As extreme weather events intensify and industries scale up sustainability efforts, demand for Green Skills is skyrocketing. To stay competitive, today’s graduates need the expertise to drive sustainable innovation and adapt to a rapidly evolving job market.
Recognising this, QS launched the inaugural World Future Skills Index, the first global benchmark assessing how prepared higher education systems and job markets are for future industry needs. The results were unequivocal: Green Skills are essential for the workforce of tomorrow.
Between 2017 and 2023, demand for Green Skills worldwide surged by 230%, data from QS 1Mentor found. Similarly, LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2024 found that global demand for green talent grew twice as quickly as supply between 2023 and 2024—highlighting a widening skills gap that universities must address.
Bridging the skills gap with Future17 SDG Challenge
To bridge the green skills gap, QS and the University of Exeter launched the Future17 SDG Challenge, an innovative experiential learning programme designed to equip students with real-world, sustainability-focused experience while addressing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Working alongside member universities of the Future17 Consortium, the programme provides students with a unique opportunity to collaborate on projects with leading companies, global organizations and NGOs – including EY, Capgemini, the World Wildlife Fund and Oxfam, among many others. These organisations consistently report exceptionally high satisfaction, recognising the value of working with diverse, innovative, and ambitious student teams to advance their sustainability goals.
Melissa Leung Pah Hang from Capgemini highlighted the practicality and impact of the students’ work: “We were very impressed by the results. The students built on our own foundations, leveraging technology and consultancy frameworks to provide highly practical and useful insights. Their neurodiversity, flexibility, and ability to take on feedback made the experience invaluable.”
Today, Future17 connects 13 international universities, engaging over 400 students annually in more than 65 projects spanning 20 countries. These projects don’t just foster SDG literacy and green skills—they also build essential intercultural communication, problem-solving, and project management expertise, directly enhancing students’ employability.
Real-world impact: Turning learning into careers
Future17 alumni are already making a difference—many have secured internships and even full-time jobs with the organisations they collaborated with. In 2024, nearly 20% of Future17 alumni secured internships with programme partners, demonstrating its direct impact on students’ career pathways.
Milly from the University of Auckland reflected: “The challenge provided a unique platform to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting, working on initiatives that align with my values of sustainability, global collaboration, and social justice.”
By bridging the gap between academia and industry, Future17 empowers students with the skills, experience, and networks needed to thrive in an increasingly sustainability-driven economy. As demand for Green Skills accelerates, universities must integrate future-focused learning initiatives into their curricula – not just to prepare graduates for a changing job market, but to develop the next generation of innovators tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
Getting involved
While Consortium membership is by invitation only, you can register your interest in joining by reaching out to Zoya Zaitseva, Head of Future17, at [email protected].
New joiners must be ranked internationally and have a strong reputation for their commitment to sustainability and social impact. Current members include: The University of Exeter, UK; Chinese University of Hong Kong; Stellenbosch University, South Africa; University of Auckland, New Zealand; Luiss University, Italy; American University of Sharjah, UAE; American University in Cairo, Egypt; Tec de Monterrey, Mexico; Arizona State University, USA; Satbayev University, Kazakhstan; Duke Kunshan University, China, and Azerbaijan State University of Economics UNEC.
To discover how Future17 can support your goals—explore our website or contact [email protected].
