and effective coordination of logistics and inventory management. The study will provide valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of using Self-Transactional materials with RFID tags and of a shared IoT database platform in SCM and will be of interest to professionals in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper's purpose is to define and explain the connection between the online/offline environments and the transition to e-commerce as a business sustainability process. The Internet has become a central focus for the global society in recent years, managing to successfully transfer elements of real life into the virtual environment. Beyond the social parts, the web has also become a foundation for the new economic era. By default, commerce has evolved in order to be able to assimilate all new items brought over the Internet, reaching the term of e-commerce (e-commerce or online commerce). While all the companies are pursuing economic growth, the connection between e-commerce and business sustainability shows a common path towards reducing the environmental impact while meeting the increasing customer expectations. The case study will follow the implementation of an online commerce platform for sports goods retailers, taking the example of Roumasport S.R.L., one of the most successful companies in its area of economic activity. The research follows the steps of analyzing the e-commerce opportunity for the company and its relevant steps in the field of business sustainability, justifying not only the implementation of this transition, but also the need of reallocating company funds towards a more circular economic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Romania's economy, a fact that accelerates the search for ways to maximize production yield and profit. The aim of the paper is to study the characteristics of the transformation of agriculture in the context of digitization. Research methods include scientific and theoretical approaches to assess the state of agriculture and its potential in the context of digitization, such as system and situation analysis. The current stage of agricultural development is characterized by a significant transformation of management and production processes due to the introduction of digital technologies. The experience has convincingly shown that the traditional forms of development of agricultural production have practically exhausted themselves. In the new conditions of financial and economic activity, the scientific and technological progress becomes decisive. In agriculture, the digital transformation has a significant impact on material and human resources, increases the productivity of crops, improves the quality of agricultural and livestock products. The digitization of agriculture is extremely important, because it is a source of agricultural economic growth and can become a strong incentive for the innovative development of the sector. Investments in the development of digital infrastructure in rural areas can improve the living conditions of the rural population, with local authorities solving more efficiently the problems within their competence. Also, the digitalization of agriculture will promote the development of small farms in rural areas and contribute to the diversification of the rural economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania and Estonia both have young fintech ecosystems that are growing rapidly and closing the gap with the more developed ecosystem in Western Europe. Although Romania is larger both in terms of population and GDP, the Romanian fintech ecosystem is almost 4 times smaller than the Estonian one. In this paper the author examines what are the factors that are contributing to the faster development of the Estonian ecosystem and whether some of these factors can be replicated in other countries, besides Romania. My results indicate that factors such as a government that is open to innovation and working with startups, a more international mindset of the startups and better collaboration between fintech startups themselves and between the startups and universities can accelerate the development of the ecosystem and help the startups grow faster. My results both confirm existing studies on the subject and can help the stakeholders in the ecosystem better work together to accelerate the development of the ecosystem and, ultimately, better service their clients. These success factors that have contributed to the faster development of the Estonian ecosystem can most, if not all, be replicated in Romania and other countries in the region to achieve similar, if not better results. The silver line between all this factor is a change in mindset that allows for a better collaboration between the stakeholders in the ecosystem, but also for improved individual business models and more innovative products and services that we can all benefit from. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to complete the previous studies and to create an overview of the interest given to the field regarding the digitization of agriculture. The analysis was carried out on a sample of 604 scientific documents published on the Web of Science (WoS), using the VOSviewer software. The study first analyzes the annual trend of publications, the annual trend of article citations as well as the trend of keywords and co-authorship by country. In many studies, the process of digitalization of agriculture is discussed in which various technologies capable of facing the current challenges regarding the agri-food sector are proposed. However, bibliometric studies on the digitization of agriculture are few. The results emphasize the methodological approach, obtaining maps with the terms that appear frequently in the analyzed studies, being grouped into 6 clusters, two of which are representative. The yellow cluster consists of terms related to digitization, climate change, and machine learning while the red cluster consists of terms related to agriculture, performance, management, and big data. Out of the total of 604 published documents, Romania