A future study on higher education approaches in training human capital: A plausible scenario for 2030

The purpose of this study was to identify key human capital competencies required in horizon 2030, and the necessary changes in educational approaches to meet its needs. This study is a qualitative type in the field of future studies, using scenario techniques, content analysis and trend analysis by applying Rieckmann approach. In this study, the faculty members of management departments in Tehran's State Universities and provincial capitals were chosen as experts. Expert's opinions about research questions were investigated via a questionnaire. Sup- scenarios based on analysis of the responses received from the participants, and the final scenario, according to interviews, were developed and validated. Under a dominant scenario, the human capital should be equipped by a series of other key competencies in 2030. The most important competencies were as follows: Superior thinking (thinking is characterized by dominant or recessive rather than neutral thoughts), high power on diagnosing problems accurately, and high power communication and teamwork in a Meta organizational- aspects. Furthermore, it was found that the development of this competency (at a possible extent) in the majority of educated capitals is vital in their development (at an excellent extent) in the elites. Regardless of the need for reform and changes in the contents and structure, universities can use some educational approaches, in order to provide much needed competencies for future generations.