As the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies was held at Islamic University of Science Malaysia (USIM) in the past four years, its continuation now being hosted at International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is growth from planting seeds of foresight into creating a forest of foresight. Focusing in the Asia-Pacific region, the platform acts as a node dedicated to propelling futures literacy of its stakeholders by promoting an integrated system of research, curriculum, and community-building relevant to its domains of interests. Specifically, the Chair will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific Futures Network, develop and expand the field of Futures Studies through training in methods and tools, enhance sectoral links and prepare and publish case studies of foresight, and work closely with UNESCO programs and activities as well as relevant Chairs.

THE LAUNCH OF THE UNESCO CHAIR

The UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies is one of the prestigious nodes in the vast Global Futures Literacy Network at UNESCO, acting as a laboratory of ideas related to futures.

The specific focus of the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia is the ‘Anticipation for Sustainability and Well-Being’, aligned with the University’s visionary agenda of humanising education as to become a mercy to all the worlds, aligned with the higher objectives of the Islamic law, the pillars of education of the UNESCO, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the National Education Philosophy of Malaysia, and the concept of Insan Sejahtera.

Specifically, the Chair will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific Futures Network, develop and expand the field of Futures Studies through training in methods and tools, enhance sectoral links and prepare and publish case studies of foresight, and work closely with UNESCO programs and activities as well as relevant Chairs.