has a percentage of 26% of published articles, being the leader in the ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the last 30 years, the internet revolution has seized all areas of life, being undoubtedly one of the most important innovations of the century. At the same time, digitalization and e-government slowly followed the lead, significantly impacting the way citizens, businesses, and public administrations interact. However, now that all agents have integrated the new technologies into the socio-economic structures, the mere study of the two concepts individually will not be enough, considering the complexity of the current times and the challenges of the future. Therefore, the current paper aims to introduce a new element in the picture, namely environmental sustainability, as the practice meant to limit global warming and ensure healthy conditions of life. In this sense, we will start to illustrate the theoretical relationship between e-government, digitalization, and sustainability, with a focus on describing the Romanian administrative reality. Consequently, the subject will be split into two sections, first by looking at the related literature for an explorative approach, and then proceeding to examine the national case study. In the second part, we will start by defining Romania's e-government status quo, in comparison to the other EU member states, while also showcasing what has been done and what is pending in the next years. Lastly, we will explore some sustainability implications visible at a national level, introducing new digitalization vectors such as NGOs. Having in mind the approach presented, the subject at hand can be considered relevant for the current public agenda, while the methodology employed will help fill in the gap in terms of e-government and sustainability connections, especially in correlation with Romania's reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The business digitization is a priority process these days both at the enterprise level and at the economic level. This digitization action is both an opportunity and a priority and must be completed quickly by businesses that want a quick efficiency of their activity but also a better positioning on the market in which they exist. At the same time, all the organizations that come into contact with the companies must in their turn be able to respond through their actions to a digitalized economic environment. This paper is the object of study of a project financed by "Constantin Brancusi" University of Targu Jiu and aims to present some aspects related to the concept of digitization, the ways and opportunities of financing, the current state of digitization of the business environment in Romania and perspectives of digitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use and implementation of digital technologies related to the current economy will allow to the professionals in the financial and accounting field to become creators of added value, through the quality services provided. However, the digital revolution brings important changes in the work of the specialist in this field, forcing him to continuously improve his skills. Taking into account the implications and consequences of the digitization of the accounting profession, this paper actually represents a case study regarding the perception of accounting professionals regarding the future of the accounting profession in the digital economy. Its final conclusions highlight the fact that the accounting profession is not dominated by information technology, but is influenced by the level of digitization of the economic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the article: The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether there is a relationship between the level of digitalisation and social stability (satisfaction) in EU countries through two main indices. There are many predominantly benefits associated with digitalisation, which can be at the macro, micro, and personal level of the individual. For example, economic growth, increasing productivity, well-being for people or better transparency. Methodology/methods: The DESI and WHI index data, as well as the GDP per capita, were analysed using statistical methods, specifically Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Scientific aim: The aim is to identify the relationship between the DESI and WHI and then determine the relationship between these indices and the GDP per capita. Findings: According to the basic statistic results, the highest value of the DESI and WHI indicator was obtained in Finland. Luxembourg had the highest reported GDP per capita. The lowest results were achieved in Romania (DESI) and Bulgaria (WHI and GDPC). A strong positive relationship was found across all relationships analysed (DESI-WHI, DESI-GDPC and WHI-GDPC). In the case of DESI and WHI, the model captures 64.9% of the data; in the case of DESI and GDPC, 46.7%, and in the case of WHI and GDPC, the model reflects 58.9% of the data. For all combinations, a regression function was determined to be linear and increasing. Thus, it means that for all combinations, if one variable increases, the other variable will also increase at the same time. The economic growth, as measured by the GDP per capita, can be well explained by (is influenced by) the DESI index and is also positively influenced by the WHI. Conclusions: The survey shows that digitalisation needs to be given enough attention because this factor is closely linked to social progress and not only that; the pandemic has clearly shown us that digital services are our future in many areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact digitalization has on organizations has been a topic of interest for many years and will continue to be due to its complexity. As long as digitalization evolves, so will organizations, and there will always be new areas to uncover. In this paper, we aim to offer an answer to the question what is the impact of digitalization, by analyzing one of the main departments of an organization, Human Resources. Our research