Editorial Team

Nicoleta Acomi is an Associate Professor at Constanța Maritime University, Dean of the Faculty of Navigation, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Non-Formal and Digital Education (JNFDE). She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in leading educational, research, and capacity-building initiatives. She holds a PhD in Engineering, with academic interests spanning education, management, energy efficiency, and teaching and learning methodologies.

Her work promotes non-formal and digital education through the development of innovative pedagogical approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration addressing societal and workforce development challenges. She has contributed to the diversification of educational services through the international accreditation of professional training programmes.

Actively engaged in academic and applied research, Dr Acomi develops high-quality educational resources tailored to organisational and learner needs and regularly coordinates conferences, workshops, and training activities that support educators as leaders and agents of change.

Krešimir Dabo is an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Communication Sciences, University of Zadar, Croatia. He holds a professional undergraduate degree in Economics from the Zagreb School of Management, a master’s degree in Business Communication Management from VERN’ University, and a second master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Public Relations from the University North. He earned his PhD in Communication Sciences at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.

His professional background includes journalism, public relations, and cultural management. He worked in several media organisations, in the Public Relations Department at RTL Television, and spent six years as Head of Public Relations and Marketing at Croatia’s national professional folk dance and music ensemble LADO, where he also served one term as Director. He has worked as a Research Associate at the Institute for Migration Research. As an external lecturer, he teaches at VERN’ University, the University of Split, the University of Dubrovnik, and the Faculty of Croatian Studies in Zagreb.

Prof Dr Angelica Baylon currently works at the External Relations Office, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific. Angelica does research in Educational Management, Educational Leadership and Educational Policy. Her most recent publication is Women Leaders in Shipping as Role Models for Women Seafarers.

With more than 25 years of teaching experience, she taught Maths, Chemistry and Physics at Far Eastern University (FEU); University of the Philippines (UP); Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA); and Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP). She earned the rank of Professor IV at Philippine Women University (PWU).

As a research partner, she has also accomplished two major projects: Gender Equality and Cultural Awareness in Maritime Education and Training (GECAMET) and Sustainable Development in Maritime Education and Training (SDiMET). She is currently a member of the IAMU working group of the Peer Assisted Evaluation Scheme (PAES) project (2018 to date).

Tiberio Daddi is Associate Professor in Sustainability Management at S.Anna School of Advanced Studies, a public university located in Pisa, Italy. His research interests range from corporate environmental management to sustainable consumption and production, from environmental footprint, performance and LCA to circular economy. He is author of numerous scientific publications and project manager of relevant international projects funded mainly by the European Commission. He has been involved as a European projects evaluator and is a founding partner of a spin-off company of S.Anna University specialised in environmental management consultancy activities.

He is coordinator of the Environmental Management and Industrial Symbiosis area in his university and has been project manager of more than 30 international projects on environmental sustainability. He has co-authored more than 80 papers published in international journals.

Multidisciplinary expert with over 20 years of international experience in engineering, innovation, quality management, and project evaluation. Chartered Marine Engineer and Chartered Manager, with an MBA in the UK and advanced qualifications in maritime safety, asset management, and digital transformation. Experienced evaluator for the European Commission, EFQM-certified professional with multiple Global EFQM Awards and sectoral expertise spanning energy, water, transport, and education. Proven track record in assessing R&I proposals, developing evaluation frameworks, and guiding strategic improvement initiatives for both public and private organisations across Europe and globally.

Sergiy Yekimov is a researcher in economics and quantitative methods, currently affiliated with Mendel University in Brno (Faculty of Business and Economics, Institute/Department of Business Economics). He previously worked at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Trade and Finance) as a research staff member, and has published research applying mathematical and statistical tools to economic time series and decision-making under risk. His recent work includes modelling approaches for inflation/time-series analysis and risk/investment assessment using optimisation-type methods, as well as broader economic–mathematical modelling topics.

Dr Cristina Dragomir is a scholar and gender equality expert, with input in developing fair access to education and employment in maritime transport. She is an Associate Professor at Constanța Maritime University (Romania), within the Department of Management in Transports. She has lectured in Transport Technologies, Management of Ship Commercial Operations, and Human Resources Management since 2008, and has been invited as a lecturer in other universities and as a speaker at international and national events. She is a reviewer for SSCI journals indexed in Web of Science Clarivate, including the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (Springer), Journal of Navigation (Cambridge Core) and Technium.

As an academic researcher, Dr Dragomir specialises in gender studies in transport, serving as project manager of dedicated research and as author/co-author of more than 40 published articles and four books on gender in transports and associated topics.

Adriana Grozavu is a History teacher with over 28 years of experience, dedicated to excellence in education and psycho-pedagogical research. Since 2006, she has worked at Gymnasium School No. 12 “B.P. Hasdeu” in Constanța, where she coordinates the “Man and Society” Commission and serves as a pedagogical practice mentor for students from Ovidius University (Faculty of History and Political Sciences).

