Learnings Day 2024 — Dubai Future Foundation

LEARNINGs DAY

Held as the closing chapter of the 2024 Edition of the Dubai Future Forum, Learnings Day brought together a diverse community of foresight leaders and organizations for a day dedicated to building future-ready mindsets and skillsets.
Through a curated series of hands-on workshops and collaborative sessions, participants explored practical applications of strategic foresight from scenario planning and horizon scanning to systems thinking and anticipatory governance. The goal: to equip individuals and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to anticipate change, navigate uncertainty, and shape more desirable futures.
Whether co-creating speculative scenarios, engaging in systems mapping, or testing real-world foresight tools, the day emphasized learning through doing, peer exchange, and cross-sector collaboration.
Learnings Day affirmed that foresight is not just about predicting the future – it’s about preparing for it together.

Learnings Day will return for the 2025 Edition! If you’re interested in joining us, feel free to drop us an email or follow our social media channels for the latest updates.

2024 Workshops Overview

Editing the Future: Who is In and What is Out?

Hosted by:

A workshop gathering editors from seven leading Futures Studies journals was convened to explore the evolving role of editors and the future of academic publishing in the field. The session aimed to foster greater collaboration across journals, support emerging scholars, enhance quality in publishing, and respond to challenges such as the rise of low-quality scholarship. Editors shared personal reflections on their entry into editorial roles and the broader shifts in the field, including rising submission volumes, constrained budgets, and limited reviewer capacity. Emphasis was placed on the editor’s role not only as a gatekeeper but also as a community-builder navigating multiple stakeholder expectations. Participants then broke into working groups to examine key themes: the impact of AI on publishing, the role of publishers, evolving forms of knowledge production, and the importance of diversity in futures research. Four potential future scenarios for the field emerged from the discussion. In the first, No Change, editors would continue to act as quality gatekeepers within traditional academic structures. The second, Marginal Change, envisions an expanded use of AI and multimedia to broaden journal formats. The third, Adaptive Change, sees editorial roles evolving to become more inclusive and coaching oriented. Finally, the Radical Change scenario imagines editors leading deep systemic transformation through community-based foresight and global engagement. These outcomes offer a roadmap for how the field might navigate and shape the futures of publishing. Explore a curated selection of contributions and essays as recommended by the editors of these futures journals.

Global Energy Scenarios: How Can Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches Reinforce Each Other?

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A selected group of 30 participants gathered in this energy insights session, exploring possible futures and their implications for energy access and poverty, economic activity, global warming, and geopolitics. The conversation underscored that the energy sector is not only vital in itself but also foundational for a decent standard of living and economic progress, with energy security and affordability being critical for all societies. Moreover, the type of energy used deeply affects the environment. Key foresight insights emerged: many leading institutions include “normative” scenarios showing a successful energy transition by 2050, which are often misinterpreted as proof that such a transition is both possible and inevitable, encouraging wishful thinking. Despite the clear biophysical limits of complex systems, economic theories frequently overlook these constraints, leading policymakers to base decisions more on theory than on facts. Combining qualitative and quantitative scenario modeling can help anchor planning in reality and counter overly optimistic assumptions. Finally, for fossil fuel–producing states, seeing a zero-carbon future as beneficial is essential for real change—a perspective that the UAE’s experience illustrates well. More details on these scenarios and other reflections are available here

Global Futures Research: What Concepts, Methods and Management to use?

Hosted by: The Millennium Project

Participants were invited to reflect on four main areas in this session led by the Millennium Project. First, they reviewed the State of the Future 20.0, a comprehensive publication addressing global critical issues and opportunities—including the 15 Global Challenges, the State of the Future Index, governance options for the transition to artificial general intelligence (AGI), an assessment of UN foresight systems, and insights on beneficial AGI. Second, they explored ways to actively participate in managing the shift from today’s artificial narrow intelligence to tomorrow’s AGI. Suggestions included reaching out to legislators to advocate for national AGI licensing systems and encouraging Ministries of Foreign Affairs to propose a UN General Assembly session dedicated to AGI. Third, the session examined methods for conducting global futures research, the roles of Millennium Project Nodes, networks and fields of play, and the growing international movement to establish national parliamentary committees for the future inspired by Finland’s model. Participants also considered 26 approaches to better link foresight with decision-making processes. Finally, an open plenary discussion brought these strands together, with much of the conversation centering on the urgent need to implement national AGI licensing systems and reflecting on outcomes from the second World Summit on Parliamentary Committees for the Future. More information on State of the Future 20.0 and to download a copy of the full report (available in multiple languages), visit the Millennium Project website here.

