Jezreel Larry R. Caunca

Educator/Teacher

Jezreel Larry R. Caunca is the Assistant Department Head of the Social Sciences and Humanities Department at Northwestern University, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The department houses the Political Science and Psychology programs, as well as all general education courses in the social sciences and humanities. He also serves as a Futures Education Specialist at the UNESCO Chair on Anticipatory Governance and Regenerative Cities and the Philippine Center for Foresight Education and Innovation Research Institute (NWU PhilForesight Institute). With extensive experience in foresight coordination, instruction, and student leadership, Caunca is a key advocate for integrating futures thinking into education, particularly through his role in the first-ever UNESCO Chair in the Philippines. At Northwestern University, he has taught over 1,000 students in the course SS107 Futures Thinking, a general education subject offered across all undergraduate programs, fostering the next generation of futures-literate professionals. A dedicated youth leader, Caunca founded Youth for Foresight and Regenerative Sustainable Tomorrows (Y-FOREST), a pioneering organization that empowers young people in regenerative thinking and foresight practices in the Philippines and the Global South. His active participation in various international forums, such as the ASEAN Youth Economic Forum and the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP), underscores his commitment to youth futures and intercultural learning. He has facilitated numerous futures literacy workshops for students, Boy Scouts, youth, and student leaders, promoting futures literacy and sustainable development. Caunca is also a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and the World Futures Studies Federation, contributing to the global advancement of futures studies.

I’m passionate about empowering youth through futures literacy. As a university educator and global youth advocate, I believe our greatest resource is not technology—it’s imagination. I’ve devoted my work to guiding students, especially from the Global South, to explore alternative futures through participatory methods, local wisdom, and critical foresight.

Youthful foresight is not a luxury, it is a necessity. As we face global uncertainties and accelerating change, young people must be equipped not just with skills for the future, but with the power to imagine, shape, and lead that future.

Futures Thinking, Political Science