Possibilities of applying foresight research methods in the context of the future labor market

The article deals with the subject of the analysis of shaping and developing a professional career with the use of foresight methods and tools. The main goal set by the authors was to discuss the assumptions of the developed foresight research methodology, aimed at application in the context of the future labor market. The article reviews and briefly characterizes selected foresight methods that were used during construction and applied in the designed methodology. In addition, the work also shows how the proposed methodology was implemented in a practical tool supporting the work of career counselors and academic teachers during workshops aimed at building a vision of the future of the labor market and other selected research areas. The tool is in the form of an Internet application that enables group and individual work, as well as a tool for individual use, for the purpose of analysing the conditions of individual career paths and personal development of students and graduates of higher education institutions. This tool is also intended to support young people in the process of creating various scenarios of professional development. The methodology was developed as part of the international project “ IT system supporting higher education and career development using the foresight methodology (FORhesIT)”, implemented with the financial support of the European Economic Area funds

Courier service quality from the clients’ perspective

The aim of the study is a critical analysis of literature concerning the evaluation of courier service quality and verification if client expectations towards courier service quality change in time considering the perspective of future 5–10 years. Research methods include the theoretical analysis of scientific literature, CAWI survey and statistical analysis of obtained data

Role of smart specialisation in financing the development of regions in perspective 2020

The aim of this article is to present the role of smart specialization concept in the process of providing funds for regional development. The systematic literature review was conducted in order to identify the role of smart specialisation concept in the process of providing funds for regional development. The methodology followed for the literature review included two main phases: selection and analysis. The article presents: (i) the idea of smart specialisation, (ii) characteristics of the areas of specialisation in the European Union, (iii) the creation of smart specialization strategies in the regions, (iv) the role of smart specialization in financing the development of regions, (v) examples of methodological approaches to identify smart specialisation at the regional level. The research examines the relationship between smart specialisation and process of providing funds for regional development

eLearning for campus-based universities: engaging the executive

eLearning advocates in campus-based universities in Britain and in Australia are having difficulty helping senior budget holders and strategic planners articulate a vision for eLearning in a campus-based experience. Too often sensible plans for embedding eLearning support and infrastructure in the learning and teaching systems of campus-based universities are put to one side because there is insufficient confidence by the executive of being able to justify why such investment is needed. This can be as simple a problem as being unable to talk about eLearning and its contribution to the whole student learning experience convincingly for non-specialists. Further adding to such confusion is the fact that academics at the executive level may still hold old conceptions of eLearning being predominately about distant learning and can not envision why or how eLearning should be part of the reputation of a predominately campus-based institution. This special discussion session at ascilite 2006 will discuss the nature of this phenomenon and strategies for how to begin to talk about and plan for integrated eLearning experiences in which eLearning is part of a more meaningful whole. Ideas and understandings that help non-specialists in the executive will be sought in discussion with the audience and the panelists. The experience of British universities engaging in an international benchmarking program and the experience of Australian universities grappling with these problems will provide a substantial framework in which to discuss the issues

Implementing of bottom-up local initiatives on the example of the Leader approach

Doświadczenia krajów członkowskich Unii Europejskiej w zakresie inicjatywy Leader pozwoliły na wprowadzenie do polityki rozwoju obszarów wiejskich podejścia Leader, które polega na powierzeniu oddolnie tworzonym partnerstwom – Lokalnym Grupom Działania (LGD), opracowania i bezpośredniego wdrażania lokalnych strategii rozwoju. Podejście Leader ma na celu aktywizację społeczności wiejskich, wdrażanie lokalnych inicjatyw oraz rozwój obszarów wiejskich. Celem artykułu jest ocena dotychczasowego wdrażania oddolnych inicjatyw lokalnych na przykładzie podejścia Leader w ramach Programu Obszarów Wiejskich na lata 2007-2013, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem województwa podlaskiego.The experiences of member states of the European Union in the initiative Leader allowed to introduce the Leader approach into the politics of rural areas development. The idea of Leader approach is to entrust local partnerships formed as bottom-up partnerships – Local Action Groups, the study and direct implementing of Local Development Strategies. The Leader approach is aimed at the activation of country communities, implementing local initiatives and the development of rural areas. The purpose of the article is the evaluation of current implementing of bottom-up local initiatives on the example of the Leader approach in Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013 with particular reference to podlaskie voivodeship

The process approach to service quality management

In this paper a model of service quality management based on the process approach has been presented. The first part of the article contains the theoretical framework of service quality and the process approach in management. Next, quality of service process has been presented in reference to a process-based definition in quoted literature. Finally, the outcomes of a customer questionnaire concerning the validity of particular quality attributes has been presented. The collected data in relation to service process quality stages have enabled the development of a of service quality model for process management

Courier service quality from the clients’ perspective

The aim of the study is a critical analysis of literature concerning the evaluation of courier service quality and verification if client expectations towards courier service quality change in time considering the perspective of future 5–10 years. Research methods include the theoretical analysis of scientific literature, CAWI survey and statistical analysis of obtained data