Measuring and making the future

Welcome to the IFR (Institute for Futures Research) at the University of Stellen-bosch. The IFR is a research institution uniquely positioned to assist decision-makers and strategic planners in initiating and managing medium to long-term change. We believe a preferred future can be created if we realistically envision and understand our strengths and the nature of the obstacles to our success. The creation of a desired future also requires creative leadership, the cooperation of all stake-holders and strategic action.
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Examples of some of our newsletters

Associates must login to view the most recent publications as well as the archives.
Leading Edge A two-page monthly report on developments in technology.
 
AIDSWATCH This two-page brief alternates every second month with Sustainability Watch, and deals with developments in the field of HIV/AIDS.
 
Sustainability Watch A two-page bi-monthly brief focussing on aspects of sustainability.
 
Friday At Noon A one-page weekly brief on current news events
 

Post-Graduate Diploma in Futures Studies

The MPhil programme is being revised to comply with the new accreditation of the Higher Education Quality Committee. The next intake will be in 2013. The new one-year programme (Post-Graduate Diploma) has been approved by the Department of Higher Education for submission to the CHE for accreditation. The results of this process are expected early in October, after which student application for 2013 will be activated. After the successful completion of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Futures Studies, it will still be possible to follow a one-year Masters degree programme in Futures Studies.

The outcomes, structure, modules, admission requirements and costs will be posted upon final approval.

From our foresight file

Growth in telephone lines and cellular phone subscribers worldwide


Futures thinking ...

  • The future is waiting for our making, not our taking (Philip Spies)
  • The future is a realm of freedom (it is open to many possible futures, or "futuribles" (Hugues de Jouvenel)
  • It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change (Charles Darwin)
  • Nations rise and fall on their vision of the future (Joel Bakes)
  • If you can’t change direction, you will end up where you are headed (Chinese proverb)
  • The best way to predict the future is to create it (Peter F Drucker)
  • The goal in futuring is not to predict the future but to improve it (Edward Cornish)
  • For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it (African proverb)

Visuals of events

Associates can download the slides used by some of our speakers at our October Conference here after login.

What's Happening @ IFR

Lecturing

11 May 2012: André Roux - Lecturing to Belmont students from the USA.

Presentation to IFR Associates

22 May 2012: André Roux - Total SA, Johannesburg and Computershare Investor Services, Johannesburg.

Presentation to IFR Associates

23 May 2012: André Roux - Dimension Data, Johannesburg and Amalgamated Beverage Industries, Johannesburg.

Presentation to IFR Associate

29 May 2012: André Roux - Dole SA, Durbanville.

Lecturing

6 Jun 2012: André Roux - New Managers Programme 2012, UCT.

Presentation to IFR Associate

13 Jun 2012: André Roux - Deloitte, Johannesburg.

Presentation to IFR Associate

14 Jun 2012: André Roux - SARS, Pretoria.

Presentation to IFR Associates

12 Jun 2012: André Roux - EU Delegation, Johannesburg and Bankseta, Johannesburg.

Supervisor

20 Jun - 3 Jul 2012: André Roux - Supervisor for MBA MOD students (USB) to China.
Full Event Calendar »