Leaders for Humanity: How Can We Cultivate Foresightful Leaders?

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The workshop brought together foresight practitioners from across the globe to reimagine leadership for an era of complexity and uncertainty. Participants began by stepping into the shoes of the leaders they work with through empathy mapping, uncovering key challenges such as emotional isolation, organizational inertia, and the short-term pressures that often hinder meaningful change. This exercise was followed by interactive gameplay with the Leaders for Humanity card game, sparking profound discussions on ethical dilemmas, bold decision-making, and the transformative power of collective wisdom. The session culminated in a collaborative effort to expand the Leaders for Humanity card game. Participants contributed to the creation of new Scenario and Response Cards, addressing pressing issues like climate migration, AI governance, and generational workplace shifts. These contributions ensured the expansion pack reflects globally relevant insights and diverse regional and sectoral contexts. Empowered with fresh tools, actionable insights, and their own set of Leaders for Humanity cards, participants left ready to inspire and equip leaders for the future. Plans for translation, localization, and the launch of the expansion pack at the 2025 Dubai Future Forum mark the beginning of a global movement to reimagine leadership through foresight. More details on the outcomes of this session and other reflections are available here.

Indigenous & Inclusive Futures: How Can Identity, Culture and Stories from Oceania Weave Connections for Collective Futures?

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Participants reflected on the transformative experience of this indigenous and inclusive futures session, co-facilitated in the open air of the Dubai Future Lab Gardens. The workshop opened with a sevusevu led by Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, an act that set a tone of humility and deep respect for place and people. Sharing kava together created a space that felt raw, honest, and full of possibility. The workshop journey was shaped by the Tongan Kakala Research Framework, which wove together storytelling, reflection, and action and allowed participants engaged deeply with Pacific ways of knowing and being. As participants shared their ‘aha moments’ in futures thinking, a timeline of collective wisdom emerged stories of surrender, self-awareness, healing, and transformation. The act of making garlands proved especially meaningful, with each flower representing a story, a connection, and a commitment to a shared future. The closing circle, marked by the sharing of a final bowl of kava, was not experienced as an ending but as a promise sota tale (see you again). The workshop ultimately highlighted the profound power of Indigenous wisdom to guide futures thinking rooted in culture, connection, and courage. A reflection report prepared by the hosts is available here.

Evolving Foresight Skills: How Will We Shape the Future of Strategic Foresight?

Hosted by: OCAD University

The workshop underscored the need for foresight practitioners to remain resilient, adaptable, and forward-thinking in a rapidly evolving field. Participants emphasized that academic institutions play a critical role in keeping pace by continually updating curricula, integrating emerging tools and methods, and deepening understanding of the discipline’s history. They also recognized that the failure to do so risks reinforcing outdated practices and limiting the potential of future professionals. This interactive session brought together international foresight practitioners to explore four central themes: (1) historical events, methods, and literature shaping foresight; (2) emerging developments likely to influence its future; (3) the current and future skills required by futurists; and (4) strategies organizations can adopt to embed and benefit from foresight practice. Through these collaborative discussions, participants helped broaden the narrative of foresight’s history, envisioned transformative innovations, and identified critical practitioner skills for the future. They also proposed practical strategies to deepen foresight within organizations, including building foresight literacy, aligning foresight efforts with strategic goals, and fostering long-term thinking. The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to synthesizing these insights and sharing them with the broader foresight community sparking continued dialogue and collaboration to shape the evolving future of the field. More details on the outcomes of this session and other reflections are available here.

