The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted normal activities such as going to school, moving education online. Based on data gathered through a survey (N = 784), this paper analyses students’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness of online education in a period when this type of education is the only available option. Although several studies suggest that online education can be as effective as traditional education which requires attendance, few studies have focused on learner satisfaction with online instruction, particularly in the transition to online learning from traditional approaches. The results indicate that students react differently to online education, and their reaction is based on their proficiency in using online tools, their ability to technically access online courses, and the instructors’ manner in conducting learning activities.

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In a context in which tourism is considered to favour the degradation of the environment, it is important to promote forms of travel with low environmental impact. Globally, studies have shown a good understanding and increased receptivity to the practice of sustainable forms of travel among tourists. Therefore, this study proposes an analysis of the nexus between sustainable behaviour of tourists from Generation Z and the factors that influence the protection of environmental quality. The research methodology included the development and application of a questionnaire on a sample of 492 tourists belonging to Generation Z, with travel experience. The results showed nexus among the analysed factors and the Cronbach Alpha score for the latent variables: cultural factors (α = 0.769), personal factors (α = 0.829), psychological factors (α = 0.809), technological factors (α = 0.800), sustainable behaviour of young tourists (α = 0.910), social factors (α = 0.857) and conservation of the environmental quality (α = 0.906). The hypothesis regarding the testing of tourists’ sustainable behaviour in nexus with the protection of the environment quality was confirmed, even if the results of testing the nexus between the social factors and sustainable behaviour of Generation Z Romanian tourists could not be considered statistically significant. However, the study represents a contribution to the literature in a field concerned with this aspect of sustainability and interest, which is constantly growing, and for which, at least until now, there have been no studies in the literature pertaining to Romanian space.

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, determined the largest pandemic of the last century. 73 states were analysed from the point of view of the number of infections and deaths caused by COVID-19, influenced by the income inequality of the citizens of a country (GINI), social capital, and uncertainty avoidance. Populations face disproportionate rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality; inequalities consist of reduced access to health care, social mobility, or economic segregation (Oronce, et al., 2020). This study analyses the associations among the central aspects of social capital (trust in public institutions), income inequality (GINI index for income), national culture (level of uncertainty avoidance), and the SARS-CoV2 virus infection rate in 73 countries included in different time waves of the World Values Survey 2017-2020 (WVS) (Elgar et al., 2020). We performed the statistical analysis with the help of the Stata statistical program, and we used country level variables. The results of the study show that the income inequality of the citizens of a country (GINI), and uncertainty avoidance at the societal level influence the increase of the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. On the other hand, the higher the trust in public institutions (social capital), the lower the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. This research considers the variables related to social capital, as well as characteristics of the national culture, which may explain the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection rate. The results contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon at international level, and help the political authorities in formulating social solutions to this crisis.