A familiar course at Notre Dame
Joining UH’s shining example of foresight education, Notre Dame has made Foresight in Business and Society a required course for the juniors of the Medoza College of Business.
What’s the course like? According to the college’s website:
The Foresight course begins with an introduction to “futuring” and an overview of global challenges and mega-trends from a variety of authoritative sources. It then examines methodologies and research techniques used in forecasting and analyzing probable future scenarios.Throughout the course students are challenged to develop and apply critical, creative and systems thinking in the context of specific issues.
Specific Objectives include:
- Develop an awareness of important issues and trends affecting society, including issues related to sustainability.
- Develop an understanding of the methodologies and tools used by organizations to identify trends, to consider the implications of change, to plan for alternative futures, and to suggest solutions leading to preferred futures.
- Develop various thinking and visionary skills, including critical/analytical thinking, systems thinking and creative thinking to effectively address complex problems.
- Explore specific responses and interventions to these issues and trends by government, business, NGOs, think-tanks, and other organizations.
- Produce well-reasoned research studies that address major societal issues, consider trends and future implications for society and business, and suggest appropriate solutions, in light of moral and ethical concerns.
They even have an introductory video you can watch here, as well as multimedia, including guest lecturers and student projects, here.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Hmmm, this here course seems awefully familiar…” and you’d be absolutely right! UH’s own Foresight program helped set this course up way back in 2009.
