Today, the higher education sector can be considered a market and, within it, private university education is a common marketable service in the literature on higher education management. Research on the analysis of the variables that generate the university image has been the subject of numerous investigations. Although there is no generally accepted definition, most authors approach the measurement of image through multi-factor scales, with variables relating to functional and psychological elements. This research aims to contribute to study of the most determinant variables in measuring a product’s image, assessing especially the effect of the reputation construct. This was done through measuring the image of the “private university” product as perceived by citizens of Andalusia, based on a standardized model with three dimensions—functional and affective aspects and reputation. After adapting and validating the questionnaire, a two-phase procedure is performed with double validation through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results show an adapted scale valid for measuring the image of a generic product; with presentation and discussion of a series of advantages of incorporating reputation and measuring image through models with three dimensions. This article goes deeper into the possible influence of reputation as a determinant factor in measuring image, an assumption arising from some models for measuring image, something that so far has not been sufficiently contrasted.

In recent years, educators have encountered significant shifts in teaching methodologies driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving demands in higher education. This transition has prompted adaptations in teaching practices and digital approaches, resulting in a broader paradigm shift across institutions. This study explores faculty perceptions and attitudes toward emerging pedagogies, focusing on their preparedness for digital and hybrid learning environments and the dynamics of teacher-student collaborative learning in these contexts. The research examines how faculty readiness can enhance adaptation to modern educational demands beyond any specific event or period. Utilising the FROCT scale—measuring readiness through comfort with risk, identity disruption, teaching norms, and equity and tenure norms—this research, conducted among Spanish university teachers, that highlight significant shifts in readiness perceptions after 2 years of compulsory online education. Furthermore, the study identifies gender and age disparities in teachers’ perceptions of online education readiness. These findings contributing to a better understanding of teacher preparation and performance in the post-pandemic educational landscape, specifically in online and blended education, where cognitive, metacognitive, and emotional dimensions play integral roles in fostering socialisation online and collaborative learning between educators and students.

Background/Objectives: The influence of media on the public opinion, especially regarding health topics, is profound. This study investigates how Spanish media may reinforce a positive image of dietary supplements for children, potentially leading to harmful health attitudes and behaviors. Methods: The researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of 912 news articles from Spanish media outlets discussing dietary supplements for children between 2015 and 2021. They used a frequency analysis and a proportion comparison to analyze variables such as the reach of news, tone of news, mentions of health professional consultation, association with natural products, media specialization, intertextuality, and headline mentions. Results: The study found a 60% increase in publications discussing dietary supplements for children during the study period. The content analysis indicates that these articles predominantly present dietary supplements in a positive light, often without robust scientific evidence. Furthermore, many do not emphasize the need for medical consultation, which may contribute to unsupervised consumption, particularly among minors. This highlights the critical importance of professional guidance when considering dietary supplements for children. Additionally, the frequent emphasis on the “natural” attributes of these products raises concerns regarding consumer perceptions and potential safety risks. Conclusions: The study reveals a problem regarding the portrayal of dietary supplements for children in Spanish media. The overly optimistic image, lack of scientific basis, and failure to recommend medical supervision may contribute to unsupervised consumption among minors, risking their health due to misinformed decisions influenced by media portrayal.

COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the living conditions of people in all countries worldwide. With a devastating economic crisis where many families are finding it difficult to pay bills and make ends meet, increases in prices of food basket staples can be very worrying. This study examines the relationship between the incidence of the pandemic during the first wave in 16 Eurozone countries with the variation experienced in food prices. We analysed the harmonised index of consumer food prices (included in HICP) and the classification of the degree of pandemic impact by country, the latter established with the index of deaths provided by the Johns Hopkins Center. The procedure used compared actual food prices during the first wave (March to June 2020) with those foreseeable in the absence of the pandemic. Time series analysis was used, dividing the research period into two phases. In both phases, the Holt–Winters model was applied for estimation and subsequent prediction. After a contrast using Kendall’s tau correlation index, it was concluded that in the countries with the highest death rates during the first wave, there was a higher increase in food prices than in the least affected countries of the Eurozone.

Currently, the higher education sector can be considered a marketplace, within which university education is considered a marketable service in the literature on higher education management. The analysis of the variables that generate university image has been the subject of numerous studies on higher education institutions (HEIs). The purpose of this study was to analyse the comparative weightage of these variables to increase the robustness of the model developed in a previous study by Alcaide-Pulido et al. ( 2017 Alcaide-Pulido, P. , Alves, H. , & Gutiérrez-Villar, B. (2017). Development of a model to analyze HEI image: A case based on a private and a public university. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 27(2), 162–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2017.1388330 [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ) for the purpose of identifying the variables with greater explanatory power of the image that undergraduate students have of their universities. This work uses a sample of 438 undergraduate students (Spain and Portugal), using a support vector machine to classify them and conduct sensitivity analysis to detect key variables with greater weights. The findings reveal four determining variables: ‘value for money’, ‘ethical values and social responsibility’, ‘social networks’, and ‘university rankings’.

Our diet has substantial implications not only for our health but also for the environment. However, the two dimensions are not comparable, even though consumers often associate them with their purchasing choices. Promoting more sustainable diets requires a better knowledge of household profiles considering the healthy and organically sustainable character of the food purchased. Previous studies have approached the analysis of consumer profiles separately, differentiating both dimensions without clear conclusion regarding the variables that make up these profiles. In this study, we looked for household profiles by cross-referencing the organic nature of the products consumed (environmental sustainability) with their degree of processing (healthfulness) in Spain. The results show that the most sustainable products are consumed in tiny municipalities (less than 2,000 inhabitants). In contrast, less sustainable products are consumed in high-income, single-family households or households with small children. The person responsible for the purchase is working or between 39 and 45 years old. In conclusion, our study shows that socio-demographic variables are statistically significant in identifying household profiles with sustainable diets.