International Futures (IFs) learning helps users work more carefully with uncertainty by identifying assumptions, comparing tradeoffs, and examining plausible pathways across connected systems.
IFs does not predict a single future; it helps users compare plausible futures under different assumptions.
Use this page to choose the IFs learning pathway that fits your needs, whether you want self-guided tutorials, a structured online tutorial, classroom resources, or customized training.
Choose the IFs learning pathway that is right for you:
The tutorial videos are the best immediate starting point for most new users.
For users who want a self-guided introduction to International Futures (IFs), our tutorial videos offer a practical starting point. These short videos walk through basic concepts and common tasks, including how to navigate the platform, find and compare data, use flexible displays, and begin working with scenarios.
The tutorials are designed to help new users get oriented and build confidence with the platform. They are a useful first step before deeper coursework, workshops, or independent analysis with IFs.
Strategic Forecasting with IFs is a new online microcredential from the Pardee Institute that will help professionals use International Futures to bring structure to long-term questions. Through self-paced instruction, learners will examine how IFs represents connected systems, how to frame scenario questions, how to compare results, and how to interpret outputs responsibly.
The program is designed for professionals whose work depends on understanding how systems interact, including people working in development, strategy, risk, policy, research, planning, philanthropy, and finance.
What learners will study
The course takes users on a guided pathway to independently using IFs for sophisticated scenario analysis. It begins with an introduction to tool to build familiarity with the platform and its core features used for scenario analysis.
Next, it lays the conceptual foundation for the tool to enable users to navigate the assumptions, structures, and concepts that enable scenario analysis. This foundational understanding bookends the reaches and limitations of the tool as well as providing an analytic framework for validating scenario-building.
Following these foundational underpinnings, users then learn how to build scenarios in each of the three core systems that connect variable relationships in IFs: human systems, social systems, and natural systems.
The microcredential is organized around five courses:
Learn the IFs toolkit
Build familiarity with the platform and core features used for scenario-based analysis.
Learn conceptual foundations
Understand the assumptions, structures, and forecasting concepts that support IFs analysis.
Forecast human systems
Examine demographic, health, education, and human development dynamics.
Forecast social systems
Study governance, conflict, infrastructure, economic, and other social-system interactions.
Forecast natural systems
Explore energy, environment, agriculture, and related systems that shape development pathways.
Credential Pathway
Learners will be able to earn non-credit digital badges as they move through the program:
Learn the IFs toolkit
Course 1 only
Learn the IFs toolkit and conceptual underpinnings; build scenarios in one system
Course 1 and 2; choose 1 from Courses 3-5
Learn how to build and validate scenarios in all three interconnected global systems
Courses 1 - 5
Credentials will be issued through Credly, the University of Denver’s digital credential partner, and can be added to LinkedIn and other professional profiles.
Faculty and instructors use IFs to help students connect data, assumptions, long-term systems change, and scenario analysis. Students can use classroom examples to understand how IFs supports research methods, forecasting, development analysis, climate questions, security questions, and policy analysis.
Interpret results with attention to assumptions and limits
Apply IFs to a specific organizational question
Help support a global community working toward a more knowable future
Pardee’s open tools, research, and training resources support students, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners around the world. Your gift helps keep that work accessible and strengthens the public research infrastructure behind it.
