When you hear "futures literacy," it might sound
abstract—like something only futurists or policy wonks talk about. In reality,
it's steadily gaining traction worldwide, and certain countries are shining
when it comes to embedding it in education, governance, and innovation.
At the heart of this global movement is UNESCO,
which has spearheaded the expansion of Futures Literacy Laboratories
(FLLs) since 2012. There are now over 110 of these labs across 44
countries, along with 37 UNESCO Chairs dedicated to futures literacy, studies,
and anticipation . These labs help communities explore multiple possible
futures—so people can act with foresight instead of simply reacting to change.
But UNESCO is just the umbrella—countries like Finland, Singapore,
and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stand out for their deep
institutional integration of futures thinking:
- Finland has
woven strategic foresight into its very governance. The government must
present a “Report of the Future” each parliamentary term, and a
dedicated Government Foresight Group under the Prime
Minister’s Office oversees foresight efforts. There's also a robust
infrastructure of futures research through institutions like the Finland
Futures Research Centre and the Finnish Society for Futures Studies .
- Singapore has
been in the game since the early 1990s, when it formed the Risk Detection
and Scenario Planning Office within its Ministry of Defence. It now hosts
the Centre for Strategic Futures and a cross-government
Strategic Futures Network, reinforcing long-term planning at the highest
levels .
- The UAE has
institutionalized futures thinking in striking ways—every government
ministry appoints a Director of Future Planning, coordinated
via the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Future. They also host the Dubai
Future Forum and the Museum of the Future, both well-known global
platforms for foresight and innovation .
In education, the Nordic region—especially Finland—is
leading innovative developments. A 2024 project called FLiTaPE (Futures
Literacy in Teacher and Professional Education in the Nordics) has brought
together universities and futures institutes across Finland, Denmark, and
Norway to embed futures-literacy training into teacher education programs .
Meanwhile, in Central and Eastern Europe,
countries like Poland, Romania, Hungary,
and Türkiye are making strides. For instance, Poland’s
Nicholas Copernicus Superior School incorporated futures literacy into its MBA
and PhD programs, with strong institutional support and active academic
engagement .
South Korea also deserves a mention, thanks to
figures like futurist Youngsook Park, who has elevated futures
literacy through her bestselling “World Future Reports,” media engagements, and
leadership role in the World Future Society in Korea .
Real-World Snapshot: National Leadership in the Futures
Landscape
|
Country |
Area
of Influence |
What
They're Doing |
|
Finland |
Government
& Education |
Government
foresight reports; regional teacher training projects |
|
Singapore |
National
Policy |
Long-standing
foresight institutions within government |
|
UAE |
National
Strategy |
Ministers
of Future Planning; global futures forums |
|
Poland
et al. |
Higher
Education |
Futures
literacy programs in MBA/PhD curricula, youth engagement |
|
South
Korea |
Public
Engagement |
Media-driven
futures literacy via popular futurists |
So which country is leading in futures
literacy? There's no single answer—each nation stands out in different
arenas. UNESCO is the leading global facilitator, but whether
it’s Finland’s governmental foresight, Singapore’s strategic planning, the
UAE’s institutional future roles, or academic and civic initiatives from Europe
to Asia—the leadership is happening across many fronts. Each plays a part in
weaving futures literacy into the habits of governance, education, and public
dialogue.
No comments:
Post a Comment