VOLUME XX (2018)

There has been much debate about the relative merits of the GLOBE and Hofstede measures of national culture, both in terms of the methodological approach and the conceptual support for the specific dimensions measured. In this paper we propose a multiple indicator approach using latent variable path modeling that incorporates measures from both GLOBE and Hofstede. A multiple indicator, latent variable approach allows us to use information from both GLOBE and Hofstede in measuring national culture while attenuating for measurement error inherent in both sets of measures. This approach also allows us to assess the convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity of both sets of measures. We find strong convergent and criterion validity for GLOBE and Hofstede’s measures of power distance and individualism/collectivism. However, we also find a lack of discriminant validity between these two dimensions. We find little or no convergent validity between the GLOBE and Hofstede measures of uncertainty avoidance and masculinity/femininity.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 1st September, 2018
• Keywords: National culture measurement, Latent variable modeling, Cross cultural research
• Pages: 73-83
• Received: 19th July, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 28th August, 2018

The paper is a study of the Get conNEcTed to the Job Market project, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus +programme. The project promotes the entrepreneurial spirit of adult learners in a digital environment and aims at ensuring increased opportunities for adults’ participation on a modern, flexible and inclusive labour market. The article highlights the project’s main aims, target groups, activities and outputs and gives insights into the project’s training modules, which enable participants to acquire the necessary skills to exploit the full potential of ICT and social media in order to create new e-enterprises. The article also focuses on the cultural elements, which each e-company should consider nowadays due to their acknowledged contribution to the success of an e-enterprise.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 2nd September, 2018
• Keywords: E-enterprise, Adult learners, Culture, Entrepreneurial spirit, Opportunities
• Pages: 85-89
• Received: 30th July, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 30th August, 2018

The study analyzes how Romanian families with minor children spend their individual and family leisure time, in correlation to social and family values, to the residence environment, to the family’s financial situation and to the parents’ education level. The research is based on an innovative mix of social investigation instruments (questionnaires, interviews, time budget and alternative scenarios), highlighting leisure behaviors of parents as individuals and of families as a group. The results also show how young students foresee their leisure time in 10-15 years. The paper’s originality consists in its relevance for both individuals and industries, as the results also present methods for gaining leisure time in contrast to the engaged and contracted time, including leisure services, gadgets and household appliances. For families with children, the richer the family is, the higher the leisure activities are taking place during the weekend; also, statistical data indicate that the leisure weekend activities are also dependent on the urban residence.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 2nd September, 2018
• Keywords: Leisure time, Leisure behaviors, Methods for gaining leisure time
• Pages: 91-107
• Received: 30th July, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 230th August, 2018

The emigration of highly qualified staff is an issue which has currently raised lively debates in specialized literature both in Romania and abroad. The paper includes a mixed quantitative research, based on a questionnaire applied to a group of 47 Romanian doctors involved in the emigration process, and also a qualitative approach, which relies on the experience and observations of one of the authors, who works in the healthcare system and who resorted to documentation, analysis and abstraction. The main goal of our study is to identify the Romanian doctors’ perception of the personal and professional advantages of emigration and the reasons for this decision, as well as to suggest a set of measures able to convince highly qualified healthcare professionals not to leave the country. The findings of our survey may be useful both for healthcare decision-makers and managers, and for the doctors themselves and emigration phenomenon researchers.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 3rd September, 2018
• Keywords: Emigration reasons, Host country advantages, Personal advantages, Organizational values, Organizational practices, Decisions
• Pages: 109-116
• Received: 13th July, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 30th August, 2018

Empathy is an adaptive phenomenon in the act of inter-human communication, allowing a certain way of entering the psychology of the other as a means of elaborating own behaviour pattern. Through empathy, we have the opportunity to better understand the other, to intuitively sense alterity’s thoughts and affections, to anticipate behaviour and even to act accordingly. In real, as in online environments, there are always two sides of this story, the best part is when the communication intention is good and the worst part is when manipulation interferes and the empathy serves to better understand victim’s weaknesses to better use it against them. Our research team has developed the project Keeping youth safe from Cyberbullying, ID 2016-3-TR01-KA205-036619 aiming to deeper understand the dynamics of different cyberbullying aspects in online environments among youth, by creating an online questionnaire assessing core concepts and perceptions about cyberbullying motives and effects. Our focus is in analysing the effects of aggression tendencies on victim cognitive empathy in cyberbullying incidents, in 140 high school students. This research’s conclusion brings an answer to the question of just how much empathy is needed for understanding cyberbullying victim’s feelings and activating a prosocial behaviour instead of turning it into a cruel act of psychological dominance all over the online pavement.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 7th September, 2018
• Keywords: Cyberbullying, Curvilinear relationship, Aggressivity, Cognitive empathy
• Pages: 117-122
• Received: 24th June, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 5th September, 2018

