Strategic foresight in higher education

: preparing for the future of learning

Abstract

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are in an era of rapid change, driven by technological advances, globalization and changing demands of the labor market. This study explores strategic foresight in HEIs as a tool to anticipate future skills and competences needed in the labour market and to align university programs accordingly. Through a qualitative study of German higher education stakeholders and HR professionals, this research explores the anticipated trends shaping higher education, the competencies needed for future graduates, and the challenges of integrating strategic foresight methodologies. The findings suggest that AI literacy, adaptability and soft skills are increasingly important. However, there remains a disconnect between industry needs and university curricula, with students often feeling unprepared for real-world applications. The study also highlights barriers to strategic foresight implementation, including short-term budget cycles, and limited industry collaboration. This research contributes to the HEI transformation discussion by highlighting the importance of HEI-industry partnerships, adaptive learning models, and foresight strategies to equip graduates for an evolving labor market. Future research should explore higher education institutions' applications of strategic foresight comparisons and develop empirical models to assess the impact on graduate employability.

Date of Award	9 May 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Duarte João Ferreira (Supervisor)