Public event at the University of Turku on Wednesday, 23 October explored the future of universities from the perspective of strategic foresight. Organised both onsite and online, the event brought together a range of experts and audiences interested in the topic.
The event was part of an on-going strategic foresight project at the University of Turku, which has mapped views on trends, developments, and visions affecting the future of universities in the international environment. The project is implemented in cooperation with the University's Strategic Planning Unit and the Finland Futures Research Centre.
At the public event, the results and relevance of the foresight work were presented and discussed. The focus was on the University's new Future Directions and Possibilities for the University report, which provides a unique and comprehensive overview of the factors and potential developments affecting the future of universities.
Strategic foresight empowers universities
In her opening remarks, Rector Marjo Kaartinen acknowledged the rapidly changing world and the challenges it poses to individuals and large organisations, including universities. She mentioned the difficulty of anticipating future developments, but also emphasised the importance of making informed decisions today to ensure success in the future. In light of the current challenges facing universities, she stressed the need to find effective tools and strategies to navigate these uncertainties.
Päivi Mattila-Wiro, Director of Strategic Affairs at the University of Turku, discussed the role of strategic foresight in helping organisations anticipate and prepare for the future. At the University, several steps have been taken to integrate foresight into strategic planning, with the aim of increasing awareness of changes, enabling proactive decision-making, building resilience, and ensuring sustainable resource use. Mattila-Wiro emphasised that strategic foresight not only supports these objectives but also positions the university as an active player in shaping its own future, rather than passively reacting to changes. Importantly, she underscored that the aim is to develop a continuous foresight approach that is an integral part of the university's operations, rather than treating foresight as a one-off project.
Juha Kaskinen, Director of the Finland Futures Research Centre, noted that while the future cannot be predicted with certainty, existing knowledge can be leveraged to explore and map alternative futures, and that ultimately it is people who shape the future. He also emphasised that strategic foresight must be an ongoing process integrated into decision-making, helping to anticipate threats and seize opportunities.
New report explores the future of universities
Senior Researcher Veli Virmajoki presented to the audience a selection of key findings from the University's newly-published Future Directions and Possibilities for the University report. Based on an in-depth literature review and data collected using the Delphi method, the report looks at the key trends, drivers and developments shaping the future of universities. Among other things, the findings of the report emphasise the importance of strategic foresight in helping universities navigate an increasingly complex and competitive global landscape.
The report presented by Senior Researcher Virmajoki was greeted with positive comments from the experts who commented on it. Research Professor Pasi Rikkonen from the Natural Resources Institute in Finland pointed out the need to disseminate future knowledge and discussed the ways in which foresight processes could be developed and the utilisation of future knowledge improved.
Professor Teppo Hujala from the University of Eastern Finland commended the report as a meritorious and fundamental review, emphasising the importance of the dialogue between foresight and strategic planning. He noted that the report addresses a wide range of drivers of change, using a participatory approach that contextualises the process.
Panel discussion shared perspectives on integrating foresight in universities
The event was concluded by a panel discussion on the use of foresight in universities. The panel discussion, chaired by Professor Toni Ahlqvist from the Finland Futures Research Centre, was attended by Erja Heikkinen, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Jarkko Pirkkalainen, Director of Development at University of Jyväskylä, Teija Kekonen, Director of Research Affairs at the University of Turku, and Heikki Holopainen, Executive Director of The Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities (Unifi).
The discussion highlighted the significance of strategic foresight in universities. In terms of the main factors affecting the future of universities, the panellists identified evolving global demographics, in particular population changes and migration trends, as a key issue. The importance of promoting multidisciplinarity to address global challenges was also highlighted, as was the need to manage internationalisation and the role of lifelong learning in the face of demographic change.
The panellists highlighted several key opportunities and challenges of foresight for universities. Benefits included ensuring the relevance of academic work in a changing world and the ability to make informed decisions over the long term. However, challenges arise in making information and knowledge available to all and linking foresight to organisational cultures and strategic management, particularly concerning decision-making capacity.
The panellists identified several ways to integrate a foresight mindset into the university community. These included introducing gamification techniques to encourage bold thinking, expanding the foresight network, and adopting a bottom-up approach supported by top-down actions. Additionally, the panellists emphasised the importance of transparency in communicating the significance of foresight to the community.