The Lens
Turning Games into Global Impact: Inside the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026
By Krusha Khakhar, QS ImpACT
As universities and organisations increasingly look for meaningful ways to equip young people with future-ready skills, experiential, project-based learning is moving to the forefront.
The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026, now in its third edition, blends digital creativity, sustainability, and global collaboration through a “Games for Good” approach.
Open to young people aged 18-35, the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is a free, fully virtual global programme that invites youth teams to design playable digital games aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rather than focusing on theoretical learning alone, the challenge centres on hands-on creation, asking participants to translate sustainability issues into engaging, accessible digital experiences.
Since launching in 2024, the Skills Challenge has grown into a truly global initiative. To date, it has engaged over 3,000 participants from more than 45 countries and 70 universities, demonstrating strong appetite for learning formats that combine purpose with practical skill development. Past teams have tackled topics ranging from climate action and biodiversity to public health, gender equality, and responsible consumption, all through the lens of game design.
A skills-first approach to sustainability learning
The 2026 edition is designed for all experience levels, with two participation tracks: a Beginner No-Code Track for first-time creators and an Advanced Coding Track for teams building more complex gameplay. Across both tracks, participating teams receive free, expert-led training and access to a resource library, while developing future-ready skills such as creative collaboration, strategic innovation and digital design, all increasingly valued by employers.
Value for universities and youth organisations
For universities and youth organisations, the QSI Skills Challenge provides a ready-to-run global programme that supports experiential learning and employability by enabling students to work on real-world sustainability challenges. It offers institutions a recognised platform to showcase student innovation and their commitment to the SDGs.
A global, accessible pathway to impact
The 2026 edition is sponsored by Zoom Communications, Inc., with additional support from Bronze Sponsors Next Lab at Arizona State University and the University of Exeter, helping deliver a truly global and inclusive learning experience.
All elements of the Skills Challenge take place online using Zoom webinars, ensuring accessibility regardless of geography. The programme runs from 16th - 29th March 2026, with the finale and announcement of winning and runner-up teams on 15th April 2026. Winning teams are also invited to showcase their work at the QS ImpACT Youth Summit 2026 in London, alongside global youth leaders, universities, and industry partners.
Registrations for the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026 are now open. Teams of two to five members can apply by 10 March 2026: https://qsimpact.org/skillschallenge/
Partner With Purpose
Partnering with the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge positions your organisation as a leader in tech-for-good and youth innovation — alongside a UNEP-accredited global charity. Gain global visibility through QS and QS ImpACT channels and at the QS ImpACT Youth Summit in London, while making a real impact by empowering young changemakers.
To explore collaborations, email [email protected]
QS ImpACT is a UK-registered charity and the global SDG incubator for a better world. Our global community of young people grows and earns recognition for driving positive social and environmental impact. Through strategic collaborations with universities, organisations, and communities, we equip young leaders with the skills, networks, and platforms needed to turn purpose into action. To date, QS ImpACT has engaged young people across 120+ countries, contributing 235,000+ volunteer hours and impacting 383,000+ people globally.
The culmination of the 2025 calendar year was marked by the first ever QS ImpACT Youth Summit 2025, our flagship global sustainability event designed for and by young leaders. Held alongside the QS Reimagine Education Awards, the Summit brought together youth, universities, educators, and forward-thinking organisations to explore how leadership, technology, and innovation can accelerate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Summit also featured the QS ImpACT Awards 2025, celebrating outstanding youth-led initiatives and innovations across sustainability, climate action, education, health, gender equality, and community impact. Together, these programmes highlight the power of young changemakers to drive meaningful change and address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.