Recent shifts in education and labour market policy have resulted in universities being placed under increasing pressure to produce employable graduates. However, contention exists regarding exactly what constitutes employability and which graduate attributes are required to foster employability in tertiary students. This paper argues that in the context of a rapidly changing information- and knowledge-intensive economy, employability involves far more than possession of the generic skills listed by graduate employers as attractive. Rather, for optimal economic and social outcomes, graduates must be able to proactively navigate the world of work and self-manage the career building process. A model of desirable graduate attributes that acknowledges the importance of self-management and career building skills to lifelong career management and enhanced employability is presented. Some important considerations for the implementation of effective university career management programs are then outlined.

The graduate attributes we've overlooked : enhancing graduate employability through career management skills

In this article, we cumulate previous research findings indicating that cyber-physical production systems bring about operations shaping social sustainability performance technologically. We contribute to the literature on sustainable cyber-physical production systems by showing that the technological and operations management features of cyber-physical systems constitute the components of data-driven sustainable smart manufacturing. Throughout September 2020, we performed a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases, with search terms including “sustainable industrial value creation”, “cyber-physical production systems”, “sustainable smart manufacturing”, “smart economy”, “industrial big data analytics”, “sustainable Internet of Things”, and “sustainable Industry 4.0”. As we inspected research published only in 2019 and 2020, only 323 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By eliminating controversial findings, outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too imprecise material, or having similar titles, we decided upon 119, generally empirical, sources. Future research should investigate whether Industry 4.0-based manufacturing technologies can ensure the sustainability of big data-driven production systems by use of Internet of Things sensing networks and deep learning-assisted smart process planning.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/2/751/pdf

Sustainable Cyber-Physical Production Systems in Big Data-Driven Smart Urban Economy: A Systematic Literature Review

The objective of this paper is to identify the determinants of decarbonization processes in Poland by urban and rural areas. It also presents directions for knowledge diffusion on decarbonization to develop a sustainable energy strategy for Poland, particularly for local governments and cities. Despite extensive research on the determinants of decarbonization and sustainable energy development, there is a lack of specific solutions in this area. The authors of this paper investigated which determinants, according to the respondents, would lead to better decarbonization solutions in cities and villages in terms of sustainability. The studied sample was purposefully selected and an online questionnaire was used with the use of the “snowball” method. The authors conducted surveys that allowed the concerned parties themselves (respondents) to indicate which factors they believe best influence decarbonization. Such measures are helpful in terms of the understanding public acceptance of decarbonization in terms of the energy transition. This is of particular importance in terms of green governance globally and in Europe. The results of the authors’ research indicate that despite the reduction in the share of coal in residential and domestic heating, coal remains the main source of electricity generation and that the potential for low-carbon policy to have an impact on solving urban challenges is underestimated. From the findings, it can be concluded that more in-depth research is needed on public acceptance of decarbonization in its broadest sense and its implications.

Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities?

Resource efficiency is an instrumental mitigation option in the steel industry but, existing studies have failed to provide a global analysis of the sector's energy and material use. Despite the interactions between energy and materials in steelmaking, recent studies investigate each of these resources in isolation, providing only partial insight into resource efficiency. This study analyses the latest, most comprehensive resource data on the global steel industry and quantifies the savings associated with reducing this through energy- and material-saving measures. Three production routes are investigated for 2010, namely the blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (ore-based); direct reduction/electric arc furnace; scrap-based electric arc furnace routes (secondary). The sector's resource efficiency – accounting for energy and materials – is expressed in exergy and measured at two levels, that of production routes and plants. The results show that the sector is 32.9% resource-efficient and that secondary steelmaking is twice as efficient (65.7%) as ore-based production (29.1%). Energy-saving options, such as the recovery of off-gases, can save about 4 EJ/year (exergy). Materialsaving options, such as yield improvements, can deliver just under 1 EJ/year extra. A global shift from average ore-based production to best available operation can save up to 6.4 EJ/year; a 26% reduction in global exergy input to steelmaking. Shifting to secondary steelmaking can save 8 EJ/year, limited only by the need to still produce half of steel from ore in 2050. Resource efficiency, measured in exergy, provides stakeholders with an instrument that treats energy and material efficiency measures on an equal footing.

/pdf/how-resource-efficient-is-the-global-steel-industry-3s5stml8yw.pdf

How resource-efficient is the global steel industry?

With growing evidence of the operational performance of cyber-physical manufacturing systems, there is a pivotal need for comprehending sustainable, smart, and sensing technologies underpinning data-driven decision-making processes. In this research, previous findings were cumulated showing that cyber-physical production networks operate automatically and smoothly with artificial intelligence-based decision-making algorithms in a sustainable manner and contribute to the literature by indicating that sustainable Internet of Things-based manufacturing systems function in an automated, robust, and flexible manner. Throughout October 2020 and April 2021, a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases was performed, with search terms including “Internet of Things-based real-time production logistics”, “sustainable smart manufacturing”, “cyber-physical production system”, “industrial big data”, “sustainable organizational performance”, “cyber-physical smart manufacturing system”, and “sustainable Internet of Things-based manufacturing system”. As research published between 2018 and 2021 was inspected, and only 426 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By taking out controversial or ambiguous findings (insufficient/irrelevant data), outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too general material, or studies with nearly identical titles, we selected 174 mainly empirical sources. Further developments should entail how cyber-physical production networks and Internet of Things-based real-time production logistics, by use of cognitive decision-making algorithms, enable the advancement of data-driven sustainable smart manufacturing.

