Impact Day brought together alumni and students for the concluding event of the year-long Futures in Action programme, held on 24-25 April. Designed as an immersive weekend of workshops, simulations and intergenerational dialogue, the event offered first-year students the opportunity to engage directly with experts working across international development, finance, migration, climate policy, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and social impact.
Introduced in the 2024-25 academic year on the initiative of alumni Elia Stupka, Maria Federica Leonarduzzi and Maria Gabriela Manrique, Futures in Action was created to help students translate the ideas inspired by the UWC experience and values into concrete initiatives and long-term projects. The programme guides students through a structured process of exploration, inquiry, design, implementation and reflection, equipping them with practical tools connected to social entrepreneurship, systems thinking and changemaking. Coordinated by Maria Chiara Billi, Education Projects and Academic Manager, the programme is also continuously reviewed and refined in light of student feedback.
On Friday, 24 April, students were invited to choose from a wide range of workshops, at a stage in their UWC journey when many are beginning to explore possible pathways through higher education and the world of work. The alumni involved were selected for their experience in fields that strongly resonate with students’ interests, including finance and investment, entrepreneurship, social impact, human resources, career development, strategy consulting, international policy, artificial intelligence, technology and climate policy. Their workshops offered students practical insights into different professional contexts, while also encouraging them to think critically about how knowledge, skills and values can be brought together in the pursuit of meaningful impact.
Saturday’s intergenerational round tables focused on two themes especially relevant to young people today: global challenges and student opportunities, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work. These conversations encouraged students to reflect not only on the rapidly changing world but also on the role they may play within it as engaged and responsible members of society.
A notable aspect of Impact Day was the sense of continuity between generations of UWC Adriatic students. Many of the alumni involved spoke of how their own experience at the College shaped their personal and professional paths, and they expressed admiration for the level of engagement, curiosity and critical thinking demonstrated by participants throughout the event.
Impact Day reflects an educational approach that encourages students to connect academic learning with initiative, collaboration and social responsibility. By introducing students to practical frameworks for developing ideas, analysing complex systems and communicating solutions effectively, Futures in Action aims to help young people begin imagining how they might contribute to positive change during their secondary education, rather than seeing changemaking as something that can only begin later in life or after higher education.
