Futures Thinking Masterclass with Sohail Inayatullah
Join FuturistCircle for Sohail Inayatullah's Masterclass – China's First Stop in Shanghai!
Unlock the future with Sohail Inayatullah, the world-renowned UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies. FuturistCircle, China's pioneering futurist community and Design Innovation Institute Shanghai, proudly co-host the the transformative masterclass
Dive into cutting-edge tools like Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) to map preferred futures, reframe challenges, and lead with foresight. Whether you're a visionary leader, innovator, or future-curious explorer, this is your gateway to futures literacy and strategic transformation.
Participants will learn how to use CLA—one of the most influential methods in futures studies—to move beyond surface-level problems and uncover deeper systemic patterns, worldviews, and narratives. By working across its four layers, learners will develop the ability to reframe challenges, design alternative futures, and build more robust strategies for organizations, communities, and personal growth.
Through a mix of presentations, real-world case studies, and interactive sessions, participants will gain both conceptual understanding and hands-on experience applying these approaches.
What You’ll Learn
A practical understanding of Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) and its four layers
How to analyze and reframe complex issues across personal, organizational, corporate and policy contexts
Ways to develop preferred futures using the Six Pillars of Futures Studies
Tools to explore probable, possible, and preferred futures for better decision-making
Insights from real-world applications of CLA in areas such as governance, technology, education, and healthcare
Who Should Join
Leaders and change-makers in business, education, government, or the nonprofit sector
Professionals in strategy, consulting, research, HR, or organizational development
Individuals seeking practical tools to navigate complexity and uncertainty
Anyone curious about futures thinking and eager to expand their strategic and creative capacity
This course is ideal for those who want not just to understand the future, but to actively shape it.
About Trainer:
Professor Sohail Inayatullah
A political scientist and futurist, Sohail is the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, IIUM, Malaysia. He is also Professor at Tamkang University, and Associate, Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne. He teaches from www.metafutureschool.org where his courses include Become a Futurist and Personal Futures: the CLA of the Self. He is listed in the top two percent of the world’s scientists as measured by the highest impact of citations.
His most recent books include CLA 3.0, The End of the Cow and other Emerging Issues, and Asia 2038.
In the past few years, he has worked with UNESCAP; Victoria Police; Auckland City Council; Data.com; Thailand Institute for Justice; Ho Chin Minh Academy; PWC; ANZ; OECD; FAO; INTERPOL; Mitsubishi Motors; the Government of New Zealand; WHO; the Government of Egypt; the Government of Indonesia; The Asian Development Bank; Globe Telecom; ISESCO; the Philippines Senate; the Pacific Community; GASERC; and the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
Ticket Price
Early Bird (until May 8th): 5,000 RMB or 5,800 HKD
Regular: 6,000 RMB or 6,900 HKD
Registration Inquiry:
Please email to [email protected]
*Note: The course takes 30 seats only.
The course will be conducted in English. Snacks, and coffee/tea will be provided.