JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE INFLUENCE OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Maria Gheorghița — 2026-07-15

This study examines the relationship between foreign direct investment and the economic development of the Republic of Moldova by integrating a theoretical perspective with empirical analysis. Based on official statistical data and public institutional sources, it evaluates the dynamics of the main macroeconomic and investment indicators, the economic performance of enterprises with foreign participation, and their association with the evolution of GDP per capita. For the period 2015–2024, a multifactor econometric model is estimated in which the growth rate of GDP per capita is analysed in relation to a set of indicators reflecting the dynamics of foreign direct investment and several related economic variables relevant to assessing the relationship between foreign capital and economic growth. The results highlight the existence of positive relationships among the variables examined. Overall, the study suggests that foreign direct investment may constitute a relevant factor in supporting economic growth, provided that its effects are leveraged within a favourable investment and institutional environment.

DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND TRUST IN MOLDOVA'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS

Federico Verri — 2026-07-15

This article examines the relationship between digital governance, institutional trust and accession readiness in the Republic of Moldova. It addresses a specific problem in accession monitoring: legal alignment, platform availability and service counts may be recorded without showing whether digital public services improve administrative experience. The purpose is to derive a trust-sensitive analytical model for Moldova rather than to test a statistical hypothesis. The study uses qualitative policy-document analysis and conceptual synthesis on a corpus of 24 source items, including Moldovan policy documents, European Commission enlargement documents, multilateral administrative assessments, interoperability and cybersecurity sources, election-observation materials and scholarly literature. Manual deductive coding applied five categories: strategic alignment, service quality, accountability, institutional capacity and inclusion. The findings show that Moldova's digital agenda is increasingly embedded in accession-related state-building, while evidence remains stronger for service availability and infrastructure than for user experience, complaint resolution or segmented satisfaction. The article proposes a trust-through-servicequality model and argues that assisted access and cyber-resilience should be treated as constitutive dimensions of public service quality. The contribution is conceptual and measurement-oriented, and requires future empirical testing.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHISINAU MUNICIPALITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Igor Rotaru — 2026-07-15

The assessment of the current state of the public transport system in Chisinau highlights the existence of an extensive urban and suburban transport network as well as the significant increase in the volume of passengers transported during the analyzed period. The analysis of statistical data demonstrates the consolidation of the role of electric transport in urban mobility and the partial modernization of the fleet by introducing new trolleybuses and buses. At the same time, multiple deficiencies related to the overlapping of routes, traffic congestion, the state of road infrastructure, reduced accessibility for people with reduced mobility and the insufficient level of digitalization and operational coordination were identified. The study of the activity of the public transport system in Chisinau aimed at applying SWOT analysis and examining modern public transport development strategies in order to substantiate efficient, sustainable strategic directions adapted to the needs of the municipality.

HARMONISATION OF ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP REGULATION THROUGH THE EU-MOLDOVA AGREEMENT

Nina Garștea — 2026-07-15

This study analyses the harmonisation of the regulatory framework for road freight transport entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova, in the light of the bilateral Agreement with the European Union on international road freight transport. The rationale lies in the need to assess legislative progress and persistent gaps in the context of Moldova's EU accession candidacy. The study identifies discrepancies between national legislation and the EU acquis, examining market access conditions, authorization requirements, social rules, and safety standards, alongside official statistical data for the period 2020–2025. The methodology combines legal-comparative analysis, examination of primary and secondary legislation, institutional document analysis, and interpretation of data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The comparative analysis of Articles 16–21 of the Road Transport Code No. 150/2014 (as amended by Law No. 423/2023) against Regulation (EC) No. 1071/2009 reveals full compliance on financial standing and transport manager (from 01.01.2026), while divergences persist regarding mutual recognition of professional competence certificates and the absence of MSI grading. Transport Community reports confirm that over 65% of the EU transport acquis remains untransposed. NBS data highlight the dominance of road transport and the significance of international traffic. The conclusions emphasize that completing legislative harmonization and strengthening institutional capacity are essential for integrating Moldovan operators into the EU single market.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH AFRICAN MUNICIPALITIES

