AI AND STRATEGIC FORESIGHT FOR THE VISITOR ECONOMY - 2025/6

Module Overview

In today's fast-evolving global landscape, resilience hinges on our ability to comprehend how future scenarios impact our perceptions and actions—a skill known as futures literacy. This module delves into strategic foresight, a structured method for exploring and understanding potential futures to forge common visions and inform current decisions. With a special focus on the visitor economy, students will investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) can amplify our strategic foresight skills. Students will discover how AI aids in boosting creativity and imagination, thereby empowering individuals, businesses, organisations, and governments to better anticipate, adapt, and innovate in response to changes, supporting decision-makers in plotting a future direction and forging pathways for sustainability transitions. This module combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, ensuring that students are well-equipped to leverage AI in their future careers to enhance strategic foresight and decision-making capabilities.

Module provider

Surrey Hospitality & Tourism Management

Module Leader

TUSSYADIAH Iis (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative module content:

• Overview of strategic foresight: definitions, importance, and applications.


• Introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on strategic foresight.


• The synergy between AI and strategic foresight: enhancing predictive analytics, data interpretation, and scenario planning.


• The role of theoretical knowledge in applying foresight in the visitor economy to enhance business resilience and sustainability.


• The contribution of foresight to strategic planning and decision-making.


• Incorporating foresight into the innovation process.


• Introduction to scenario planning, backcasting, and other foresight tools.


• Utilising generative AI for scenario creation: tools, techniques, and practical exercises.


• Developing a responsible approach to AI-enhanced strategic foresight.


• Principles of effective communication for foresight insights.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

The Group presentation will be replaced with an Individual report of 1,500 words.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

The assessment strategy is designed to equip students with a holistic set of skills and knowledge, from the theoretical underpinnings of AI and strategic foresight to practical application and communication in a professional context. Together, these assessments will prepare students to effectively navigate and influence future business landscapes in the visitor economy. The first assessment encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application. Students are challenged to analyse data and identify emerging trends, honing their ability to sift through information and extract relevant insights for strategic planning. By requiring students to work in groups, the project fosters teamwork and collaboration skills, crucial for future professionals. The second assessment aims to develop students' ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and professionally to a broad audience. This task challenges students to be innovative and creative in how they present information, utilising different formats (articles, videos, infographics) to convey their insights effectively, and encourages them to stay up to date with industry trends and debates, fostering a habit of lifelong learning. Creating content for LinkedIn allows students to begin building a professional online presence and personal brand, essential in today’s digital world.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Group Presentation (10 slides/15 minutes),  addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7

Each group will select an industry or sector to focus their project on. They will use AI tools to gather and analyse data, identify emerging trends, and develop strategic insights. The project will culminate in a presentation (10 slides, 15 minutes) detailing their findings, methodologies, and strategic recommendations. Groups are expected to incorporate AI tools and foresight techniques in their projects. The assessment will focus on the innovative use of these tools to create plausible and vivid future scenarios, the strategic roadmap developed through backcasting (or similar tools), and the feasibility and creativity of the recommended actions.

• Individual LinkedIn Content Creation (250 words and an image/video),  addresses learning outcomes 1, 4, 5, 7

Each student will create and post an original piece of content on LinkedIn that discusses the role of AI in strategic foresight, focusing on a specific case study, trend, or theoretical concept, with an emphasis on ethics and responsible use of AI in strategic forecast. The content should engage with current discussions in the field and include visual or simulated elements created with AI tools (e.g. an article with video and/or infographic).

Formative assessment and Feedback

Students receive verbal and written feedback, including verbal feedback from instructors and peers during workshops, consultation on assessments, comments on the group presentation and LinkedIn post, and a formal feedback sheet outlining students’ strengths, areas for improvements, and suggestions on how to improve students’ performance on the summative assessments.

Module aims

• Familiarise students with the fundamentals of strategic foresight and explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can play a pivotal role in enhancing foresight activities.
• Provide a solid theoretical foundation in managerial cognition and prospective sense-making to support the practical application of foresight in the visitor economy and general business and management.
• Integrate foresight methods, drawing from strategic management concepts, to enhance decision-making processes. This includes understanding how foresight contributes to strategic planning and the implementation of strategic initiatives to achieve sustainability and resilience.
• Guide students in incorporating strategic foresight into innovation, enhancing their ability to anticipate changes and innovate accordingly. This includes understanding the dynamics of innovation within the context of foresight.
• Equip students with techniques and tools that support tasks in strategic foresight, preparing them to address complex future scenarios in various contexts. Train students in the application of strategic foresight methods, such as scenario planning and backcasting.
• Enable students to apply backcasting using AI tools to map out steps towards achieving a desired future state.
• Train students how to use generative AI to develop rich, detailed scenarios that aid in envisioning and planning for future possibilities.
• Address the ethical implications of using AI in strategic foresight, ensuring students are aware of the ethical considerations in their future foresight activities.
• Equip students with tools for effective communication of foresight insights, using storytelling and visualisation techniques to engage relevant stakeholders.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to provide a framework of contemporary knowledge and develop practical skills in utilising AI-enhanced strategic foresight to drive decision-making and innovation. This comprehensive approach ensures that students not only learn about the potential of AI in strategic foresight but also gain hands-on experience with the tools and techniques that will enable them to become innovative leaders in their future careers.

