FSP - Public Policies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://localhost:4000/handle/123456789/59

Browse

Now showing 1 - 19 of 19

Greenwashing strategy and environmental obligations : the Volkswagen case
(Medimond Publishing Company, 2016) Palade, Brîndușa
The existing European legislative framework with regard to the environment involves constraints that are perceived as hindrances to the cost-benefit analysis by some companies and business groups. For example, the Volkswagen failure to comply with such obligations by using a sophisticated greenwashing strategy in order to increase its profits on the Diesel cars sold in Europe and United States shows an obvious reluctance to cover the costs required by the environmental laws. The same tendency is revealed by the lobbying against EU environmental policies by some trade associations financed by multinational corporations which otherwise claim to support sustainable development. Companies thus tend to promote their short-term goals against the public interest, by either avoiding or trying to relax environment-related legal constraints. This article will argue for the need to elaborate a new approach to environmental obligations which would tie both short-and long-term interests to sustainable policies, by spelling enforceable measures to tax carbon release, pollution, and production of fossil-fueled products. The Volkswagen case will be discussed in order to make clear that once they are exposed by the media, greenwashing strategies are more counter-productive for a company than genuine sustainable policies. Finally, the article will show how the customers' expectations for environmentally friendly products challenges the traditional cost-benefit analysis and how the enforcement of environmental laws could make environmental obligation, besides a moral duty, a tangible and measurable business goal.
Romania’s capacity to plan and implement a sustainable development strategy
(Springer, 2021) Ion, Oana Andreea; Done, Cătălin-Gabriel
The transformations within the Romanian national sustainable development strategies are a part of the European agenda being a relevant subject of Europeanization. This chapter uses qualitative methodology to explore the consequences of implementing NSDSs in three areas – rural development, human capital, and social disparities. Using a top-down approach, we will offer an integrated model to the Europeanization of Romanian public policies, analyzing government actors’ capacity to implement sustainable development strategies while adapting to international development principles. Simultaneously, the three areas of analysis are incredibly relevant, as they can provide an integrated understanding of the issues Romania has faced in the last 30 years. Rural development, human capital, and social divisions are critical elements of public policies and significant interest factors to the European Union and the UN
Regulation and certification of (bio)medical engineers : a case study on Romania
(MDPI, 2022) Miculescu, Marian; Ion, Oana Andreea
This paper analyzes the Romanian biomedical engineering educational path and certification process in European and international contexts and emphasizes the existence of a deficient operationalization of this qualification and profession, arguing that the domestic shortcomings are both a consequence of an unquestioned process of adopting European and even international classification schemes, and of insufficiently developed national administrative capabilities to properly implement the aforementioned classification frameworks. The core part of the article investigates the current academic track of the biomedical engineering specialization and scrutinizes the classification of occupations at different jurisdictional levels. The conclusions of the study indicate that one of the possible solutions for improving this unsatisfying status quo comes from a better communication between the national and European levels, and by their pro-active involvement in the international attempts of reviewing and refining the existing frameworks. The article ends with several recommendations and policy proposals meant to strengthen the role of various profession-certifying European documents, as well as to alleviate the regulatory deficiencies that this specialization has at Romanian level, in order to maximize its potential in the labor market.
The socio-economic challenges in access to Romanian higher education : student perception and funding policy directions
(Springer Nature, 2022) Dervis, Oana Alexandra; Trifan, Elena; Jitaru, Gabriela
Access to education, specifically in relation to socio-economic background, is one of the enduring issues in educational research. The theme is particularly salient for the Romanian case from a policy perspective, given the increase in social polarisation specific to the post-communist transition and its effect on access to higher education. Recent reforms in university funding have started to address this issue, with the inclusion of several mechanisms that allocate financial resources according to university efforts towards social equity. The main objective of our research is to provide an overview of the policies concerning the inclusion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds and assess the degree to which progress has been made towards reaching current national targets regarding access to higher education. We argue that although significant improvements have been made at the level of policy initiative, more precise targeting is needed in order to meet labour market demands, given that most current efforts are directed either at fresh high school graduates or at diminishing the dropout rate. These efforts, even if 100% successful, will not prove sufficient given current demographic trends. Therefore, we consider another potential avenue for increasing student numbers, suggesting that an orientation towards non-traditional students (adult students) might be beneficial. With this in mind, in the second half of the paper, we explore the main characteristics and trends concerning Romanian mature students using the results from the EUROSTUDENT VI and EUROSTUDENT VII studies, with the goal of formulating policy proposals that aim to unlock the potential of this demographic.