Beauty Zindi — 2026-07-15

This study explores the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation in public procurement within South African municipalities. The article is grounded in the understanding that traditional procurement systems are often characterized by inefficiency, excessive paperwork, procurement delays, limited transparency, and vulnerability to corruption and financial mismanagement. Consequently, municipalities are turning to digital technologies such as e-procurement platforms, electronic tendering systems, digital supplier databases, and automated workflow systems to modernize procurement processes. The study adopts a qualitative research approach based on a review of existing literature on government reports, policy documents, and scholarly publications related to digital governance and public procurement in South Africa. The findings reveal that digital transformation in public procurement presents significant opportunities for municipalities, including improved procurement efficiency, reduced administrative costs, enhanced transparency, strengthened accountability, faster service delivery, and better monitoring of procurement activities. However, the study further identifies several challenges such as inadequate digital infrastructure, limited financial resources, shortage of technical skills, resistance to organizational change, cybersecurity risks, unreliable internet connectivity, and weak institutional capacity hindering the successful implementation of digital procurement systems in South African municipalities. The study concludes that although digital transformation has the potential to revolutionize public procurement and strengthen good governance in South African municipalities, its success depends on strategic leadership, investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building, and the development of effective regulatory frameworks. The study recommends increased investment in digital skills training, stronger cybersecurity measures, and improved collaboration between government and technology stakeholders to ensure sustainable and effective digital procurement systems in local government.

INVESTIGATING EXPERIENTIAL GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE OF SMART CITYENABLED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Afeez Babatunde Siyanbola — 2026-07-15

Smart cities leverage information and communication technology to boost operational efficiency, disseminate information to the public, and enhance the quality of government services and the welfare of citizens. Smart transportation is largely anchored in digital devices, which are heavily driven by visual elements. These visual cues include icons, illustrations, colours, typographic contents, menu bars, grids, spacing, animation, avatars, visual selectors, interactive maps, and other visual indicators. The appropriate use of visual cues determines the usability of these technological platforms. This study examines the graphic visual components that comprise the user interface-driven tools enabling the smart city transportation system in Lagos, Nigeria. The research design employed is a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through both primary and secondary sources. The results indicated that user interface tools (ride-sharing apps, traffic delivery reports, and wayfinding systems) are indeed deployed with varying degrees to enhance smart mobility in the Lagos metropolis. Finally, the deployment of the user interface tools needs to be fully optimized to achieve better results.

HOME-BASED PREPARATION AS A MEDIATING MECHANISM BETWEEN CONFIDENCE IN AUTONOMY AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM

John Mbambu Pasiyikala — 2026-07-15

This study aims to explore the mediating role of home preparation initiative (HPI) in the relationship between learner autonomy confidence (LAC) and active engagement in flipped classrooms (EC) at the University of Kinshasa (DRC). Grounded in self-efficacy and self-regulation theories, the study shows that LAC significantly influences EC (β = 0.45, p = 0.01), confirming the importance of learner autonomy confidence as a driver of engagement. In contrast, HPI does not significantly mediate this relationship (non-significant indirect effect, bootstrap CI [-0.04; 0.23]), suggesting that contextual constraints (limited material resources, large class sizes) may hinder its effectiveness. The results also highlight the importance of emphasizing confidence in autonomy while adapting teaching methods to local realities, particularly by promoting the implementation of collaborative and metacognitive support mechanisms. The findings will contribute to the literature by providing insights into optimizing the flipped classroom model in sub-Saharan Africa, while also emphasizing the need for further research on potential additional mediators (motivation, social support).

