ICC 600: Global trends and foresight

Global Trends and Foresight is an interdisciplinary course that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to understand the complex forces shaping the future of societies, economies, cultures, technologies, governance, and the environment. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, rapid global changes present both opportunities and challenges that require critical analysis, strategic thinking, and informed decision-making. This course introduces students to the concepts, principles, and methodologies of futures thinking and strategic foresight. Through the examination of emerging trends, megatrends, weak signals, and disruptive innovations, students will develop the ability to analyze patterns of change, anticipate possible future scenarios, and evaluate their implications for individuals, organizations, communities, and nations. Using an interdisciplinary and systems-thinking approach, the course explores major global issues such as technological transformation, demographic shifts, globalization, climate change, sustainable development, economic resilience, governance, health, education, and social innovation. Students will engage in foresight tools and techniques—including environmental scanning, trend analysis, scenario planning, backcasting, and futures wheel analysis—to examine alternative futures and formulate strategic responses to complex global challenges. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the course emphasizes sustainability, resilience, innovation, and ethical leadership in shaping desirable futures. Through collaborative discussions, case studies, reflective activities, and applied projects, students will cultivate critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and future-oriented decision-making skills that prepare them to become proactive global citizens and responsible leaders in an increasingly dynamic and uncertain world.