comes in addition to the existing ones by approaching the topic from a qualitative perspective and considering the post-pandemic period. We conducted qualitative research, interviewing 20 HR professionals from Romania who work in IT&C companies. The interviews were semi-structured and were conducted in the period September-November 2022. We hope that our research will bring a new perspective on this topic and will be continued in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present context for development of smart cities in Romania is related to the context of knowledge networked economy in Romania which is the basis for a sustainable development. In the era of Smart cities, traditional networks and services are replaced by digital technologies and communication improving people every day life and also business environment of the community. In Romania, according to last EU studies, we have few municipalities that encourage improvement of smart city: Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara and Brasov. European Strategy 2020 is a real chance to rise the number of smart cities in Romania. Our paper is focusing on several standards elements for smart cities, which have already been implemented in Romania, but also on the future perspectives which are encouraged by the EU strategies. Development of smart cities in Romania is an important component of European Union Strategy for a sustainable development far as deeming sustainable transport as environmentally imperative. As a result, the paper pinpoints several important factors for smart cities development: Intelligent Technology in cities, mobility management of the cities and also partnerships with others cities from developed countries of EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper represents an analysis of Romania's possibilities of achieving Objective 11 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy, entitled "Sustainable Cities and Communities". In order to determine the possibilities to achieve the objective, the average evolution rate method was used to predict the evolution of the indicator "share of the population served by the public water supply system" until 2030. Also, given the very large regional gaps between the 8 development regions of Romania, with the help of the rank method, the regions were ranked according to three important indicators that can be the basis for achieving objective 11, respectively: the share of the population served by the public water supply system; gross investments in tangible goods from local units active in the production and supply of electricity and heat, gas, hot water and air conditioning and water distribution and sanitation, waste management, decontamination activities, per capita and gross domestic product per capita. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting digitalization is a very important topic nowadays, not only for practitioners, but also for scholars and many different institutions. Digitalization influences the accounting profession through many ways, but the rhythm of digitalization firstly depends on people involved. Having that the accounting practitioner is the main actor in this field, it is very important to know how his behavior drives the pace of digitalization and whether his experience increases or reduces its rhythm. Using a case-based experiment with 2x2 between subjects and full factorial design, this paper examines the influence of the accountants' experience and their behavior on digitalization pace. The findings show that Romanian accountants are attracted by digitalization and feel comfortable with this change. Although the results show that the work experience is a factor that influences digitalization changes, there was not enough statistical evidence to confirm the findings. This study contributes to accounting digitalization literature by showing how accounting practitioners react to digitalization change and how the pace of digitalization is driven by their behavior and their experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of digital transformation in our country has had a major impact on both society and the economy, with all its sectors being a paradigm for them. At the same time, the digital transformation of our country is one of the most important components of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans. This fact is also due to the position on which Romania is ranked within the hierarchy based on the Digital Economy and Society Index (European Commission, 2021. Referring to it, we observe a less favorable position of our country, ranking 27th out of the 27 member states of the European Union (European Commision, 2022) with an annual growth lower than the other countries and less convergent. Thus, in order for the European Union to fulfill its objective of the digital decade, Romania must create the ideal context for a significant change in the pace of training and acquisition of basic digital skills. We therefore observe how the introduction of digital technology has corroborated the way tourism companies assert themselves. Digital technology has become an invaluable business tool widely used in the travel and tourism sector Lee & Wicks (2010). We are talking about an economic-social phenomenon reflected in one of the basic sectors of many nations, whose expansion was particularly pronounced in 2019, 2020, as a result of the collapse left in this industry by the COVID19 pandemic. Digital transformation represents a substantial challenge for both organizations and national economies, being a topic that has sparked interest for academic studies and researchers. Starting from this necessity and carrying out a review of the existing works on the market, it was found that there are no studies related to the digitalization level of tourism businesses in Romania. Thus, the present work evaluates, measures and quantifies the level of digitization of small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of tourism, with Băile Felix resort in Bihor county as a working sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]