Four students from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) recently participated in the AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, where they expanded their understanding of sustainability beyond environmental concerns to include economic, social, and human dimensions. The event, held this past summer, brought together hundreds of young leaders from over 80 countries to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals under the theme “Rise, reimagine, rebuild: A world for all.”
Representing Qatar, CMU-Q students Mohammed Al-Ali, Rashid Al-Kubaisi, Salwa Al-Kuwari, and Al Reem Al Thani engaged in discussions highlighting the intersections of technology, governance, and ethical responsibility. A key focus of the assembly was the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence and its potential role in establishing global sustainability standards. Delegates debated how AI applications might be ethically guided to foster sustainable development.
The students credited their education at CMU-Q for equipping them with a comprehensive perspective that integrates technical expertise with a nuanced understanding of societal impacts. Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, emphasized that the university’s programs merge science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula with humanities and social sciences to prepare students for responsible and context-aware innovation.
Al Reem Al Thani stressed the importance of transcending disciplinary boundaries to appreciate broader societal implications, encouraging peers to connect technological knowledge with community needs. She noted that a narrow technical focus can obscure the larger picture of sustainability.
During their time in Geneva, the delegation also met with several high-profile officials, including Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam Al-Misnad, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Hend Al-Muftah, and Barham Salih, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. These meetings reinforced the participants’ view that lasting sustainability requires integrating efforts in international development, equitable education, food security, and conflict resolution.
For the students, sustainability encompasses social responsibility and humanitarian resilience alongside environmental efforts. Mohammed Al-Ali emphasized that reducing carbon footprints alone is insufficient without inclusivity and accessibility. Salwa Al-Kuwari highlighted the foundational role of education, arguing that providing quality knowledge empowers communities to develop their own solutions.
All four students voiced a strong sense of civic duty to apply their education and experiences toward Qatar’s development. They see their roles as contributors to a cycle of learning and giving back. “It’s about creating an ecosystem where people go in, learn, and come out to give back to the country,” Al-Ali said. Al Thani described this as a natural reciprocal obligation, acknowledging Qatar’s substantial investment in their education and the responsibility to sustain society through their efforts.
Al-Kuwari invoked a statement by His Highness the Amir of Qatar, underscoring the expectation that citizens provide their best to the nation in return for the opportunities afforded to them. The CMU-Q students’ participation in the Geneva assembly reflects an emerging generation keenly aware of the multifaceted nature of sustainability and their individual roles in advancing it.