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Fostering Sustainable Development through Shifting Toward Rural Areas and Digitalization—The Case of Romanian Universities

Author

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  • Maria-Floriana Popescu

    (Faculty of International Business and Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Bogdan-Cristian Chiripuci

    (Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Andreea Orîndaru

    (Faculty of Marketing, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Marius Constantin

    (Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Albert Scrieciu

    (National Institute of Marine Geology and Geoecology (GeoEcoMar), 024053 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Educational institutions, especially universities, have been major pillars in societal transformation throughout society’s history. They have been leading change through their discoveries, research results, and foremost, their example. Nowadays, universities have once again taken the role of leading change in a world that is profoundly determined to have a sustainable approach to life, paying attention to the long-term effects of their actions. In this sense, under the impact of deep digitalization, this paper advocates for the sustainable development of universities regarding campuses’ expansion to rural areas. Moreover, it was demonstrated that sustainable development can be achieved by embracing the potential of digitalization. Based on a multicriteria analysis of the Romanian development regions, the research results showed that the rural area might be a welcoming environment for campuses of sustainable universities, based on digitalization at the level of the rural area in all activity fields, which is an initiative that would generate positive outcomes on many levels for different types of stakeholders, such as universities, students, staff, rural area population, and the nearby business environment. Future research aims to approach and explain the compounded effects of such an approach in depth and establish an even clearer picture of how beneficial such an expansion could prove to all factors considered under a knowledge-based society with digitized information as a vital pillar.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria-Floriana Popescu & Bogdan-Cristian Chiripuci & Andreea Orîndaru & Marius Constantin & Albert Scrieciu, 2020. "Fostering Sustainable Development through Shifting Toward Rural Areas and Digitalization—The Case of Romanian Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4020-:d:358054
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    1. Marius Constantin & Mihai Dinu & Simona Roxana Patarlageanu & Cristian Chelariu, 2021. "Sustainable Development Disparities in the EU-27 Based on R&D and Innovation Factors," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 23(Special15), pages 948-948, November.
    2. Orhan Koçak & Namık Ak & Sezer Seçkin Erdem & Mehmet Sinan & Mustafa Z. Younis & Abdullah Erdoğan, 2021. "The Role of Family Influence and Academic Satisfaction on Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy and Happiness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Ivo Araújo & Leonel J. R. Nunes & António Curado, 2023. "Preliminary Approach for the Development of Sustainable University Campuses: A Case Study Based on the Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Xiuting Wang & Idrees Waris & Muhammad Yaseen Bhutto & Haowei Sun & Irfan Hameed, 2022. "Green Initiatives and Environmental Concern Foster Environmental Sustainability: A Study Based on the Use of Reusable Drink Cups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, July.
    5. Claudia E. Stoian & Simona Șimon & Vasile Gherheș, 2021. "A Comparative Analysis of the Use of the Concept of Sustainability in the Romanian Top Universities’ Strategic Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-34, September.

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