Course: Outlook to the Future: Coastal Arctic Scenarios
The course brings together four elements: 1) an overview of different foresight methods, 2) a scenario workshop focused on the future of a small Arctic coastal community, 3) basic tools in project planning, 4) developing a – mock or real - proposal for a project relevant for Arctic coastal communities.
Through problem-based learning, the course integrates students’ knowledge from different disciplines and expands it further. Students learn basic methodologies for thinking about the future: techniques that are commonly used in private and public organizations.
In a workshop, students apply these foresight methods in creating future scenarios for northern coastal settlements. The work on scenarios allows students to develop a more integrated view on developments, understand uncertainties, drivers and dynamics of Arctic change. They identify gaps in their knowledge and experience advantages and disadvantages of commonly used scenario methods.
In real life, foresight exercises are followed by strategy development and decisions on concrete actions; therefore, the last week of the course is dedicated to project planning. Students are familiarized with basic project planning tools, such as logical framework, milestones and activities charts (these are also used in foresight work). With that skill set, they develop their own project proposal.
Read more about the course here.