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ALPHANUMERIC AND GRAPHICAL PASSWORD AUTHENTICATION METHODS

Sabiu Lawali Tsafe — 2026-07-15

As digital ecosystems expand, traditional alphanumeric credentials face critical vulnerabilities due to human cognitive limitations and predictable reuse behavior. This study presents a comparative empirical evaluation of traditional text-based passwords and a sequential, recognition-based graphical authentication framework designed around culturally familiar visual elements. Using a controlled experimental setup with a sample size of 203 university students, both modalities were tested under multiple simulated scenarios to assess security, ease of use, retention, and entry velocity. The empirical findings demonstrate that the graphical password architecture significantly outperformed the alphanumeric control baseline, showing a +1.4 increase in ease of use and a +1.2 enhancement in long-term memorability metrics. Additionally, authentication speed improved by 5.9 seconds on average. However, the visual nature of the interface introduces an elevated risk of shoulder-surfing incursions. We conclude that integrating cued visual cues with alphanumeric strings via multi-layered or hybrid frameworks effectively counteracts baseline text vulnerabilities while preserving superior recognition properties.

THE ROLE OF FAMILY MEDICINE IN STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Corina Caușan — 2026-07-15

Access to primary healthcare services is a key indicator of health system performance, reflecting both their efficiency and equity. The study analyzes the evolution of access to family medicine in the Republic of Moldova during the period 2019–2024, under the influence of the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and compares recent data (2023) with the situation in Romania, Poland, and Ukraine. The methodology included an analysis of national and international statistical sources [1], as well as graphical representations of trends. The results show that in the Republic of Moldova, overall access declined significantly between 2020 and 2021, reaching a level of approximately 75–80%, but gradually recovered in the following years, reaching 83% in 2023. However, disparities persist between urban (88%) and rural (77%) areas, more pronounced than in Romania or Poland, where the differences are under 5%. By comparison, Ukraine has a lower overall level of access (78%), exacerbated by the context of multiple crises. The conclusions highlight the need to strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure, expand telemedicine, and implement support programs for rural areas as solutions to reduce inequalities and align with European standards.

CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS, GENERAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PARTICULARITIES OF HEARING AS A CRIMINAL PROSECUTION ACTION

Vitalie Jitariuc — 2026-07-15

Examination constitutes the most frequently employed criminal investigative action; however, its conceptual foundations and psychological particularities remain insufficiently systematized in scholarly doctrine. The study proceeds from the hypothesis that a rigorous analysis of the conceptual framework and psychological dimension of examination contributes to enhancing the efficiency of this procedural activity. The research aims to analyze the conceptual foundations, general characterization, and psychological particularities of examination as a criminal investigative procedural act. The methodology combines doctrinal analysis and synthesis, the logico-juridical method, the comparative method, and the systematic and teleological interpretation of criminal procedural norms. The study systematizes doctrinal definitions of examination, establishes its character as an autonomous means of evidence collection, and critically examines the notion of "psychological contact". The research concludes that psychological contact does not constitute a tactical technique, but rather a precondition for applying forensic tactics, offering a novel perspective with direct practical implications for criminal investigation bodies.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS ACTIVITY WITHIN THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOLDOVA

Angela Munteanu — 2026-07-15

The present paper reflects a study on the evolution and impact of the educational activities carried out by the Department of Architecture (DA), Faculty of Urbanism and Architecture (FUA), Technical University of Moldova (TUM), over a period of 60 years. It includes a set of scientific research methods such as documentation, analysis of scientific sources, photo documentation, case studies, comparison, and interpretation of results. The article analyzes and briefly presents key aspects regarding the initial training process of architecture students from the perspective of promoting creativity and developing professional competencies through the use of emerging technologies in architecture. It highlights modern methods for the graphic and digital representation of projects, emphasizes the importance of studying risk factors in design, and describes the role of manually crafted volumetric models as tools for synthesis and conceptual expression. Furthermore, the paper addresses the relevance of sustainable architecture in the context of social, cultural, and economic challenges, which justify the need to integrate the principles of sustainable architecture into the university curriculum. It also showcases teaching activities carried out within DA, FUA, TUM, which demonstrate the institutional commitment to quality education in shaping and cultivating the aesthetic sensitivity of architecture students. In conclusion, the DA has distinguished itself through an exceptional historical path, marked by remarkable achievements and successes that have significantly influenced the progress of contemporary architecture both nationally and internationally.