Construction of modern and durable asphalt and cement pavements requires high quality materials and suitable technologies that take into account sustainability concerns which are related to the environmental protection, mitigation and compensation for road construction effects on surface water and groundwater, soil, air, wildlife, landscape, vibration and noise. The objectives of this paper are to identify possible development directions of materials and technologies in road construction in the time perspective of approximately 30 years. In order to achieve that goal a nationwide Delphi survey with 150 invited experts was deployed. The study concluded that binding materials with improved viscoelastic range – and often with specific modifications – would continue to play a leading role. Furthermore, technologies that enable monitoring the state of road pavement condition in a continuous manner would be used to a greater range. Introduction of sensors into the pavement network would lead to the construction of “smart” roads while spreading of nanomaterial technology would improve the durability and reliability of road pavement construction.

The rapid transformation of the socioeconomic, political, and technological context predetermines changes in the expectations for higher education institutions that face numerous profound challenges. In order to survive and develop under changing conditions, universities need to drastically rethink their development strategies. The paper substantiates the effectiveness of using foresight for these purposes, which is confirmed by the experience of the project on the development of scenarios for the Faculty of Engineering Management (FEM) of Bialystok Technical University (Poland) for the period up to 2035. This enquiry has resulted in compiling four alternative visions for FEM. By analyzing them one can gain valuable knowledge on both preferable and less-favored alternatives, which on the one hand suggest which actions may lead to their realization, but on the other,indicate specific actions that may lead to the abandonment of undesirable paths in favor of the most conducive vision.

The objective of the analysis conducted and described in this article was to take a closer perspective of the contemporary research trends that refer to the discipline of technology management. The Author based the analysis on keywords defined by the authors of the publications that refer issues of technology management. Scopus was the database which provided data for the analysis. The Author focused on publications indexed in the selected database in 2011-2016. The resulting database keywords have been ordered and partially aggregated. Based on them, the VOSviewer tool was used to prepare a graphical presentation of frequency and co-occurrence with the rest of the analysed group. The analysis led to an indication of current research trends within the discipline of technology management.

The objectives of this paper are foresight study of the anticipated needs and requirements as well as identification of development directions of materials and technologies for use in road construction in the time perspective of approximately 30 years. In order to address this goal, Delphi forecasting method was utilized in the Polish-nationwide study with 150 invited experts. Paper presents results of research project dealing with development of directions of road pavement technologies with regards to the environmental aspects. As a result of the analyses, it was concluded that binding materials with improved viscoelastic range (often with modifications) would continue to play a leading role. Furthermore, according to the experts, the technologies that enable to monitor the state of road pavement in a continuous manner will be used to a greater range. Introduction of sensors into the pavement network will lead to the construction of “smart” roads while the spread of nanomaterial technologies in road construction will improve the durability and reliability of road pavement construction

The article focuses on indicating a set of competencies required for production branches based on the data regarding the Podlaskie labour market. The data was collected using quantitative surveys (in the form of questionnaires). Then, the Authors used network analysis to visualise the collected data and indicate the most frequently indicated set of competencies. Based on the opinion of respondents, the most popular competencies were professional knowledge and technical skills. These two competencies were also the most popular combination. Communication, self-reliance, thoroughness/reliability, sharing knowledge and experience, and teamwork/collaboration also proved to be important. The entire set of the competencies is strongly linked, with professional knowledge and technical skills forming the foundation. Knowledge of foreign languages has also been identified as significant as well as decision making, which was, however, less frequently connected with the above. Despite the dominance of the two competencies attributed to the professional group, this group of competencies was the least numerous. Based on the example of the Podlaskie Region, the study informs about the set of competencies sought by manufacturing companies. Also, the most important competencies typical for individual branches are noted. This collection of competencies can serve as a basis for further theoretical considerations in the field of competency identification aimed at the production industry. In some cases, competencies indicated for different industries coincide, while in others they are divergent. The set of competencies indicated by the respondents informs job seekers in the area of production as well as institutions such as Voivodship Labour Office in Bialystok, whose task, among others, is to appropriately orientate the development of future employees.

Career planning and development becomes a process of managing learning, experience and change in order to achieve a personally determined, preferred professional future. In the context of dynamic social, economic and technological changes, the role of career counselling services increases, although their character also evolves. New competences and abilities to use innovative tools that enable effective processes of creating career visions in a systemic manner are expected. In this context the adaptation of Futures Studies to both practice and education of career counselling seems to be an interesting prospect. Exploring the future not only develops individual planning and adaptation skills, but also allows detecting and identifying upcoming trends. It means the ability to adapt to new conditions, or proactive creation of the future, in a way that is favourable. The aim of the article is to present comprehensive methodology and the results of a nationwide survey conducted in Poland among practitioners in the field of career counselling. The scope of the study included exploring the potential of foresight methodology and future studies application for education and practice in the field of career counselling. The main focus of the research to examine the current quality and scope of education offer for career counsellors by the disconfirmation between the ideal features of the courses and the individual perception of the courses completed, in the context of building the abilities to apply future-oriented methodologies and tools. Competences in this area were also examined, by assessing both, their level among the practitioners and the assessment of their suitability in career counselling practice. The quantitative research was supported by individual interviews with practitioners and experts in the area of career counselling.