Future Search Future Search is a process that brings together a diverse group of 60+ stakeholders to find common ground, build a shared vision and move into action to co-create their future. There are no lectures and no expert speakers. All of the material is provided by the participants. A Future Search conference involves working in large and small groups over two-and-a -half days on five tasks: establishing the history, differences, similarities and values of the group identifying trends and their implications for the present and the future assessment of what participants are already doing about these trends devising ideal future scenarios and identifying consensus themes action planning, where all participants identify activities that will leas to realising their future scenarios A Future Search conference works because it shows participants that they are talking about the same world in which they share the same needs. It can unlock creativity and energy. It is very valuable for key decision makers as they are likely to recognise the validity of the outcomes if they can experience the challenge to find common ground. Find out more at Future Search Net Case Histories Glasgow Caledonian University Over 50 participants, including lecturers, administrative staff, past and present students and local employers came together to explore how to create an MBA programme for the millennium. The group faced practical issues regarding approval of programmes as well as continuing to meet the changing needs of students and employers. "Many thanks for your important contribution to the indefinite approval granted to the Part Time and Full Time MBA Programmes with what were fairly minor requirements and recommendations. "The most significant change is the reduction on length of the full time programme to three and a half to three years. Everyone has proffered sound advice and put in a lot of time and effort. Again thanks, it was your who gave us a sound start." Allan Kinross, MBA Programme Director,Glasgow Caledonian University Forres Community Forres, in the north of Scotland, close to the Findhorn Foundation and Kinloss Airforce base, saw the growing problems of vandalism and drugs in the town and sought to create a better future for children and young people. Representatives from the youth, businesses, community groups, council, youth groups and interested parent came together to find a better way forward. "A year after the event I can now reflect back and see how great potential has been realised. The conference was a first- people who would normally never meet have mixed together and we have to understand the impact of this, and that things will never be the same again. The old boundaries have been swept away, and because this is unusual, or unique, it's very hard to work. Some people would have preferred the old order to remain. "The organisers of events such as these must be very committed-to me the Future Search Conference was a personal milestone, one of the best things in my life and a source of great enlightenment about both people and the local community. "However, today, as we raise funds for a skatepark for the kids, its still hard! Working with some existing institutions and structures, who are conservative by nature, its still like swimming upstream. " We would have been a lot poorer with it (the Future Search Conference)  - the young people will never forget it." Jane Yeadon, formerly Chair of the Conference Planning Top © The Wisdom Meme 2008