Furthermore, the learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop students’ cultural awareness, digital literacy, confidence, and competence in working with others, leadership, communication skills, employability, and professionalism. This in turn will enhance students’ resourcefulness and resilience and contribute to their employability.

The teaching and learning methods include:

• Lectures and guest lectures designed to provide a framework of knowledge.


• Hands-on workshops on using AI models to help in understanding complex future dynamics, practical sessions with detailed exploration of foresight techniques, with a focus on how to utilise AI to analyze vast datasets for trend spotting, uncertainty mapping, and scenario development.


• Tasks to engage students in creating multiple, divergent future scenarios to understand the range of possible outcomes.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3252

Other information

This module adopts the university curriculum framework which aims to develop learners with strong capabilities in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module contributes to the development of the following capabilities:

Global and Cultural Capabilities: This module enhances students' global and cultural capabilities by exposing them to a diverse range of future scenarios and challenges across various industries and regions. Through the exploration of AI-enhanced strategic foresight methodologies, students gain insights into how different cultures and societies might respond to future global trends. This exposure encourages them to consider the cultural implications of strategic decisions and fosters an appreciation for diverse perspectives in problem-solving and innovation. By engaging with case studies and projects that require them to apply foresight in a global context, students develop a nuanced understanding of cross-cultural dynamics, preparing them to operate effectively in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world.

Digital Capabilities: This module significantly contributes to enhancing students' digital capabilities by immersing them in the practical application of artificial intelligence tools within the context of strategic foresight. Students will use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), SurreyLearn, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, data analytics software, and social media platforms (LinkedIn) to engage with learning materials, communicate with instructors, collaborate and engage with their peers, and complete their assessments. Through hands-on projects and the use of AI for foresight activities, students not only develop proficiency in cutting-edge technology but also learn to analyse data, identify trends, and foresee future challenges and opportunities. The emphasis on professional communication via digital platforms, such as LinkedIn, further augments their digital literacy, ensuring they are adept at leveraging digital tools for strategic communication and personal branding. This blend of technical skills and digital communication proficiency prepares students to thrive in an increasingly digitalised global economy, making them versatile and digitally savvy professionals.

Employability: This AI-enhanced strategic foresight module significantly enhances student employability by combining the mastery of AI tools, strategic thinking, and foresight methodologies with professional communication and personal branding. Group projects and LinkedIn content creation foster technical proficiency, teamwork, effective communication, and online visibility, while also emphasising ethical considerations in AI use. The module’s content encourages critical analysis, problem-solving, and the application of theory to real-world scenarios, preparing students to navigate and adapt to rapidly changing business landscapes. This comprehensive approach ensures graduates are attractive to employers, equipped with a unique blend of technical skills, strategic insight, and the ability to innovate and anticipate future trends, making them highly competitive in the job market.

Sustainability: This module enhances students' capabilities in sustainability by equipping them with the skills to employ AI-enhanced strategic foresight in identifying and addressing long-term environmental, social, and economic challenges. Through the application of foresight methodologies and AI tools, students learn to anticipate future sustainability trends, evaluate potential impacts, and develop strategic initiatives that promote resilience and sustainability. The focus on ethical considerations in AI use further reinforces the importance of responsible and sustainable decision-making. By integrating these elements, the module prepares students to contribute effectively to sustainability efforts in their future careers, ensuring they can balance technological innovation with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module fosters students' resourcefulness and resilience by teaching them to navigate uncertainty and anticipate future challenges using AI-enhanced strategic foresight. By engaging with complex scenarios and employing foresight methodologies, students learn to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and develop flexible strategies. The hands-on application of AI tools and the emphasis on ethical decision-making equip them with the skills to adapt to and thrive in rapidly changing environments. Furthermore, the collaborative projects and individual initiatives encourage persistence, critical thinking, and innovative problem-solving. These experiences build students' confidence in their ability to tackle unforeseen challenges, thereby enhancing their resilience and resourcefulness in their personal and professional lives.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.