About the authors

Vasile Gherheș is full university professor and director of the Department of Communication and Foreign Languages at the Politehnica University Timisoara. His areas of specialization include sociology, the multiple dimensions of communication sciences and higher education, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. He has explored these topics and presented the results in numerous books and scientific articles. Having more than a quarter of a century of experience in applied research, Vasile Gherheș initiated and led extensive studies at local and regional levels, addressing and proposing solutions to the socio-economic problems of these areas. He has also collaborated in numerous research projects with administrative institutions, non-governmental organizations, and national and multinational companies. He is a founding member and president of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication and Sustainability (PoliCom).

Mariana Cernicova-Bucă is associate professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences, Politehnica University Timisoara, Romania, founding member of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication and Sustainability (PoliCom), recurring chairperson of the scientific committee of the Professional Communication and Translation Studies (PCTS) conference and co-editor of the PCTS volume. She authored around 200 articles, book chapters and books. She elaborated the descriptors of journalism qualifications included in the National Register of Qualifications in Romania (2009–2011). Her main research interests include communication sciences (journalism and public relations), social policies, transition of society in post-communist countries, higher education, sustainability.

Dragomir Gabriel Mugurel is full university professor at the Department of Teacher Training of the Politehnica University Timisoara (UPT). Having studied engineering and sociology, he has worked as an associate professor for the specialization Communication and Public Relations, since its foundation. He has extensive experience in conducting social research, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Currently he conducts studies in such topics as education and sustainability, social discrimination, and equal opportunities. Together with the other authors of this paper, he founded the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication and Sustainability (PoliCom).

Adina PALEA is associate professor at the Faculty of Communication Sciences and vice-president of the Senate of Politehnica University Timisoara. Her research interests concern communication sciences, especially the field of public relations. She is a member of ECREA (European Communication Research and Education Association), EUPRERA (European Public Relations Education and Research Association) and GWPR (Global Women in Public Relations). As a communication expert, she has conducted numerous campaigns, including ones under the Timișoara 2023 – European Capital of Culture program. She acted as Director of the Communication and Image Department of UPT during 2013–2020, and together with the other authors of this paper she laid the foundations of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Communication and Sustainability (PoliCom).