Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Corina Cace Title: Qualitative evaluation: Interdisciplinary master Abstract: The goals of this evaluation refer to: process evaluation and results of the master program (the theoretical component of training); program relevance evaluation in terms of the current activities from the university (acquisitions and transfers) and identification of the obstacles and opportunities for practical application. The impact of the master program was performed using document analysis (master program design, curricula, selection methods, needs analysis for formation, subsumption to the strategy of the Academy of Economic Studies) and content analysis (12 interviews with trainees) focused on subjects which are correlated with the goals of the master program. The analysis monitors 4 primary (internal) dimensions: theoretical-formative, applicative, beneficial-participative, change, in relation with 3 secondary (external) dimensions, which strengthen, facilitate and integrate with the primary dimensions: general aspects, previous training/need for training, group and group dynamics. As regards the results, the general feature is the: acquisition of teaching, research and communication in English knowledge; development of a behavioural change in relation to the students, with the research activity and within the scientific community at the national and international levels and identification of obstacles that perceived as pertaining to the self of the trainees or at the institutional level. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/292/260 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: evaluation; teaching; research; communication; English Pages: 3-20 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4151 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4151 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdul Azeez E.P Title: Reciprocity of community field work practicum: The case of open community placement in social work education Abstract: Field work is considered to be the most vital part of social work education across the globe. The element of field work is visible in almost all curriculum frameworks, even though there are variations in the credit and methods allotted for it. Generally field work practicum in India consists of observation visits, concurrent field work, summer placement and block placement. Open Community Placement (OCP) is an Indian model of concurrent field work which is widely practiced in the country apart from the institutional placement. Rural villages are preferred to be the potential locations for the student`s placement for concurrent field work as it facilitates the trainee to understand the magnitude of rural problems, possible intervention strategies and working models. There is higher demand of trained manpower for working with the rural issues in India. This necessitates social work profession to engage their young trainees proactively with the rural issues. The trainees placed in open communities are closely works with the local institutions, stakeholders and clients under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. Different methods of social work are being practiced during the span of placement. Present paper is based on the experience of placing students in rural community for fieldwork. This paper tries to highlight the reciprocal advantages which students, faculties and community had through these placements. Information were collected from student trainees (those who are undergoing training and completed), alumnus, social work educators (who guide the students for Open Community Placement) and from the community. Two school of social work which practicing Open Community Placement (OCP) was selected for the analysis. The analysis shows higher implications of Open Community Placement (OCP) in Social Work education and practice. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/293/261 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: Reciprocity; Community; Field Work Practicum; Open Community Placement Pages: 21-31 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4152 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4152 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Oscar S. Mmbali Title: Engaging indigenous community in development: The case of an informal Quaker movement in Kenya Abstract: In a society that is composed of both secular and religious groups, religious activities or presence often cause tension. A study of religious activities in Kenya shows the church viewed as a force for development on one hand and as detrimental to development on the other. A more tolerant society requires re-examination of religious activities from different contextual perspectives. This study explores an informal Quaker movement`s engagement with the Maasai community in community development. The findings of the study suggest that religious groups are organic hence they adapt to environmental changes that characterize their ecology. Organizational adaptation to the environment is a process in which organizations transact values with the society based on mutual interests and benefits. To effect value transaction, they employ techniques available within their environment in order to thrive against forces that tend to disadvantage them or threaten their existence. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/294/262 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: Indigenous community; development; Quakers; Kenya Pages: 33-48 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4153 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4153 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mariana Stanciu Author-Name: Adina Mihailescu Title: Could Romania become a food security space in Europe? Abstract: This article presents the most relevant elements to be taken into account, if the dimensions of the present and future food security in Romania are to be analyzed, from comparative perspective with European level. Romania`s economy has a real advantage, in relation with other European countries, in terms of natural conditions for practicing sustainable agriculture. All changes that have occurred in the field of agricultural property from Romania, in the last 25 years, reveal still poor recovery benefits from the agriculture development and strengthening food security. The dynamics of the key factors of food security - agricultural farms - hold a central place within the analysis of the current situation in agriculture. The article presents also some ideas regarding financing prospects and increasing capacity of the national system of agricultural production in the next decade. Now, Romania looks like being not yet a reliable source of food security in Europe, but this sounds like good news for investors and farmers too. Why and in what manner this situation could be changed soon, it is shown in the following text. The article uses various sources of documentation and publications of the United Nations Organizations, European Council, Eurostat, INS Romania, The Institute for Researching Quality of Life from Bucharest, some other Romanian Academy researching institutes and others. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/295/263 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: risks; climate change; agriculture; farms; financing Pages: 49-73 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4154 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4154 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ionela Ionescu Author-Name: Oana Banu Title: State of employment among the Roma people Abstract: The state of the Roma people is a subject of interest for all media (political, economic, cultural, social), turning into a subject on the working agenda of the actors involved in the development of support policies for the Roma population. The policies for the social inclusion of the Roma people require an integrating approach, a properly planned process and unitary actions, followed by the development of specific strategies, programs and projects. The employment policies for the Roma people stipulate, among the directions of action, a higher rate of employment among the Roma population, the development of programs for the development of the entrepreneurial capacity of the Roma, improving the skills of the Roma people in agreement with labour market requirements, externalization of work mediation services, professional information and counselling of the people seeking a job. The inclusion of the Roma people into the labour market has multiple effects, as well as real benefits, by reducing the cost of the social protection and by removing their dependency on such type of protection. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/296/264 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: Roma people; inclusion; labour market; workforce; unemployment Pages: 73-97 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4155 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4155 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Victor Nicolaescu Title: Social economy? Challenges of an uncertain future Abstract: The social economy highlights the potential to ensure an adequate level of social inclusion for persons belonging to vulnerable groups, meaning that this sector has received increased attention in the last decade. In this article are exposed the main ideas that the social economy has recorded a series of definitions in an attempt to ensure the identity of the conceptual and applied as complete. Also, a scan of the stage of development of the social economy in Romania opens interrogative approaches by which to provide answers to major challenges and threats outlined in this field. Although we face an obvious positive dynamics of last realization of an argued in this area and it appears that remain a number of issues to be clarified in future in terms of strengthening the social economy sector. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/297/265 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: social economy; social inclusion; civil society; vulnerable groups; development Pages: 97-104 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4156 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4156 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vlad Rosca Title: Customer attitudes towards buying e-books: Perspectives from a Romanian publishing house Abstract: The research is built around one single survey question that lies at its core, namely whether the prospects of a public sector publishing house would like to buy and download books directly from the house`s website. Results indicate a strong modification of customer behavior within the boundaries of a digitalized economy. At least on paper, "brick-and-mortar" goods seem to loose their pace, whereas intelligent devices open new consumption opportunities. Such aspects are being presented in the first part of the research, which also attempts to present a definition of e-books, for better understanding the Methodology and Results section. This former one looks at the survey itself, whereas the paper concludes with a Discussions section that tries to establish a link to the third sector of the economy and, finally, presents the limitations of the article. Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/298/266 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: e-commerce; public sector; books; social economy Pages: 105-111 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4157 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4157 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Victor Nicolaescu Title: Book review: Simona Maria Stanescu, social protection in the European union? A comparative analysis, 2014, Bucharest: Pro Universitaria Abstract: Publication-Status: Published in "Journal of Community Positive Practices", 4 2015 File-URL: http://jppc.ro/index.php/jppc/article/download/299/267 File-Format: Application/pdf File-Function: First version, 2015 Keywords: Pages: 112-114 Issue: 4 Year: 2015 Number: 4158 Handle: RePEc:cta:jcppxx:4158