Invited by the Dubai Future Foundation, Tamkang University sent a delegation led by Dean Kuo-Hua Chen of the College of Education, accompanied by 7 students, to the Museum of the Future in Dubai from November 17 to 20 to participate in the world’s largest annual gathering on future studies—the Dubai Future Forum. During the closing ceremony, the organizers extended special recognition to Tamkang University, affirming its long-standing achievements in future education and interdisciplinary learning. The Foundation expressed strong interest in expanding future collaborations with the University, including Dubai-based foresight programs, international internship initiatives, scenario design competitions, and cross-national research projects, all of which are expected to provide Tamkang students with broader international opportunities.
Held under the theme “Expanding the Boundaries of Possibility and Grounding Dialogue in Real-World Impact,” the Forum brought together more than 700 government officials, leaders of international organizations, and experts in future studies from over 100 countries. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on global issues, including AI, education, sustainable governance, and social transformation.
Selecting students to attend the annual futures studies forum has long been a tradition of Tamkang University’s Graduate Institute of Futures Studies (now the Master’s Program in Education and Futures Design). This year’s delegation included Hsuan-Yu Shih (first-year master’s student), Tzu-Yu Chou, Yi-Ting Hsu, Nguyen Thi Trang, and Ching-Ching Yang (second-year master’s students), Yu-Hsuan Chen (second-year master’s student in Curriculum Studies), and Ling Weng (third-year master’s student), all selected by the College of Education. Throughout the Forum, the students actively participated in multiple panel discussions, engaging in in-depth exchanges with scholars and policymakers from around the world. Their strong foresight perspectives in education-related discussions made them one of the standout Asian university delegations.
Dean Chen was also invited to speak at the panel session “Teaching Futures: What Does It Take to Build Foresight Capacity Worldwide?” where he shared Tamkang University’s extensive experience in advancing the education of future studies. He noted that the values of Taiwan’s younger generation have shifted from the pursuit of “success” to the pursuit of “meaning,” with greater emphasis on making a positive social impact. He further explained that for more than three decades, Tamkang University has positioned future studies as a core pillar of its “Triple Objectives of Education” framework—Globalization, Information-oriented Education, and Future-oriented Education. Currently, more than 3,000 undergraduate students enroll in at least one future-related course each year, covering social, technological, economic, political, environmental, and educational dimensions. In addition, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in Education and Futures Design, with the doctoral program focusing on foresight leadership and technology management to systematically cultivate future-oriented talent.
Dean Chen commended the students’ outstanding performance at the Forum, stating, “Being willing to travel to Dubai and engage in dialogue with the world is, in itself, one of the most powerful ways to practice future thinking.” He encouraged students to maintain their spirit of exploration and continue learning from diverse cultures. He also emphasized Tamkang University’s long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of talents with a global vision and futures literacy. By consistently supporting student participation in the Dubai Future Forum, the University enables students to engage directly with leading global futures scholars, witness global change firsthand, and expand their horizons through collaboration with top international institutions. These experiences, he noted, will be brought back to campus to further deepen and innovate Tamkang University’s futures education, injecting new momentum into the University’s development.
