https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/17 2026-05-26T06:51:20Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/4962 Rural-Urban Disparities in Romanian Pre-University Education Lungu, Andreea-Elena; Duică, Mircea-Constantin; Prahoveanu, Ștefan Laurențiu In recent decades, disparities between urban and rural areas in Romanian education have become more pronounced, against a backdrop of growing development gaps between these areas and the migration and aging of the rural population. These development gaps are evident not only in school results, but also in access to resources, the quality of teaching staff and school infrastructure. Rural schools face a shortage of specialized staff and the phenomenon of teacher "commuting," which affects the continuity and quality of teaching. Teachers' salaries are generally low, and in rural areas there are insufficient financial incentives to compensate for the difficult living conditions. Rural schools often have poor infrastructure, a lack of modern teaching materials, laboratories, and access to technology. Teaching in these conditions is challenging and can be discouraging for teachers. Many rural students come from poor families, which adds pressure on teachers, who have to manage not only educational issues but also the social and health problems of their students. In this context, this paper provides a comparative analysis of the disparities between rural and urban education in Romania, based on statistical data, which may be useful for informing decisions in this area and reducing risks. JEL: I21, I25 LUNGU, Andreea-Elena; Mircea-Constantin DUICĂ and Ștefan Laurențiu PRAHOVEANU. Rural-Urban Disparities in Romanian Pre-University Education. Online. In: Proceedings of the 29th International Scientific Conference Competitiveness and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy, Chișinău, Moldova, September 26-27, 2025. București: Editura ASE, 2026, pp. 418-421. ISSN 3100-5527. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.24818/cike2025.50 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/4961 Current Relevance of the Gold Standard Doctrine Pirosca, Grigore Ioan; Nițu, Mihai Rareș; Mihăescu, Elena Teodora; Bursuc (Ivanovici), Alina Elena; Bașturea, Camelia Alexandra Times of hardship lead to insecurity and uncertainty about the future. When this happens, many people turn to gold or other precious metals, real estate, land, and tangible assets in general. The multiple non-cyclical crises that have occurred in recent years have led to a resurgence of interest in gold. The regression of globalization and the multipolar order derived from the pandemic, the energy crisis, the degradation of geopolitics to the point of war and the nomad wars between the United States and China have marked the beginning of a new type of capitalism in which market uncertainty is heightened by economic and political interdependencies between countries. This research aims to analyse the actuality of the gold standard among the populations of civilized countries, which began to show an increase in the demand for gold directly proportional to the depreciation of geopolitical events. This article also traces the evolution of the economic idea around gold, from its beginnings to the banking and financial system's relation to it, providing new insights on economic behaviour during difficult times. JEL: B2, B5, P2, P5, O5 PIROȘCĂ, Grigore Ioan; Mihai Rareș NIȚU; Elena Teodora MIHĂESCU; Alina Elena BURSUC (IVANOVICI) and Camelia Alexandra BAȘTUREA. Current Relevance of the Gold Standard Doctrine. Online. In: Proceedings of the 29th International Scientific Conference Competitiveness and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy, Chișinău, Moldova, September 26-27, 2025. București: Editura ASE, 2026, pp. 410-417. ISSN 3100-5527. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.24818/cike2025.49 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/4960 Sustainable Development and Social Equity Țurcan, Galina Sustainable development, a universally recognized civilizational paradigm, necessitates a balanced approach to socio-economic progress and environmental preservation. This paper argues that social equity is a foundational ethical principle crucial for achieving sustainable development. It explores the intricate, intrinsic link between these two concepts, tracing the historical evolution of equity from antiquity through modern philosophical thought to establish its theoretical underpinnings. The study employs qualitative research methods, including analysis, synthesis, comparison, induction, and deduction, drawing on specialized literature. Findings demonstrate that social equity, encompassing equal opportunities, fair resource distribution, non-discrimination, and intergenerational fairness, directly contributes to mitigating social inequality, preventing conflict, and reducing poverty. The article further highlights the concrete connection by examining how the principle of social equity underpins specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as those related to health, gender equality, decent work, and justice. It emphasizes the vital role of education and non-governmental organizations in fostering values and behavioral changes essential for building economically developed, socially equitable, and environmentally sustainable societies.JEL: Q01, Q56 ȚURCAN, Galina. Sustainable Development and Social Equity. Online. In: Proceedings of the 29th International Scientific Conference Competitiveness and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy, Chișinău, Moldova, September 26-27, 2025. București: Editura ASE, 2026, pp. 404-409. ISSN 3100-5527. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.24818/cike2025.48 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://irek.ase.md:443/xmlui/handle/123456789/4959 Gender Equality as a Determining Factor in the Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in the Republic of Moldova Vaculovschi, Dorin; Pastuh, Luminița Sustainable development represents one of the most important strategic directions of contemporary society, being founded on three essential pillars: economic progress, environmental protection, and social equity. Within this integrative concept, gender equality holds a central place, not only as a distinct objective of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but also as a cross-cutting element that directly influences all other objectives. In the context of the Republic of Moldova, the issue of gender equality gains particular relevance, especially in rural areas. Rural communities account for more than half of the country’s population and, therefore, represent a fundamental component of the national socio-economic structure. However, disparities between urban and rural areas remain significant, both in terms of access to resources and services, and in terms of participation in economic, educational and decision-making life. Women in rural areas frequently face limited employment opportunities, lower incomes, disproportionate household responsibilities and low participation in local decision-making. In addition, the persistence of gender stereotypes and traditional norms contributes to the perpetuation of inequalities and the slowdown of social progress. In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has made significant progress in terms of the normative and institutional framework for gender equality. The lack of supporting infrastructure (kindergartens, community centers, counseling services) and external migration, which strongly affects rural areas, amplify the vulnerability of communities and limit the impact of the measures adopted. This article aims to analyze the role of gender equality as a determining factor in the sustainable development of rural communities in the Republic of Moldova. JEL: J16 VACULOVSCHI, Dorin and Luminița PASTUH. Gender Equality as a Determining Factor in the Sustainable Development of Rural Communities in the Republic of Moldova. Online. In: Proceedings of the 29th International Scientific Conference Competitiveness and Innovation in the Knowledge Economy, Chișinău, Moldova, September 26-27, 2025. București: Editura ASE, 2026, pp. 398-403. ISSN 3100-5527. Disponibil: https://doi.org/10.24818/cike2025.47 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z