Futures Thinking and Scenario Planning for Strategic Foresight
About the Course
Governments today are confronted with disruptive global trends—from climate change, digital revolutions, and demographic transitions to geopolitical shifts and technological singularities. To navigate this uncertainty, public institutions must develop the capacity not only to respond to change but to anticipate, shape, and strategically prepare for it.
Futures Thinking and Scenario Planning for Strategic Foresight is a high-impact course that introduces the conceptual foundations and applied tools of foresight to support more agile, anticipatory governance. This course equips participants with the methodologies needed to scan emerging trends, construct plausible scenarios, and integrate future thinking into strategic planning, national policy frameworks, and institutional decision-making.
Using a combination of international case studies (such as the UAE’s Future Foresight Strategy, Singapore’s Centre for Strategic Futures, and OECD foresight models) and hands-on labs, participants will learn to build institutional foresight capabilities that drive innovation, policy resilience, and long-term impact.
Outcomes
- Understand the principles and disciplines of futures thinking and its relevance to government and institutional strategy.
- Analyze global megatrends, weak signals, and disruptive forces shaping policy domains and sectoral planning.
- Develop and apply a scenario-building methodology to explore multiple alternative futures.
- Identify implications, risks, and policy options under each scenario to inform strategic decision-making.
- Embed foresight practices into organizational culture and planning processes to ensure long-term adaptability and relevance.
Features
- Conducted as a 2 days onsite course, with immersive workshops and hands-on strategy labs. Available as an executive foresight retreat or cross-functional foresight bootcamp for ministries, public organizations, or strategic planning teams.
- Includes accredited training hours certified by the Emirates Science & Research Foundation. Participants receive a Certificate of Completion and, where applicable, a Foresight Lab Certificate for developing scenario models or policy forecasts.
- Designed around institutional objectives with options to focus on specific themes such as digital economy, education, environment, national security, healthcare, or governance transformation.
- Includes 30-day follow-up support for strategic feedback, technical advisory on scenario implementation, and alignment with organizational strategic plans.
- Foresight Maturity Diagnostic
- Readiness and adaptability indicators
- Integration plan templates and scenario application roadmaps
Target audiences
- Government leaders responsible for long-term planning, visioning, and national strategy.
- Heads of strategic units, policy design teams, and risk management divisions.
- Directors of innovation, digital transformation, climate action, or economic foresight.
- Researchers, think tank analysts, and public-private development leaders.
- Professionals aiming to integrate foresight methodologies into operational or national planning.
Curriculum
UAE, GCC, and global models for anticipatory governance
Delphi method, Causal Layered Analysis, and futures wheels
Developing narratives, mapping policy responses, and stress-testing strategies
Scenario-based policy design and adaptive strategy formulation
Coordination mechanisms, institutional design, and leadership role
Custom modules aligned with UAE or regional reform priorities
Aligning scenario outcomes with national visions and sectoral strategies
