Search

This paper aims to identify the factors that are positively or negatively impacting students' well-being and their academic engagement. We used partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using the data collected through a questionnaire from four countries: Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. The model includes seven factors that influence the well-being of students and indirectly their academic engagement: stressors in the students' lives; professors' support; social support from family and friends; the students' perceived satisfaction in their lives; engaging in activities during their leisure time; self-exploration regarding their careers; and environmental exploration regarding their careers. The results show that all factors, except for stressors and environmental exploration regarding their careers, positively influence the students' well-being and thus their academic engagement. These findings are useful for university professors and managers in better organizing activities to increase academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the impact of using virtual reality (VR) in education and focuses on the main factors that affect the behavioral intention of using this new technology for the benefit of both professors and students. As part of our research methodology, we conducted a survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model and used partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results show that the intention to use VR technology in education is influenced by both usage satisfaction and the task–technology fit. The system quality of the VR technology proved to be important in influencing both the task–technology fit and perceived usefulness. The findings are useful for professors considering the adoption of new technologies that might improve the efficiency of learning for their students. Additionally, managers of educational institutions can use these insights to direct investments towards this type of innovation, which appeals to newer generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural tourism in Romania is a sector with great potential for development, and all stakeholders, from tourists to authorities and investors in this field, are directing their attention toward it. However, an analysis of the number of tourists in rural destinations reveals that not all sites have the same level of attraction among tourists. Factors such as infrastructure and the quality of the services offered are crucial elements that can influence tourists' decisions regarding one destination over another. The natural environment is also a critical factor to be considered in rural tourism and is it the focus of our study. The study involved a survey conducted in Romania and Italy in January and February 2023. The results underscore the importance of terrain and vegetation in influencing tourists' choices for spending their holidays in a rural destination. The built environment also holds interest for tourists, which can benefit authorities and investors in enhancing the overall tourism product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is a quantitative research of the perspective of public managers in Romania regarding ethics management and its implementation.We tried to highlight that managers in the public sector are not familiar with many tools of ethics management and so, we identified some solutions in order to increase the awareness related to these issues. The methodology consisted in applying an online survey on 52 managers from different areas of the public sector. Results of the research reveal that most of managers are not familiar with concepts like whistleblowing, ethical trainings, hotlines and the main conclusion is that ethics management is not an organized system in the public sector.