How Future17 complemented my PhD experience

Looking for extracurricular activities during the first semester of my PhD, I found an article about Future17. I was immediately interested as I once worked with a science outreach focused on SDGs and ocean literacy.   

A few weeks after reading the advertisement, I got an institutional email announcing a new edition and promptly enrolled. I was approved by the selection process, having the honour to work with colleagues from Stellenbosch University – including our amazing mentor – and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.   

Our team was responsible for evaluating Earth Quest (EQ), a project created by Aashna Shah for school-age children.  

After roughly three months, we were able to give Earth Quest’s CEO a comprehensive report on the project’s main challenges, providing solutions on how to improve the project’s website, communication strategies to enhance schools’ participation and application for grants.   

As team lead, my role was to ensure all our team members were aware of their tasks, offer support and keep us to the deadline. Our team had people in different time zones and sometimes restricted internet access, so it was always a challenge making sure everybody was up-to-date and able to exchange ideas when possible. 

Future17 taught me many skills, including how to use project management tools, improving my proficiency in English – since I spent most of my time writing and speaking in this language – and how to conduct market research on SDG-based educational projects in Oceania, the Americas and Europe.   

Yet, the highlight of my time in this programme was the development of soft skills, especially empathy. You may succeed as a manager giving orders and being strict on schedules but having the sensibility to understand individual demands and help them realise their potential in the big picture, is what makes you feel like a leader. Knowing that you made a positive impact.    

I had an incredible time on Future17, and I plan on collaborating with QS again. If you want to learn new skills, make friends and join a fantastic network for your professional development, do not hesitate to join this programme too. 

I have a personal and professional interest in sustainable development and mitigating the effects of climate change in innovative ways, and I know that the youth have a lot to offer to build a fairer and safer world for the future.  

When I saw the opportunity to develop more on this topic, I didn't think twice about signing up for the Future17 programme.  

I worked on a project to promote a course on climate change for different audiences, studying the best way to reach people and engage them in the course. In other words, promoting environmental education actions in practice.  

Our activities required creativity, as well as commitment and discipline to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work.  

I was able to develop myself in several areas, including my teamwork skills as I was working with people from very different backgrounds and places. We connected, shared the tasks and discussed our strategies together, and through this we learned a lot about communication and collaboration. 

Despite the differences between our lived experiences, the same goal united us. I learned the power of collaboration, that when we bring people together with the same intention, the power to transform is multiplied. 

The success of this experience gave me the confidence to face other ambitious challenges and prepared me for a future of work in sustainable development.