Future17

Sustainable Development Goals Challenge Programme

Future17 connects students from universities around the world to work collaboratively on real-world sustainability challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What is Future17?

Future17 is a global experiential learning programme co-founded by QS and the University of Exeter. The programme brings together students from participating universities in international, interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to work on sustainability challenges defined by external organisations.

Through these projects, students collaborate online with other students, academic mentors and challenge partners to explore real-world issues associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and develop practical approaches and solutions.

How does Future17 work?

Students are placed in international teams and assigned a sustainability challenge. Teams work together online to understand the challenge, investigate the issues and develop evidence-based approaches to potential solutions.

Each team is supported by academic mentors and works with a Challenge Partner that provides the real-world sustainability challenge and relevant context.

Programme stages

1. Online induction

Students complete an online induction designed to support collaborative, challenge-based and intercultural learning.

2. International team collaboration

Students work online in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams on an assigned sustainability challenge, supported by academic mentors and the Challenge Partner.

3. Final presentation

Teams present the outcomes of their work at the end of the programme.

Who can participate?

Students

Future17 is open to eligible students from participating universities. First-year undergraduate students are not eligible to participate.

Academic mentors

Academic mentors support student teams throughout their sustainability challenge and guide them as they develop their project outcomes.

Future17 at King Saud University

King Saud University participates in Future17, enabling eligible KSU students to collaborate virtually with students from partner universities around the world on sustainability challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Cycle 10 · 2026

Skills and experience

Through Future17, students gain experience in international and intercultural collaboration while working on real-world sustainability challenges. The programme supports the development of teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and professional presentation skills.

Further information

Future17 is delivered by the University of Exeter and QS in collaboration with participating universities and organisations around the world.

Learn more about Future17