In a world that changes at a fast pace, strategical thinking becomes a primary skill for trade unions in order to strengthen their vision, build their own strategies, and make their own futures.
In February 2021 we carried out a second edition of the training called Strategic foresight for trade unions leaders in Europe in the framework of the ETUI foresight and education activities. Our aim was to strengthen leaders’ competences to think strategically and to invest in building foresight competencies. This activity was organised in partnership with the SAK (Finland). The training was delivered via Zoom. Additionally, the AI-powered digital facilitation tool Howspace helped us creating a dynamic learning space. Twenty-one participants from seven countries took actively part in the foresight and innovation activities proposed during the three-days training.
Three main sessions were prepared for this training: the first one was about the resistance to change and its consequences; the second one was about strategic thinking - from characteristics to implementation. Here it is worth mentioning that different innovative methods and tools were used ranging from symbols and contemporary art to systems perspective, facilitated by the trainer-expert Robin Poppe. The third session introduced the participants to foresight, its methods and benefits. ETUI senior researcher Aida Ponce Del Castillo explained how foresight is done in various organizations such as governments, private companies, NGOs, cities etc and talked about the various ways in which foresight is carried out practically. She stressed the importance to look at and understand the complex environment around us and the trends which have an impact on us in today’s world. Christopher Rowley, foresight specialist at the Finnish Innovation Fund, SITRA, presented the megatrends and how to use them in thinking purposefully for the future.
Following this training, some of the participating organisations expressed their interest to carry out their own organisation’s foresight project, with the help of the ETUI.
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