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Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI)
Sponsored by National Science Foundation

Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

The Systems Thinking Standards Institute sets the Global Standard of Systems Thinking

World Economic Forum Top 10 Job Skills - Systems Thinking

"Systems Thinking is a Top 10 Future Job Skill"

Source: World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs 2025 Report

Forbes Most Crucial Leadership Skill - Systems Thinking

"Today's Most Crucial Leadership Skill Is Systems Thinking"

Source: Forbes 2025

The Skill The World Demands

Systems Thinking is a Top 10 skill in the Future of Jobs Report, and it drives 7 of the other Top 10 Skills. The Professional Systems Thinking (PST™)  Credential builds the knowledge, skills, and abilities of systems thinking based on the science of what works and the Global Standard of Systems Thinking (STS™). It is:

  • Widely recognized by global employers (42%)

  • Rapidly rising in importance (+20% projected growth)

  • Strategically critical for differentiating future-ready jobs

  • Considered both a current and future core skill

World Economic Forum Top 10 Job Skills - Systems Thinking

What We Do

Set The Global Standard

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Evidence-based Training

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Professional Credentials

Professional Systems Thinking Credential  (PST™)

Organizational Accreditation

Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI) Accredited

8B

Our Goal: Make systems thinking so useful and easy to learn that raising the standard for 8 Billion people becomes inevitable.

Top 10

Systems Thinking is in the Top 10 Future of Jobs Skills and a skill today's complex world demands of everyone.

#1

We are #1 in Systems Thinking: The only science-backed standard, the top-ranked podcast, the world’s largest conference, and the only peer-reviewed journal.

88%

Research shows 88% of popular systems thinking frameworks are entirely untested and unproven. Our standards and protocols are validated to work.

551%

6 easy, evidence-based skills show significant improvement (551%!) in systems thinking and problem solving.

TQ Assessment

The only scientifically validated assessment of systems thinking and cognitive adaptability.

 

Measure your baseline, track your growth, and strengthen the thinking that drives better outcomes—with a personalized training plan built just for you.

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Empower Your Business with Systems Thinking

Systems Thinking is a powerful approach to problem-solving and decision-making. It enables organizations to gain a comprehensive understanding of complex systems and make better-informed choices to drive success.

Global Application of Systems Thinking

Embracing Systems Thinking on a global scale allows businesses and individuals to harness its potential for innovation, sustainability, and effective problem-solving. Join us in revolutionizing the way the world approaches challenges.

Systems Thinking for Every Industry

Systems Thinking is adaptable and applicable across diverse industries, from healthcare and education to technology and finance. Discover how Systems Thinking can elevate your organization's performance and impact.

Accelerating Systems Thinking Adoption

Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of Systems Thinking across sectors and geographies. We provide the tools, training, and resources to empower individuals and businesses to embrace the Global Standard of Systems Thinking.

Comprehensive Systems Thinking Support

We offer comprehensive support and guidance for integrating Systems Thinking into your organizational culture. From workshops and training programs to consultancy services, we are committed to advancing Systems Thinking worldwide.

Advancing the Global Standard of Systems Thinking

​At STSI™, our programs are designed to scale high-impact, measurable systems thinking across individuals and institutions worldwide. Through certification, accreditation, education, and strategic partnerships, we are setting the global benchmark for systems thinking proficiency.

Professional Certification – PST

The Professional Systems Thinking (PST™) Credential is the world's premier certification in systems thinking—recognized as a top 10 future skill. It certifies individuals who demonstrate the ability to think clearly, structurally, and strategically in real-world settings.

Certification is awarded through a rigorous, science-based protocol that transforms cognition into practical, measurable Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) aligned with the Global Systems Thinking Standard.

 
PST™ is not just a course—it’s a credentialed capability.

Organizational Accreditation – STS

The Systems Thinking Standard (STS™) provides a scalable framework for organizations to embed systems thinking at the structural level.
Level 1 Accreditation is reserved for anchor institutions with global leadership in systems thinking education and training.
Level 2 Accreditation supports organizations implementing the standard internally—across education, government, nonprofit, and industry sectors.

All accredited organizations are part of the STSI Global Network and are authorized to use official insignia and participate in co-development of the standard.

Education Standards – STES

The Systems Thinking Educational Standards (STES™) are the only research-based K–12 standards for systems thinking in the world. They provide a developmental roadmap for building metacognitive capacity from early childhood through high school, aligning students’ cognitive growth with 21st-century demands.

A Scientific Protocol That Produces Practical KSAs

STSI’s programs are rooted in scientific rigor and real-world relevance. All credentialing and accreditation are based on a validated developmental protocol that ensures the following:

  • Observable and improvable systems thinking

  • Cross-domain transferability

  • Alignment between mental models and reality

  • Growth in measurable KSAs

Global Leadership & Strategic Partnerships

We don’t just set the standard for systems thinking—we set the global stage for it.

In partnership with Cornell University, STSI co-hosts the world’s largest Systems Thinking Conference, convening leading thinkers, practitioners, and innovators from across the globe.

In partnership with Cabrera Lab Podcast, STSI co-hosts the largest systems thinking podcast in the world, ranking in the top 2% of all podcasts globally—bringing the voice of systems thinking to a global audience.

STSI is home to the Journal of Systems Thinking (JoST), the world’s only peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated solely to the science and practice of systems thinking.

STSI Science Board

The STSI™ Science Board is an interdisciplinary committee of systems scientists, translational researchers, practitioners, leading professionals, learning designers, and performance experts. Its role is to review, vet, and approve any new models, protocols, or practices considered for inclusion in the Global Systems Thinking Standard (STS™). Every decision made by the Board is based on scientific practice rigor.

Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI) Science Board
OUR VISION
Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI)

8 BILLION SYSTEMS THINKERS™

Based on live global population estimates

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