Futures Studies and Foresight

The School, through its Institute for Futures Research (IFR), faculty and postgraduate students, undertakes research in Futures Studies, exploring issues over the longer term. The Institute also trains corporates and individuals in the use of futures research tools, and offers various publications to keep clients updated on what is waiting on the horizon.

Futures Studies is not about predicting the future, but rather about understanding how various futures could unfold. It analyses the interaction between a wide range of driving forces, and distils from these forces those issues that will affect the future of a country, government, institute, or entity. It explores the world of economics, politics, technology, demography, social values and other subject fields, both locally and globally. It equips decision makers with ways to deal with change and to make the right decisions to survive but preferably thrive in a changing world.

The Institute’s services are therefore aimed at helping clients acquire strategic foresight to make long-range decisions in order to identify opportunities and mitigate risks as this will enable them to manage organisational strategies geared towards creating a desired future. The Institute’s activities enrich the Business School’s academic programmes in Futures Studies.