She graduated from the Faculty of History at the University of Bucharest (1994) and completed advanced master’s studies at the same institution. She has participated in professional development courses delivered by the Arbinger Institute, Superteach, and the Maison du Corps Enseignant (Brest, France; Charleroi, Belgium), and has contributed to scientific communication sessions, didactic colloquia, and national and international symposia.

She has also been involved in international project teams under Erasmus and Comenius programmes, taking part in experience exchanges in Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, and Armenia.

A researcher specialising in analytical research and AI-driven solutions for education and business. Mykyta focuses on developing data-driven methodologies for risk assessment and decision-making, contributing to the research centre’s mission of innovation and digital transformation. His expertise lies in predictive modelling, Bayesian networks, and AI applications that enhance educational methodologies and business strategies. Through applied research and advanced data analytics, he supports organisations in optimising risk management and improving digital learning environments.

Teodora Mandrea is a teacher of English at “Stefan Procopiu” High-School, Vaslui, Romania. She has been involved in numerous European projects, including the Erasmus programme, addressing topics such as European values, environmental protection, and sustainability. As a teacher, she believes that interdisciplinarity is key for the future of education and integrates themes such as sustainability and circular economy into the English classroom. By collaborating with various organisations, she contributes to improving the quality of learning materials used in class, keeping in touch with new developments across domains and increasing students’ interest and participation. Her academic interests include teaching and learning methodologies, digital education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and modern teaching strategies.

Davide Di Palma is Associate Professor of Didactics and Special Education at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli". He is the author of over 200 internationally recognised scientific publications, primarily focusing on inclusion, innovative teaching, and education in formal and non-formal systems. He is currently the educational coordinator for the training programmes for special education teachers and for the degree programme in primary education at his university. He has coordinated numerous research projects in the field of educational sciences and has served as the university's contact for students with disabilities.

Eugenia Olguța Cotulbea is an English teacher at Mihai Viteazul High School in Caracal (Olt County, Romania) with 23 years of classroom experience and a strong focus on technology-enhanced language learning. She holds certifications in digital education, including Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) and ECDL Digital Pedagogy, and has completed specialised professional development in Cambridge English teaching, online skills for 21st-century educators, assessment, and teaching writing.

She coordinates and contributes to international school collaboration projects (eTwinning and Erasmus+), promoting participative and collaborative learning and the effective use of digital tools in language education. Her practice-based work and reflections on teaching with technology have been disseminated through educational magazines, eTwinning newsletters, and symposium publications, supporting knowledge sharing and innovation in school education.

Cristina Iordache is a teacher of Social Education at gymnasium level at Gymnasium School No. 29 “Mihai Viteazul”, Constanța. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Finance and Banking and holds a Master’s degree in Law.

She promotes formal, non-formal and digital education by developing innovative and interactive pedagogical approaches and by supporting inter-institutional collaboration through the exchange of good practices. She also encourages interdisciplinary teaching and learning at gymnasium level by initiating and supporting educational projects.

She is actively involved in academic research on the impact of simulation and interactive methods on the development of students’ social and civic competences, as well as on digital assessment methods as alternatives to traditional assessment in Social Education.

Adriana Dima is a teacher at Commercial College Carol I (Constanța, Romania), with over 35 years of experience in education and 14 years of leadership as the institution’s principal. She graduated from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Academy of Economic Studies), Faculty of Commerce, and has completed extensive professional development in Romania and abroad in the fields of commerce, tourism, and gastronomy through programmes such as PHARE VET, Comenius, POSDRU, and Erasmus.

She is a member of the Romanian National Body of Experts in Educational Management and a national evaluator for examinations. She has broad experience as a methodologist and mentor, coordinating pedagogical practice for undergraduate and master’s students from Ovidius University of Constanța in economics-related fields. She has also served as a trainer and lecturer for entrepreneurship education and adult learning in commercial education, including courses delivered through the Romanian Business School of the Constanța Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping. Throughout her career, she has initiated and participated in local, regional, and national educational projects, European integration initiatives, and education reform projects.

Liliana Octavia Pascu is a dedicated educator with 15 years of experience teaching German and Romanian language and literature. She has completed all Romanian national teaching degrees and certifications, successfully obtained in Bucharest, reflecting her commitment to continuous professional development and pedagogical excellence.

Throughout her career, she has worked with diverse groups of learners, designing differentiated instructional materials and fostering inclusive, student-centred learning environments. Her expertise includes curriculum adaptation, communicative language teaching, and the integration of modern educational strategies to support linguistic and cultural competence. In addition to her classroom work, she has been actively involved in educational projects, teacher training initiatives, and collaborative programmes aimed at improving language education practices. She is recognised for her reflective approach, her ability to connect theory with practice, and her dedication to promoting high-quality learning experiences for all students.