Changemakers: How Can They Deliver Future-Proofed Public Policy?

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(Remotely)

Joined by a wonderful and diverse cast from organisations including the UN, the WHO, NGOs, parliaments and international government departments, Changemakers helped participants understand how to deliver public policy objectives with futures thinking using ForgeFront’s future.ctrl methodology. The workshop opened with a panel discussion that offered advice on protecting against black swan events, helping decision-makers break free from the cyclical nature of government, delivering prescriptive data, ensuring value for money, and exploring novel techniques such as hackathons and red teaming. The room then moved to a learnings workshop, taking backcasting as a case study, to put future.ctrl into action. Groups moved through a three-stage process and developed recommendations on how Dubai could achieve its target of producing 75% of its energy requirements from clean sources by 2050. The workshop included a presentation from ForgeFront on how to deliver gold standard policy submissions to those in power. This interactive session focused on practical and implementable advice on planning, drafting, using data and due diligence.

Framing Tomorrow: Who Decides What is Ethical in Foresight?

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The workshop aimed to explore how ethical foresight may shape decision-making in biomedical and health policy, using the case study of genomic health prediction (GHP). Participants were divided into two groups: one used traditional scenario discussions, while the other explored techno-ethical scenarios that featured moral quandaries and trade-offs. The latter approach fostered somewhat deeper engagement, emphasising issues including autonomy, fairness, and the long-term societal impact of GHP. The workshop findings indicate that traditional foresight methods may overlook ethical complexities, whereas techno-ethical scenarios encourage a broader, values-based discourse. Participants in the ethical scenario group engaged more with moral tensions and trade-offs, while the traditional group focused on technical practicality. The workshop underscored the need for ethical considerations to be embedded in foresight activities to ensure responsible research and innovation, a key target aimed for by various governments including that of Dubai and the UK. It found integrating ethics into strategic foresight can lead to more inclusive and trustworthy governance, helping to navigate the ethical challenges of emerging biomedical technologies.

Co-Creating the Future: How Can We Harness Generative AI for Foresight?

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This workshop explored the transformative role of Generative AI in strategic foresight, providing participants with a deep understanding of its capabilities, particularly its function as an operating system and its implications in the evolving landscape of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Ethical concerns and responsible AI governance were central to the discussions. The workshop highlighted how Generative AI can accelerate foresight research, enhance trend analysis, and even immerse participants in envisioned future scenarios. However, foresight remains a rigorous discipline that relies on human agency, creativity, and diverse perspectives. While AI can support horizon scanning, scenario development, and visualization, it is not a replacement for critical thinking and human decision-making. A key demonstration showcased SynthAI’s ability to identify signals for foresight and translate them into actionable strategies. A real-world case study by the UNDP team in Egypt introduced the Egypt Horizon Scanner (EHS), a platform developed to leverage Generative AI and big data analytics for enhancing foresight research, improving efficiency, and accelerating decision-making processes. The workshop reinforced that while Generative AI is a powerful tool for foresight, its true potential is unlocked when combined with human intelligence and strategic thinking.

Unconventional Futures: How Can Practitioners Explore Non-Traditional Approaches to Foresight?

Hosted by: Association of Professional Futurists

This immersive workshop invites futurists and foresight practitioners to delve into unconventional and non-formal approaches that tap into our innate human capacity for futures thinking. In the spirit of expanding the horizons of foresight practice, this workshop is designed to immerse participants in the rich landscape of non-traditional and non-formal approaches to futures thinking. Recognizing that the capacity to envision the future is an innate human trait, the workshop aimed to harness this natural ability through methods that are creative, inclusive, and experiential. We utilized a specially crafted Play:Do:Collect format in three segments that served as a catalyst for interactive group activities and exposed participants to non-traditional methods of foresight. The workshop began with a mind and body centring warm up in an attempt to calibrate participants to the same starting place. Each segment built on the last leading to a story about the Dubai Future Forum of 2044 and distilling the story down to key attributes that could be used for a short “elevator pitch” promoting the event. See full report.