Foresight

Quick link to this page: www.unesco.org/en/foresight

• © UNESCO/Nina Levinthal

Keeping an eye on tomorrow is one of the guiding principles of UNESCO, where the foresight function plays an essential part in identifying possible futures and exploring new paths for action in all its fields of competence. Serving as a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO is called to tackle today’s challenges and prepare for those of tomorrow, as well. Anticipation and foresight are interdisciplinary activities aiming at enriching the international public debates.

The Foresight Programme of UNESCO is implemented through a dedicated intersectoral platform. Its purpose is to sensitize members of the global UNESCO Secretariat and the Organisation’s Sectors as a whole as well as Member States about foreseeable evolutions and future trends in education, the natural sciences, the social and human sciences, culture and information and communication. The Foresight Programme aims at bringing to bear intellectual perspectives, contributions and support to the Organisation’s reflection, programming and action. Moreover, it will support Member States in developing their own capacities and approaches in the field of foresight.

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• UNESCO Future Forums



• UNESCO Future Seminars



• Foresight Interviews



• Seminar on Recent Developments in Futures Thinking: Connecting Foresight to Decision Making, 1 July 2009, UNESCO Headquarters



• The First UNESCO World Report Towards Knowledge Societies



• Session of the 21st Century Talks within the framework of the International Economic Forum of the Americas (10 June 2008)



• Foresight Workshop with international experts (7 July 2008)



• Internal Workshop on the Role of Foresight in Programming (17 September 2008)



• Session of the 21st Century Talks within the framework of the 1st World Forum of Lifelong Learning (29 October 2008)