The initiative is organized and coordinated by the Global Think Tank for Sustainable Development AlterContacts and its co-founders Julia Skupchenko and Massimo Mercuri. The main objective is to equip students with the skills and network necessary to start a professional life, facilitate successful school-to-work transition, promote active citizenship and sustainability education. Students gain an understanding of the SDG framework and how it can be used, the key sustainable development issues in practice, by addressing the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
The key enablers of this approach to helping universities become the agents of change in Sustainable Development are the drive from the collaborating professors; an incentive for students to get the first practical experience that would help them build their professional career; the Think Tank methodologies for remote social action developed and tested during the pandemic; the connections with a wide network of small businesses and therefore a chance for students to make a real impact right here, right now.
By equipping universities with the toolkit and guidance on the remote engagement of students into social action for SDG, it can transform universities into active agents for an inclusive and sustainable planet.

Across the globe, young people are being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the world of work. None of the courses they had, prepared them for this crisis. Recent graduates are struggling to enter the labor market. The current situation calls for more efficient and dynamic education. We want to give young people opportunities to develop their potential to shape the future of the world.
This initiative is part of the AlterContacts Academy which tackles three key societal issues: 1) School-to-work transition; 2) Youth development and employment; 3) Social inclusion. Through a series of specially designed programs, we aim to - Equip educational institutions worldwide to facilitate school-to-work transition. - Increase the success rate of graduate employment. - Expose students to networks that provide opportunities for internships, further development, and employment worldwide. - Provide students and teachers with opportunities for “hands-on” collaboration with international virtual teams from other cultures, using new digital methods. - Give opportunities to students to start their careers by adding practical experience to the academic curriculum. - Involve youth into being active global citizens. - Promote sustainability education and mindset. Our aspiration is to give young people higher chances of entering the labor market. They will provide them with a stronger foundation and practical skills required in the modern world.

https://altercontacts.org