Family background, gender and reading achievement in Romania
(Fundatia 'Orient Expres', 2015) Țoc, Sebastian; Gheba, Andreea
In the last years, Romania formally tried to overcome the problems related to inequality of opportunity in education. This paper examines the role of home resources and gender in determining academic performance. Based on secondary data drawn from Progress in International Reading Literacy Study we suggest that both gender and home resources have a significant impact on the reading achievement of students. The existing work operationalizes the differences in reading achievement as an indicator for life chances, being proportional with economic success later in life. Our findings contradict ideas about equality of opportunity promoted by the official curriculum regarding the individual merit as the main factor that places students in privileged social positions.
Admiterea la liceu în România : o analiza din perspectiva mecanismelor de repartizare
(Facultatea de Stiinte Politice, SNSPA, 2018) Gheba, Andreea
In this article, I present (using non- formalized language) examples of theoretical solutions proposed by researchers focused on the study of mechanism design theory, with the purpose of solving specific educational policy issues based on the school choice principle. Focusing on the mechanisms that aim a controlled school choice by parents, I describe mechanisms whose objective is to implement affirmative policies (e.g., quotas for specific categories of students). At the same time, in this paper, I analyze the characteristics of the system through which the students are assigned to high-school in Romania, using “mechanism design theory“ literature."
Tranziția inechitabilă către sistemul liceal : studiu de caz: admiterea la liceu în București, România.
(Expert Projects Publishing House, 2021) Gheba, Andreea
The main objective of this article is to analyze the interaction between the principle of proximity in the enrollment process to primary school and the high school admission mechanism from an educational equity perspective. Specifi cally, I conduct a case study in which I analyze how the type of school graduated by a student in Bucharest infl uences the type of high school at which she will be admitted, given the present system of allocation. As such, I am interested in identifying the extent to which the school where the student is enrolled (when parents, theoretically cannot choose, as it is dependent on the street where they reside) can represent an explanatory factor for the probability to be admitted at a particular high school (a stage when parents and students can manifest their preferences for a school/specialization).
Analysis of the factors influencing the favorable participation of students with special needs in public tertiary education in Romania
(MDPI, 2022) Stăiculescu, Camelia ; Dincă, Mihaela Violeta; Gheba, Andreea
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.
Universitatea românească azi
(Tritonic, 2015) Miroiu, Adrian; Florian, Bogdan
The volume provides a comprehensive overview of essential features of higher education in Romania, such as : the quality of university programs, the quality of scientific research, university funding or equitable access to higher education. At the same time, it includes applied analysis of public education policies implemented in Romania in the last two decades. Combining an academic approach with the presentation of the authors' personal experiences in the process of formulating and implementing these public policies, the volume is addressed not only to specialists, but to all those interested in the way Romanian universities have evolved over the last decades, as well as in the role of politics and politicians in this process.
What happens to policies when assuming institutions? : a short story about Romania’s never-ending educational reform
(The Council of Europe, 2017) Florian, Bogdan; Țoc, Sebastian
Over the past decades, educational reform has been one of the centerpieces of transition in Central and Eastern Europe. A huge degree of variability among countries exists, from sudden liberalization to securing the status quo previous to revolutionary political change. Reforms have ranged from institutional to instrumental changes. We argue that policies may lead to undesirable outcomes, when they assume a certain institutional framework. We then describe the evolution of Romania’s educational system, focusing on a case study of an implemented large-scale policy program: the Rural Education Project for Romania. We thus argue that by assuming institutional change such attempts are bound to fail because the existing status quo adapts actions to existing practices, thus leading to unexpected outcomes.
Entrepreneurship and education : the missing link in international development theory and practice
(Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, 2008) Aligică, Paul Dragoș; Florian, Bogdan
Education and entrepreneurship are commonly considered major factors of economic development. If that is the case, one would expect that the international development organisations give a special attention to initiatives promoting education on entrepreneurship (teaching entrepreneurial skills, attitudes and ideas) and entrepreneurship in education (promoting the entrepreneurial initiative in providing, maintaining and developing education services). The study finds that these organisations' agenda has not started yet to incorporate the basic insights regarding the link between the two factors and concludes that this situation creates opportunities for a rich analytical and policy agenda in the area of education and entrepreneurship.
Calitatea învăţământului superior din România : o analiză instituţională a tendinţelor actuale
(Polirom, 2011) Păunescu, Mihai; Vlăsceanu, Lazăr; Miroiu, Adrian; Florian, Bogdan; Voicu, Bogdan; Tufiș, Claudiu
The volume synthesizes the main results and trends in Romanian higher education, based on information collected over three years of sociological surveys, analysis of social documents, observations of various quality assurance processes. The obtained data are analyzed from an institutionalist perspective, detecting the expected consequences, but also the unexpected ones, often adverse effects, of policies, norms or practices of assessment, funding and accreditation in higher education. The validity of the analysis is ensured by triangulating data obtained from multiple sources, both objective and subjective perceptions and representations. The results constitute the foundation for the formulation of public policies based on comprehensive knowledge of Romanian higher education.
