FuturesComp: Competence Framework for Futures Literacy in Higher Education

How can futures literacy be integrated into higher education? The FuturesComp is a competence framework which can serve as a guide for implementing futures literacy in higher education teaching. To this end, key competences have been identified, a competence model developed, learning objectives described and exemplary learning scenarios formulated.
The profound ecological, social, cultural and economic upheavals of the Anthropocene necessitate a reorientation of higher education processes. Futures literacy is regarded as a key competence for constructively managing uncertainty, complexity and social change. It enables individuals to anticipate different futures, reflect on them critically and actively help shape them. The FuturesComp is a practice-oriented reference framework for implementing futures literacy in higher education. It was developed on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) by an interdisciplinary team from two UNESCO Chairs, at MCI and PH NOE, based on systematic literature reviews, interviews with international experts and focus group workshops. At its core is a competence model comprising five equally weighted key competence areas: (1) exploration of POLY futures, (2) co-responsibility for POLY futures, (3) shaping of POLY futures, (4) self-development in POLY futures, and (5) participation in POLY futures. The five competence areas of are closely interlinked and should be understood as an integral whole. The framework also sets out specific learning objectives and next-practice examples for promoting futures literacy in various subject contexts. FuturesComp thus provides a normative and conceptual basis for the implementation of futures literacy in higher education and is intended to be an open, living document.