The Future17 Programme: Students Lead Real-World, Global Sustainable Initiatives

Authors:

Keywords: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Interdisciplinarity, Collaboration

Abstract: The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development consists of 17 Global Goals and was launched in 2015 to address challenges such as climate change and social inequities. Achieving the agenda requires a coordinated global effort by multiple stakeholders, including universities. The Future17 Programme, cofounded by QS and the University of Exeter, connects students and businesses across the globe to collaborate and address these pressing problems. As an early member, the University of Auckland participated in the first 2023 cohort with students and mentors working on different global projects. Using a case study approach combined with a collaborative autoethnography, the authors share their insights and experience as mentors to student teams. The findings indicate significant gains in the project goals of developing 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, cross-cultural collaboration and problem-solving among students. These positive outcomes serve as a beacon to other universities to join the global programme.