Policy note : educația în timpul pandemiei : răspunsuri la criza nesfârșită a sistemului educațional românesc
(SNSPA, 2020) Florian, Bogdan; Țoc, Sebastian
The public policy analysis and the recommendations that we propose for public debate are based on the expression of a personal concern regarding the situation of the education system in Romania, in the current context of measures to prevent the spread of SARS - CoV - 2. The absence of a serious debate in the public space on the short-term (until the end of the school year), medium-term (school year 2020 - 2021) and long-term (2021 - 2027) plans, more than a month after the closure of schools, is a serious cause for concern. The recent events are exceptional and have affected all countries equally, so Romania's situation is not unique. From the perspective of public policy analysis, we have access to various sources of information: statistical data, comparative analysis and even the presentation of examples of good practice. Our approach has two stages: an analysis of the state of play, of the conditions under which future public policies in the field of education are to be implemented, followed by a list of proposals and recommendations based on the findings of the analysis. It is obvious that in this school year, but certainly also in the one to come, the education system is and will be affected by the evolution of the SARS - CoV - 2 epidemic. The reopening of schools and the resumption of normal activities are, according to the scenarios and data available at the moment at national and international level2 , an unrealistic expectation. In the absence of an effective vaccine, it is obvious that no social crowding and social interaction will be possible without the official assumption of a risk of increased infection. The reopening of schools, subject to the imposition of public health measures as well as social distancing measures, is a more realistic premise in the medium term. The analysis we have made and the proposals we are formulating cover at least three different but, we argue, strongly interconnected areas. The first is the field of public health, here we are looking at the hygienic and sanitary conditions existing in educational establishments throughout Romania. The second area considered is that of education, more specifically the interactions between teachers and pupils with the aim of transferring knowledge but also to assess the skills acquired by pupils. The third domain is the social domain, more specifically the social services that the school, as an organization, as well as other organizational actors provide to the community in which it operates.
Assessing labour migration policies from the incorporation perspective : the case of Romania
(2024) Florian, Bogdan; Ion, Oana Andreea; Mocanu, Mircea
Migrants play an important role in shaping today’s EU, both in terms of the labour market, and society as a whole. The analyses of the migration policies, including the labour sector, are generally focused on the control and, respectively, on the security dimension, while a third branch includes the researches on the broader term of incorporation of migrants into the fabric of the host societies. This paper starts from the questions “why does the EU labour market need migrants?” and “what role can migrants play in community development?”, and it argues that using an incorporation approach in public policies concerning migrants could provide a theoretical and actional solution to overcome challenges posed by various other policy and political positions aimed against migrants. An assessment of labour-connected incorporation policies and practices is presented as a study case, using evidence-based policies and practices from Romania. The main findings of the paper indicate that there is a huge gap between stated aims of written strategies, actions being implemented and the perception of intended target groups. The article argues that this deviation is due, at least in the case of Romania, to a weak administrative capacity to manage migrant flows and the challenges they bring to traditional and rigid legal and administrative systems. The gap is also due to poor operationalisation of the concept of incorporation in policy practice, with contradictory simultaneously policy narratives of adaptation, assimilation, inclusion, or integration, and without a clear goal that should shape a national labour migration policy.
Gen și interese politice : teorii și practici
(Polirom, 2007) Băluță, Oana; Dragolea, Alina; Iancu, Alice
What do citizens want from politicians? How do they allocate public goods? From whom and how would they take taxes if they so decided? Is it relevant whether citizens are women or men? The great grievances of the inhabitants of this country are related to the most underfunded areas of public interest: health, education, social protection, civilizing infrastructure. As in these areas, by political decision, the lowest salaries of all budgetary areas are practiced, women earn little, even if they have higher qualified professions. They are condemned to poverty and dependency not because they are idle, do not work and do not study, but because the policy of all governments has been constructed in such a way that public money is not allocated or is very little precisely for the work of raising, educating and caring for them. In this volume, the authors set out to present the theoretical tools underlying the gender analysis of political interests and to apply them in a few cases, in everyday life, in the labor market or in the study of social exclusion. (Mihaela Miroiu)
Statul bunăstării după criza economică : între realitatea austerităţii şi necesitatea reformei
(Tritonic, 2016) Dragolea, Alina
In the context of the general dualization of the labour market, the labour market shows a specific segmentation. This is manifested not only in terms of occupational categories and branches of activity, but also in terms of job security, size and stability of income, social security contributions, opportunities for promotion, and the possibility of union membership. The division of the labor market into two "sectors" of the market produces the segmentation of welfare policies by creating dual social protection systems between typical and atypical workers, being a dimension of inequalities in social rights. In this paper, we analyzed the transposition of this segmentation into social security systems, more specifically we explored the precariousness of social protection in atypical work in the Romanian context. National social protection systems have been developed mainly to protect people in standard employment. This is particularly true for the social insurance system based on contributory benefits, i.e. on the collection of funds from future beneficiaries according to the amount of contribution. Thus, I aimed to highlight the disadvantages that atypical workers in Romania face in terms of the accumulation of social security contributions.
