107. What is a Futurist and Why Do We Need One? (Dr Fawaz Abu Sitta)

In a complex and ever-changing world, the role of futurists is becoming more prevalent. Governments and businesses are hiring futurists to help prepare for what is to come. However, what a futurist does is often misunderstood. In this episode, I speak with a futurist who helps organizations around the world and is an author of the Futures of Assessment Report by the Digital Education Futures Initiative at Cambridge University. Dr Fawaz Abu Sitta is a UNESCO Chair for Anticipatory Systems, a visiting fellow at Hughes Hall, the University of Cambridge and the Foresight Research Director at the Center of Futures Studies, the University of Dubai. He is also an adjunct faculty in the Master of Professional Studies: Future Foresight & Planning at Rochester Institute of Technology. Fawaz is the co-author of the first edition of Dubai e-Government Model that laid the foundation for Dubai Government Digital Transformation. He has received several recognition certificates and international awards for his work. Dr Abu Sitta’s research focus and interest is in the futures thinking, scenario planning, and systems thinking with emphasis on developing anticipatory systems. He has achieved his MSc in Foresight from the University of Houston and PhD from the University of Bath. Links: Dr Fawaz Abu Sitta: https://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/our-people/seniors-members/dr-abu-sitta/ The Futures of Assessment Report: https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/Images/698413-the-futures-of-assessment-navigating-uncertainties-through-the-lenses-of-anticipatory-thinking.pdf