Sustainable, Smart, and Sensing Technologies for Cyber-Physical Manufacturing Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

The subject matter of the article relates to the assessment of the perception of selected types of risk in economic activities of the SME sector, which change their intensity as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current economic downturn is unprecedented and involves many companies and industries that have faced new, previously unknown challenges and threats. The objective of the article is to identify the most important risks and their resources based on the empirical research carried out in small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland. The formulated objective was accomplished using the data collection method, i.e., the survey and reports on the condition of the SME sector in Poland as well as statistical data analysis methods, i.e., structure index and the analysis of variance, using the SPSS system. The process of primary data collection was carried out by means of an electronic survey among selected enterprises of the SME sector, conducting business activities in Poland. In the study, the employment factor was taken into account as a determinant of the perception and assessment of the intensity of selected risks arising from the economic activity in the Polish market in the conditions of the current economic downturn. On the basis of the obtained results, the impact of market, economic, financial and operational risks, depending on their intensity, on the functioning of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises was identified. Based on the analysis of variance, the effect of the size of the company on the level of individual risks was also examined. As a result of the observations made, it was established that, during the pandemic, the level and type of risk is similar in all the surveyed enterprises. They are most often threatened by strong competition in the industry, an increase in energy prices and insufficient profit. The overall results of the empirical research indicate the importance and the need to manage the key threats to the Polish SME sector.

Risk Assessment of the SME Sector Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

One of the ways to sustain development is striving for energy efficiency. This is the purpose of directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency, which aims at explaining and promoting energy–saving and ecological solutions that allow increasing the output of consumed energy. Several years after implementation, it is possible to assess the directive’s usefulness and completeness in a few areas of the economy, in particular in the operation of enterprises, which substantially contribute to the global energy consumption. Therefore, the purpose of the study was defined as an assessment of the execution of the concept of energy efficiency in business operations in EU countries, in accordance with the assumptions of directive 2012/27/EU. The collected raw data were derived from surveys gathered in the process of public consultations of the European Commission regard directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency. Resulting observations were analysed using the basic methods of descriptive statistics, along with a factor analysis. A logistic regression model was applied to identify the dependencies between the provisions of the directive and the motivation of enterprises to manage energy. As a result of conducted analyses, conclusions were drawn up concerning the assessment of the content of the directive in regard to activities undertaken by EU enterprises to the favour of effective energy management. Obtained results suggest that there is a need to introduce changes in the provisions of the directive, preceded by consultations with the EU business environment. The analysed literature concerning this issue demonstrates that the effectiveness of energy management is taken into consideration from this angle for the first time in our studies.

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/17/4338/pdf

Energy Management in the Operation of Enterprises in the Light of the Applicable Provisions of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU)

Abstract The research aimed to assess Supply Chain Management (SCM) in small and medium enterprises in Kazakhstan and Poland, and, more specifically, identify similarities and differences in the approach to the SCM concept in selected countries. The research methodology was based on ANOVA analysis comparing samples of contemporary SMEs operating in Poland and Kazakhstan. Primary data was collected using the CAWI quantitative method and then studied using the ANOVA statistical data analysis method. The research results demonstrated similar involvement in the implementation of the concept with significant differences in some areas, such as cost reduction and focus on end customers. The concept of Supply Chain Management is a very common subject of theoretical and practical analysis. Even though research efforts in this area indicate the positive effects of the implemented concept, most of them concern large organisations. The research results showed similar involvement in the implementation of the concept, although significant differences were found in selected areas, such as cost reduction and focus on end customers.

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Supply chain management in SMEs: evidence from Poland and Kazakhstan

Transport operations are one of the sources of contemporary problems of pollution in urban areas. One of many reasons for such a situation is the growing needs for freight transport using different modes of transport, mainly road transport and the insufficient availability and network of roads. The impact on the environment should be one of more important criteria taken into account while selecting the mode of transport. The objective of the paper is to assess the level of pollution generated from gas emissions, depending on the type of the carrier, category and size of load, taking into account urban areas. On the basis of the obtained results, there was determined the potential of the level of pollution in cities as well as it was identified which mode of transport mostly contributes to the arising pollution

The impact of freight transport operations on the level of pollution in cities

The aim of the study was to assess the attractiveness of the Polish logistics to internal and external investors in the dimension of national, international and global circumstances, with a focus on the creation of logistics centres. Apart from the generally available statistics, the study used indicators of logistics efficiency, the Business Process Outsourcing Index, the Shared Service Location Index and the Global Service Location Index. The analyses carried out were the basis for identifying areas for improvement in order to increase the efficiency of Polish logistics against global competition. Based on the results obtained, against global markets, Poland has been evaluated as attractive for the implementation of logistics activities mainly in terms of technical infrastructure and delivery times. At the same time, against European competition, Poland is currently one of the most attractive locations in terms of renting warehouse and logistics due to the location of logistics centres in central Poland.

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Katarzyna Grondys

Papers

Risk Assessment of the SME Sector Operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Energy Management in the Operation of Enterprises in the Light of the Applicable Provisions of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU)

Supply chain management in SMEs: evidence from Poland and Kazakhstan

The impact of freight transport operations on the level of pollution in cities

Logistics attractiveness of Poland in relation to logistics centres and global competition