Pisa 2018 : Ce ne spun noile rezultate Pisa despre inegalitățile educaționale din România?
(2020) Vasile, Mihai; Muscă, Mădălina; Angi, Daniela; Bădescu, Gabriel; Florian, Bogdan; Țoc, Sebastian
PISA 2018: WHAT DO THE NEW PISA RESULTS TELL US ABOUT EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITIES IN ROMANIA? Introduction - Every three years, the PISA results trigger a broad discussion in the public space about the quality of education systems around the world. In Romania, the discussion most often focuses on the percentage of students who do not master basic notions in mathematics and Romanian language and on Romania's place in the world rankings.In December 2019, the Institute for Social Solidarity organized two events on the results of the PISA 2018 assessment, released earlier this month. During the two events, seven researchers spoke on the inequalities in the Romanian education system and what the PISA results tell us about these inequalities. The Institute for Social Solidarity proposed an alternative discussion, summarized and continued in this paper.What are the differences in scores between rural and urban students? What about those between girls and boys? How relevant is the socio-economic status of the family in determining student performance in this type of examination? What are the benefits and risks of using PISA-type tests to inform public policy? These were some of the questions that underpinned the discussions in December and guided the writing of this policy brief.This policy brief therefore broadly follows the structure of the two December 2019 events. Thus, the paper is divided into two chapters, ﬁ each with two sections, plus an additional section for conclusions. The first chapter describes the general situation of educational inequality from a residential (urban/rural) and ethnic perspective. The second chapter focuses on PISA, more specifically what the recent results tell us and how we can use them in the construction of public policies. In brief, the sections included are the following:- In the first section, Mihai Vasile sets the general framework, presenting a series of indicators that reveal one of the most signiﬁcant inequalities in the Romanian education system: that caused by the residence environment, urban or rural. - The second section starts from Mădălinei Muscă's anthropological experience in a school serving a community with a semniﬁcative number of Roma pupils and presents the degree to which Roma pupils are disadvantaged in the Romanian education system. - The third section, written by Daniela Angi and Gabriel Bădescu, sets the general framework for PISA tests and how they can inﬂuence or underpin public policies.-The fourth section, by Bogdan Florian and Sebastian Țoc, analyzes the results of PISA 2018 from the perspective of inequalities according to gender, socio-economic status of the candidates' families and the size of the locality where the assessment center is located.- The fifth and final section includes conclusions and a series of recommendations from the authors and the authors' side.
The role of impact evaluation in evidence-based HE policy making : the contribution of transparency tool
(Springer Nature, 2015) Ciolan, Lucian; Păunescu, Mihai; Fartuşnic, Ciprian
"The articulation of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and related policy processes has brought into attention a series of challenging “transition” paradoxes, mainly to the strategic steering of higher education systems and institutions, but also to the key actors in this field. High among them are the following: • From the elite to the massification of education and training; • From the local/regional approach to the global approach; • From the use of mainly governmental funds to attracting private investments; • From collegial management/steering to corporate management/steering; • From national to cross-national standards;"
Performance - based funding : the Romanian experience of the last five years : (2016–2020)
(Springer, 2022) Păunescu, Mihai; Gheba, Andreea; Jitaru, Gabriela
Performance-based funding has a long experience of debates and implementation in Romania, distinguishing three main stages of refinement in its implementation, starting with 2002. The actual form is similar starting with 2016, an important share of Romanian higher education funding for teaching activities in public universities (26.5%) being distributed according to quality indicators (applied by field of study). Given that the main objective of this mechanism is to reward performance, as well as to assure a more transparent and predictable resource allocation, the aim of this paper is to identify how this allocation mechanism actually worked over the past five years. The performance-based criteria employed in the supplementary funding component cover four main categories: teaching/learning, scientific research/artistic creation, international orientation, regional orientation & social equity. According to the national funding allocation mechanism, each quality indicator is assigned a share of the total funding, with the final distribution being determined by each institutions performance score relative to the others in the same scientific field. The paper unfolds the evolution of this systems implementation in the five years since its adoption (2016–2020) and presents the main results of a preliminary analysis. We also explore the extent to which certain characteristics of universities, such as their size or their dominant field of study, impact the resulting distribution of funds. This paper results may enrich and contribute to the larger national and international debate on performance-based funding and quality assurance in higher education.

Browse

Recent Submissions