Dobrogea is a region in Romania that boasts a rich cultural heritage, with a significant number of historical monuments, as well as breathtaking landscapes that attract tourists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of accessibility for seven of the most popular tourist attractions in Dobrogea, which were selected on the basis of their physical, geographic, religious, and historical significance. Furthermore, the level of satisfaction among tourists who visit each attraction was also assessed. Methodologically, several working and data processing methods specific to accessibility analysis were used, and graphic materials were produced to highlight the results obtained. To analyse tourist satisfaction, the researchers conducted interviews with 718 tourists who visited the attractions between June and September of 2022. The findings of this study can provide valuable information to local communities regarding the tourism potential of the region and the accessibility of its attractions. These data can be used to identify areas where roads need to be built or rehabilitated to improve accessibility to important tourist sites. By providing easy access to Dobrogea’s many attractions and ensuring that tourists are satisfied with their experiences, the region can become a top tourist destination in Romania.

Traditionally a country of emigration, Romania recently experienced an increased migration influx, although it is more a country of transit than a destination for refugees and irregular migrants. Refugees often face difficulties when trying to meet their needs and access essential services. This study aims to explore the experiences and barriers of asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds in accessing healthcare services in Romania. It is an exploratory study with a qualitative research design, which uses an inductive and deductive approach, with thematic analysis being applied in order to grasp the difficulties and barriers that asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds experience in accessing essential social services. The research was based on seven in-depth interviews with representatives of significant national or international non-governmental organisations assisting refugees and asylum seekers in Romania and 129 semi-structured interviews with different categories of people with refugee backgrounds from Southwest Asia, Eastern Africa and Ukraine. One of the most salient themes we identified relates to accessing the healthcare system. Participants talked about what information they needed to access medical services, where they looked for this information, and what barriers they faced in the process. Cultural, linguistic, structural, and financial barriers were perceived as the most significant. Improved public awareness, a better understanding of asylum issues, and stronger community support are essential to addressing inequalities experienced by this vulnerable population.

Educational achievement plays a significant role in the labour market, benefiting individuals and society. Graduating from high school is a key step towards better employment opportunities and a prerequisite for higher education attainment. In 2023, only 22.5% of the Romanian population graduated tertiary education, while 16.6% left education or training early. The Romanian public high school network comprises 1558 units, mostly located in urban areas. The high school enrolment rate is 83.5% in urban areas, and it drops to less than 60% in rural areas, with the country registering the highest out-of-school rate in the EU for the 15-year-old population. Spatial accessibility may influence enrolment in high schools, particularly for students living in rural or remote areas, who often face financial challenges fuelled by long distances and limited transportation options. Hence, travel distance may represent a potential barrier to completing the educational process or may determine inequalities in educational opportunities and outcomes. This paper aims to assess the spatial accessibility of the public high school network in Romania by using distance data provided by the Open Street Map API (Application Programming Interface). We examine variations in spatial accessibility based on the distribution of high school units and road network characteristics considering three variables: travel distance to the nearest high school, the average distance to three different categories of high schools, and the number of high schools located within a 20 km buffer zone. The results highlight a significant urban–rural divide in the availability of public high school facilities, with 84.1% (n = 1311) located in urban areas while 49.1% of the high school-aged population lives in rural areas. Many rural communities lack adequate educational facilities, often having limited options for high school education. The findings also show that 32% of the high school-aged population has to travel more than 10 km to the nearest high school, and 7% has no high school options within a 20 km buffer zone. This study provides insights into the educational landscape in Romania, pointing out areas with limited access to high schools, which contributes to further inequalities in educational attainment. The findings may serve as a basis for developing policies and practices to bridge the urban–rural divide in educational opportunities and foster a more equitable and inclusive education system.

Refugees and asylum seekers often confront particular challenges when accessing essential services in host countries. The difficulties these vulnerable groups face in meeting educational needs are documented in numerous studies. Although Romania experienced mainly transit migration, it is recently becoming a destination for refugees and irregular migrants. Most people entering the country are young or minors, and access to education is crucial for their economic future and a successful integration process. The present paper primarily explores the challenges and difficulties asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds experience in accessing educational services in Romania. It is framed within an interpretive paradigm using qualitative interviews with asylum seekers, people with refugee backgrounds, and NGO representatives to collect data. This exploratory research is designed on thematic analysis: four themes and eight subthemes were identified, capturing participants’ perceptions about the Romanian education system and their barriers to accessing education programs. The findings suggest that access to education for refugees and asylum seekers was restricted primarily by language-related or bureaucratic and legal obstacles. Therefore, efforts should be made to raise awareness among the general population and specialised educational institutions. Additionally, creating more opportunities for interactions between people of different backgrounds can alleviate the persisting inequalities experienced by this vulnerable population.

School dropout is a pressing social problem that stems from systemic inadequacies in the education system and socio-economic background. The aim of this study was to analyze how the travel time and financial difficulties impact school dropout in satellite towns near Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Data on dropout rates in recent years were provided by the Ilfov County General School Inspectorate and were supplemented by 30 semi-structured interviews with the parents, caregivers, or the legal representatives of students who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out. The study’s findings reveal significant correlations between the travel time to school, familial financial situation, and attitudes towards education, impacting dropout rates across various satellite towns. Addressing the challenge of school dropout promises societal improvement and empowers policymakers to enact more inclusive policies benefiting all members of society.

Background: Cardiovascular deserts are areas that lack medical facilities, specialists and equipment to effectively diagnose, treat and manage cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Romania registers the highest incidence and the highest mortality due to CVDs in Europe. Population ageing is a significant concern, as it increases the risk of CVDs and the demand for specialised care. Although almost 50% of Romanians still live in rural areas, most medical resources are concentrated in a few large cities, leaving large parts of the country underserved. Methods: This study used the Application Programming Interface (API) Matrix service from Google Maps and open data sources to identify cardiovascular (CV) deserts. Results: This research indicates that over 64% of the Romanian population resides in areas lacking CV care, having to travel more than 60 km and over 30 min to reach the nearest facility that offers specialised treatment. Moreover, 14% live in areas affected by a high degree of cardiovascular desertification. These areas are primarily located in northeastern, southern and western Romania. They experience higher mortality rates from CVDs and an ageing population, along with a shortage of general physicians and a scarcity of cardiologists. Conclusions: The identified cardiovascular deserts in this study overlap mountainous regions, the Danube Delta and remote rural areas with poor transportation infrastructure. Implementing telemedicine or mobile healthcare services, involving community healthcare workers and policy support could be solutions to expand access to specialised care in cardiovascular deserts.