Text & Photos by Dianne Katherine Dela Torre and Deborah Riogelon

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), under the leadership of Dr. Leslie Michelle Dalmacio, successfully conducted the Futures Thinking Educational Caravan from Feb. 20 to Mar. 6, 2025. This initiative reinforced the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila’s capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory governance, equipping administrators, faculty, students, and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate, adapt to, and navigate future challenges.

Why Futures Thinking Matters

Futures Thinking is not about predicting the future but about preparing for multiple possibilities by analyzing trends, assessing emerging technologies and issues, and shaping preferred futures.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical need for strategic foresight and anticipatory governance. In response, legislators advocated for the institutionalization of Futures Thinking into education, healthcare, and policymaking as a tool for resilience. With the support of Senator Pia Cayetano, funds were allocated to state universities and colleges, enabling UP Manila to launch the Futures Thinking Initiative Project in 2020, under the leadership of former Chancellor and National Scientist Carmencita Padilla.

Recognizing the importance of this approach, in 2023, the OVCR received a directive from then-Chancellor Padilla, mandating the institutionalization of Futures Thinking in  UP Manila. This directive established the foundation for integrating Futures & Foresight methodologies into decision-making, research, and curriculum development. By aligning with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) 2023–2028 and PAGTANAW 2050, UP Manila reaffirmed its role as a leader in health research, policy innovation, and future-ready education.

To spearhead this vision, UP Manila formed a technical working group (TWG) in 2024, composed of faculty members committed to both analyzing present challenges and shaping the future. TWG members participated in masterclasses to hone their expertise in strategic foresight, which led to the development of the UP Manila Futures Roadmap. This roadmap outlines key focus areas:

• The Futures of Health Information Systems in the Philippines by 2058
• The Futures of Health Professions Education Delivery in UP Manila by 2058
• The Futures of Education of the Health Workforce in the Philippines by 2058

The Futures Thinking Educational Caravan featured various TWG members as resource speakers.

Key Takeaways from the Futures Thinking Educational Caravan

The Futures Thinking Educational Caravan served as a strategic initiative to strengthen foresight, adaptability, and long-term planning in UP Manila, reinforcing the university’s preparedness for emerging challenges in health, education, and governance. The event brought together administrators, faculty, researchers, and students, fostering discussions on the role of Futures Thinking in shaping institutional decision-making and policy directions.

The central theme of the sessions was the importance of values-driven foresight, emphasizing that the future of UP Manila should be guided by societal needs rather than purely technological advancements. Key insights from the discussions included:

• Assessing the present landscape – understanding the university’s current state and recognizing diverse institutional perspectives to craft a collective vision for the future.
• Challenging outdated processes – identifying inefficiencies within administrative and academic systems that hinder innovation and progress.
• Developing multiple future scenarios – moving beyond a singular, deterministic vision to explore alternative futures based on emerging trends and uncertainties.
• Applying the backcasting methodology – using a structured approach to define preferred futures and outline strategic steps to achieve them, promoting a participatory approach to long-term planning.

Recognizing that futures research often deals with weak signals—subtle indicators of potential changes—the caravan emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that different academic units and research centers contribute to a shared institutional vision.

UP-NCPAG Director Reginald Ugaddan shares his insights during the caravan.

Key Highlights of the Event

• Engaging workshops and scenario-building exercises that equipped participants with practical foresight tools.
• Expert-led discussions featuring insights from UP-NCPAG Director Reginald Ugaddan and other distinguished members of the TWG.
• Collaborative initiatives between UP Manila and UP NCPAG’s Governance Futures Lab (GFL), setting the stage for further research and policy development.
• Institutional strengthening of Futures Thinking, reinforcing its role in health education, policy formulation, and research in UP Manila.
• The research agenda of UP Manila’s colleges and units should be in alignment with the NUHRA, ensuring that institutional research efforts contribute to national health priorities and long-term strategic goals.

Looking Ahead

The future is shaped by the decisions made today. Through Futures Thinking, UP Manila is proactively preparing to lead in health research, education, and governance.

OVCR extends its sincerest appreciation to all participants, speakers, and organizers who contributed to the success of this initiative.#

#InnovationsForLifelongLearning #DiscoveryAndResearch #EnvironmentThatNurturesMindAndBody #AccessibleLeadership #FP1 #FP2 #FP3 #FP4 #FP6 #FP7 #FP8 #FP9 #FP10