Cultivating and teaching futures research at university...

Cultivating and teaching futures research at university level have become more and more widespread, but only at the University of Economic Sciences has an independent department been founded. Practical forecasting work has been undertaken mainly in nation-wide institutions where the long-range management of problems has made it necessary, such as the National Committee for Technological Development , the Scientific and Planning Institute for Urban Development and in sectorial ministries .

The role of the National Planning Office must be emphasised among the other nationwide institutes. Although the Office itself did not conduct systematic futures research, its executives realised the convenience of elaborating long-range macro-level plans on forecasts relying on a scientific basis. The National Planning Office, therefore, assisted the development of futures research…