In lieu of a formal vision statement, we employ three values as a heading to guide our approach to partnerships and projects.
Curiosity. This lies at the heart of futures and foresight, and we seek to embody this defining characteristic in all that we do. By staging provocations that simultaneously instigate and inspire, curiosity is a means to explore not only ideas but also experiments to drive learning. What can and must we learn?
Commensality. This is typically defined as “sharing a table” and focuses on how relationships and partnerships are formed and maintained. We want to build lasting, fruitful, and mutually-beneficial connections with communities, citizens, and colleagues that forge shared learning. In principle as well as practice, QRIFS aims not only to be collaborative but co-creative. How do we “share a table” with others?
Contextuality. This keeps us questioning what we do and how we do it. Ultimately, contextuality challenges us to operate ethically with an attentiveness toward the places and peoples around us. How can we be continuously attentive to context?
Since language situates context, QRIFS will focus on working, creating, and teaching in three languages: Qazaq, Russian, and English.