Strategic Foresight

What it is about

You learn how to work systematically with uncertainty in politics and organizations. The module conveys methods such as horizon scanning, trend analysis, scenario planning, narrative futures, premortem and backcasting, and shows how AI is changing foresight practice. At the end you can plan, conduct and derive concrete courses of action from the results of a simple foresight exercise for a real topic.

What you will be able to do

• Apply central foresight methods (e.g., scenario planning, horizon scanning, premortem, narrative futures)
• Critical assessment of the use of futures thinking in governance and public decision-making
• Evaluation of the impact of AI on Strategic Foresight
• Independent design of a fundamental foresight exercise with process description and method choice

What the module consists of

• SeminarIntroduction to theory and practice of Strategic Foresight; basic format for all content, discussions and group work

Teaching method

• Lecture with structured discussionTransmission of theoretical foundations and reflection
• Group exercises and workshopsPractical training of foresight methods including full exercises
• Case study analysisConnecting the methods to real policy-related applications
• Practical use of AI tools (including Claude Code)Hands-on training for integrating AI into the foresight workflow