Students keen to utilise their knowledge gained from summit to help Goa prosper, develop sustainably
[From L to R] Raisa Pinto, Aashna Shah (Managing Director, QS ImpACT Charity, UK), Andrea Cardoso, Dr Ashwin Fernandes and Sumaiya Khan.
LONDON
Three young scholars from Goa got to learn and showcase ideas on a global platform during the QS ImpACT Youth Summit 2025 in London, with the support from the Goa-based PACT Foundation.
This was a fully funded PACT Foundation scholarship, awarded after a state-wide competition involving over 20 colleges and hundreds of students, including a final personal interview round with a global jury.
The three selected candidates were Andrea Cardoso (Rosary College of Commerce & Arts), Raisa Mariette Pinto (V M Salgaocar College of Law), and Sumaiya Khan (St Xavier’s College).
The young delegates represented Goa at the QS ImpACT Youth Summit 2025 from November 30 to December 1, joining youth and students from across the world to explore how AI and sustainability can shape a better future.
Dr Ashwin Fernandes, founder of PACT Foundation and a global leader at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, led the three-member youth delegation.
“This initiative aimed to give young Goans a global platform to learn, collaborate, and contribute to solutions at the intersection of sustainability, climate action, and artificial intelligence,” Dr Fernandes told The Goan.
THE SUMMIT
The first day at Imperial College London set the tone. The AI for Impact Challenge pushed them to collaborate with peers from different cultures and build on-the-spot solutions to real sustainability problems.
During the ImpACT Hackathon at Imperial College, they spent the day problem-solving, pitching, learning from experts, and discovering how rapidly ideas evolve when diverse minds come together.
Day two at the Queen Elizabeth II Convention Centre in Westminster deepened the experience. The Sustainability Impact Hackathon exposed them to global case studies, data, and policy thinking.
During this QS Youth ImpACT Summit, the Goan youth worked in teams, explored how AI aligns with the UN SDGs, and presented ideas on reducing inequalities, strengthening climate resilience, and improving community well-being. Andrea’s group won the Impact Pitch Challenge under SDG 10 – a proud moment for Goa and for her own journey as a young sustainability innovator.
While in the UK, the young Goans were treated to a London tour, including the Big Ben and the Tower Bridge.
“We brought Andrea, Raisa and Sumaiya to London to learn from global practice in sustainability, climate action and AI. Their presence is a quiet but powerful reminder of what India can achieve when it invests in its young people – and especially its young women,” said Dr Fernandes.
“This is the work we are committed to in Goa: building people who will shape India’s future. India will not only grow in the years ahead; it will lead. And as India rises, the Global South will rise with it.”
THE REACTIONS
Andrea Cardoso said the PACT Foundation and QS ImpACT Youth Summit was a valuable learning experience for her.
“It broadened my perspective on innovation, leadership, and community impact as I got a chance to connect and network with different youth leaders from around the world. I learned how artificial intelligence can be effectively aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to create meaningful social change,” said Cardoso.
“The sessions, discussions, and live pitch challenge strengthened my understanding of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in a multicultural environment. Also, the insightful speeches by top delegates on AI and sustainability helped me in getting a deeper understanding about the concept and various ways I can use it in developing my sustainability ideas into reality.”
“I also won the live ImpACT Pitch Challenge under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which boosted my confidence and validated the impact of my ideas. The summit highlighted the importance of youth empowerment, personal development, and responsible innovation, motivating me to pursue purpose-driven and inclusive projects for sustainable development in Goa,” she added.
Sumaiya Khan said her experience at this Summit was incomparable to any other.
“The sheer milieu of people from diverse backgrounds, various countries, professions and organisations, gave me a chance to experience the best of the globalised world,’ said Khan.
“I learnt about the inter-dynamic relationship between AI and humans as well as our dependency on a sustainable environment. I learnt to converse and be confident when speaking to people from different countries and finding common ground over our global issues. This summit taught me that no matter how small a place you come from, you too have a story to tell which people want to hear about.”
“I am immensely grateful to the PACT Foundation for bringing this opportunity to the youth of Goa who deserve as big of a platform as anyone else. I hope to utilise what I have learnt in this summit back home by identifying how the SDGs are functioning in Goa and what we as students can do to help our State prosper and develop sustainably and not haphazardly.”
Raisa Mariette Pinto said the QS ImpACT Youth Summit 2025 was an enriching experience for many reasons.
“The most significant experience was connecting with people from all around the world who feel so passionately about our planet and sustaining it for the generations to come,’ said Pinto.
“I was in awe of all talented delegates, attendees and their brilliant ideas. Something that will stick with me forever is how everyone was so dedicated towards a common goal but contributing towards that goal in their own unique capacities.”
“I will definitely be bringing their positivity and drive back home. I would like to encourage young people like me to welcome opportunities like this and am grateful to PACT Foundation for bringing such opportunities to the youth of Goa.”