The present article aims to describe various types of learning styles and how learning could be improved for further progress. Although there is plenty of scientific research on learning styles, the test outcomes are not widely used in learning practice. This research was designed to identify the learning style of over 20 children with and without speech difficulties, using the questionnaire adapted by P. Honey and A. Mumford in 1986, from Kolb’s experiential cycle. The investigation aims to answer two questions: 1. what learning styles are frequently used by children between 6-10 years old? 2. are there different preferences of the children with and without language disorders? As a conclusion to these findings, the article will reveal some educational implications of the SL testing act.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 17th December, 2018
• Keywords: Speech disorders, Learning, Learning style
• Pages: 131-138
• Received: 26th November, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 15th December, 2018

The article outlines the relationship between Openness as a dimension of personality and academic performance. Openness along with other dimensions of Extraversion is a significant predictor of academic performance. The data showed that there are significant differences in the level of Openness between students from specific faculties. The sample consisted of 751 Romanian students (222 men and 529 women) from a Romanian university. Furthermore, the article discusses the limitations and implications of this research.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 19th December, 2018
• Keywords: Personality, Performance, A culture of Openness
• Pages: 139-145
• Received: 11th December, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 18th December, 2018

Changes that occur in the socio-economic environment determine new challenges for individuals that strive to acquire new, more valuable competencies. The universities, considered one of the most important pillars in developing such competencies, are challenged to develop and harmonize different forms of education (formal, informal and non-formal) in order to respond to individuals’ and organizations’ needs. The mixture of learning forms can bring competitive advantage for the universities. However mixing the learning forms is not so easy to accomplish, considering that the stakeholders’ requirements could be divergent and the resources are limited. This paper aims at presenting the advantages and disadvantages of these forms of learning and also outlines few examples of the interferences. At last, the paper presents some preliminary results of a quantitative research regarding the perception on the usage of the three forms of learning of one of its stakeholders - the higher education candidates. Some implications for both universities and high school education are highlighted.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 20th May, 2018
• Keywords: Forms of education, Interferences of learning forms
• Pages: 7-15
• Received: 18th April, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 18th May, 2018

The article is a study on enhancing veterinary students’ cultural competences as achieved through the ZOE European project within a partnership of institutions and organisations from five countries, coordinated by the Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine Iasi, Romania. The impact of cultural diversity on the provision of health care has created new responsibilities especially for academic institutions which are asked to prepare the future doctors, who need to be culturally competent in order to deliver quality services to their clients no matter their cultural background, religion, beliefs or language competence. The article presents some of the cultural barriers doctors face nowadays to the effective treatment and prevention of malaria and dirofilariosis, as well as case studies collected from students themselves and used as effective teaching tools in educating medical students to become culturally competent providers and practitioners.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 20th May, 2018
• Keywords: Multiculturalism, Cultural competence, Case study, International students
• Pages: 23-28
• Received: 15th May, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 18th May, 2018

Internationalization of higher education and workforce is an increasing phenomenon, due to global competitiveness and global competition for hiring of well-educated workers and talents, in order to generate benefits and progress. In these circumstances, the present article aims to evaluate the ability of young people to manage their learning and work experiences. So, we present the main results and conclusions of a questionnaire-based survey, asking young graduates about their educational and working experiences abroad and their motivations for returning home and decision for working in Romanian companies. The conclusions reveal that there are many forces that drive the returning behaviour of well-educated graduates that shows their ability to support change and transfer learning outcomes and competences from one job to another.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 20th May, 2018
• Keywords: Well-educated graduates, Returning behaviour, Professional development
• Pages: 29-32
• Received: 23th April, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 18th May, 2018

In a society dominated more than ever by a competitive environment, self-development can play a key role in gaining the wanted job or internship program for students and young professional. Learning how one can develop a personal branding program in a strategic way is, in this context, an important acquisition. The present study leads to the development of a simple model that young adults can use to create a personal branding process. Following some simple steps, young people aspiring to a successful professional life can have more opportunities and a better start in their professional activity. The study will first follow a literature review of relevant works in personal branding theory. The second objective of the study is to present the model developed by the author and that is used in the activity of creating a personal branding plan with students studying communication and public relations in a university of Romania. The study is based on a cross-sectional observation research method, conducted on a sample of 286 students from a faculty of communication, public relations and advertising in Romania, over a five-year period, students who attended a personal branding course. The results identified the needs and aspirations of students interested in personal development through personal branding strategies and led to the creation of a simple model of personal branding that can be followed by students and young professionals.

• Type: Case Study
• Published on: 20th May, 2018
• Keywords: Personal branding, Strategic personal branding, Model, Students, Young professionals
• Pages: 43-51
• Received: 26th April, 2018
• Final revision and acceptance: 18th May, 2018