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How Folkuniversitetet builds future knowledge – to meet tomorrow's challenges
How do you prepare an educational organisation for a future characterised by rapid change, technological development and uncertainty? For Folkuniversitetet, Region West, the answer was to look beyond traditional planning and strengthen the organisation's future-readiness, with support from RISE.
In a rapidly changing world, the ability to think ahead is crucial. Together with RISE, Folkuniversitetet, Region West has carried out strategic foresight work with a view to 2035. The project brought together the board, management and executives in a joint process to understand long-term forces of change, explore possible future scenarios and create a clearer strategic direction.
A clearer direction in uncertain times
Folkuniversitetet has long worked with long-term goals and a comprehensive national vision. At the same time, there was a need to better understand what the rapid pace of change in the world around us means for regional operations in the west.
"We needed to look into the future – both in the short and longer term. What do we need to start doing now to remain relevant in the future? And how are changes in society affecting our mission? The goal was to get a clearer direction and better preparedness," says Daniel Ringsby, Head of Innovation at Folkuniversitetet, Region West.
The organisation sought support in more systematic foresight work and turned to RISE, which has extensive experience in this area.
The process created a broader understanding of the landscape we operate in and the choices that lie ahead. What all scenarios have in common is that they require us to re-evaluate and adapt how we learn, why we learn – and for whom.
The work began with workshops that combined trend spotting, analysis of key uncertainties and exploration of future scenarios linked to Folkuniversitetet's overall vision.
"The scenarios are not about predicting the future, but rather about challenging ingrained assumptions, identifying strategic choices and creating a common basis for discussions about preparedness and direction," says Daniel Mattisson, Innovation and Process Manager at RISE.
"The process created a broader understanding of the landscape we operate in and the choices that lie ahead. What all scenarios have in common is that they require us to re-evaluate and adapt how we learn, why we learn – and for whom," says Daniel Ringsby.
The work analysed, among other things, the future of learning, the role of AI, digitalisation, a changing labour market, climate challenges and Folkuniversitetet's social mission.
AI and digitalisation – opportunities and risks
The digital landscape is changing rapidly, and AI in particular is expected to become increasingly important in education. Digitalisation and AI affect how knowledge is created and disseminated, and meeting these challenges requires both understanding and integrity.
"AI is a powerful tool that can be used for both good and bad. It can both enhance learning and reinforce inequality. Some groups may fall behind while others pull ahead, which is why we have an important social role to play in counteracting exclusion and divisions and ensuring that knowledge truly reaches everyone," says Daniel Ringsby.
Digitalisation and major technological shifts are also affecting learning environments. There are scenarios where digital solutions dominate, but also possible counter-reactions where physical meetings and local learning environments become even more important. Here, it is important to explore how the physical and digital can be combined in a meaningful way.
After analysing trends and future scenarios, it became clear that many crucial changes are already underway. The impact of technology, the transformation of working life, demographic shifts and climate challenges are not possible futures; they are already here to varying degrees.
"The most important issues are not ten years away, they are right in front of us now. It is through the choices we make today and the work we do together that the future is shaped, and for Folkuniversitetet, it is about being able to prepare for the learning of the future – in both the short and long term," says Daniel Mattisson.
It is through the choices we make today and the work we do together that the future is shaped, and for Folkuniversitetet, it is about being able to prepare for the learning of the future – in both the short and long term.
From insights to strategy
The foresight work resulted in more than just analyses and scenarios – it led to a new strategy and clearer choices for Folkuniversitetet.
"The work culminated in a comprehensive report, which we then used to develop a new strategy. The process has helped us translate our mission into concrete strategic choices and look ahead in a more structured way," says Daniel Ringbsy.
The result is an organisation that is better equipped to act in uncertain times, interpret changes in the world around us and make more robust decisions.
"We don't know exactly what will happen, but we now have a structure for taking a strategic approach to various possible futures and adjusting our plans proactively – instead of reacting after the fact," says Daniel Ringsby.
What is foresight?
Foresight has its English equivalent in the concept of foresight, a scientific field with roots in intelligence activities in the period after the Second World War. The field was further developed by large global companies in the 1960s and 1970s, and from the 1980s and 1990s onwards, it began to spread internationally and to the public sector, and has since established itself as an interdisciplinary field that encompasses everything from technology and innovation to political, environmental, economic and social issues, to the humanities and the arts. RISE expertise in foresight belongs to the field of future analysis, which also includes roadmaps and proactive governance. These areas of expertise also involve building capacity in futures literacy, which has its English equivalent in the concept of futures literacy.
