Futures literacy for the AI era
Discussions on the future are on the increase at a time of a growing security, economic and societal crisis. In September this year, world leaders will outline the Pact for the Future at the UN General Assembly. However, we rarely pause to think about what this actually means, what exactly is the future we talk about, and what is our own role in such discussions. What complicates things further is the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that may result in humankind soon having to face a counterpart capable of outperforming us in all walks of life.
Under such circumstances, mastering futures literacy – i.e. ‘the skill that allows people to better understand the role of the future in what they see and do’ as defined by UNESCO – is of the utmost importance for citizens, companies, and countries alike.
Diplo Academy takes you on a four-week journey into the futures literacy concept, ideas, and relevance. This carefully designed course aims to provide you with the basic knowledge and understanding necessary to navigate the unpredictable tides of the AI-driven future. Whether you’re a visionary leader, a forward-thinking professional, or a curious mind, this course offers a unique opportunity to both pioneer the understanding of what lies ahead and take an active role in shaping the complexities that (will) come with the ever-faster development of AI technology.
The course will be delivered from 20 May to 20 June.
Fees and applications
The course fee is 399 EUR.
Apply by 15 May 2024, starting from this short application form. After completing it, you will receive an email with a link to the full application form.
A limited number of partial scholarships of up to 75% are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from developing and least developed countries. Discounts are also available for more than one participant from the same institution.
If you want to apply for a scholarship, please fill out the short motivation statement on the application form (100 – 150 words) explaining the reasons for your interest in this course. What are your personal and professional objectives for the future, and how will this course help you to reach them?
Note: Diplo alumni can benefit from a 15% discount on the fee for this course.
Late applications will be considered only if places remain in the course.
Learning objectives
After completing this course, you should be able to:
- Understand the concept of futures literacy and its relevance
- Recognise the importance of futures literacy in the ongoing discussions regarding AI governance and policy
- Master the complexity of global future-related discussions
- Understand the linguistic narrative-building techniques often used in future-focused discourse
- Take an active role in various future-related and AI-related processes
Methodology
This online course is based on a collaborative learning approach involving a high level of interaction over a period of 4 weeks. Reading materials and the necessary tools for online interaction are provided in a virtual classroom.
Each week, participants engage in asynchronous discussion of the course materials with the course lecturers, experts, and other course participants and complete additional course activities. This asynchronous discussion will be complemented by live class meetings with the course lecturers and experts, during which participants will have a chance to engage in a synchronous exchange of ideas. For successful completion, this course requires a minimum of 5 to 7 hours of study time per week.
Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate issued by Diplo Academy, which can be printed or shared electronically.