31 students from 14 universities across 10 countries join a new global leadership and talent insight program
Danielle Solar,
Executive Director
FTC Emerging
Leader Initiatives
The Future Talent Council (FTC) has officially launched the inaugural cohort of its Global Student Fellowship Program, bringing together 31 high-performing university students from 14 universities across 10 countries.
The six-month Fellowship convenes a globally diverse group of students to collaborate across disciplines, cultures, and time zones while developing future-ready skills and contributing student perspectives to conversations shaping the future of work, talent, and leadership.
The January 2026 cohort includes students studying across fields such as business, economics, computer science, engineering, and the social sciences, representing universities in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Fellows were selected through a competitive process in partnership with participating universities.
Throughout the Fellowship, students will engage in expert-led masterclasses, structured skill-building activities, Critical AI Engagement exercises, and cross-cultural teamwork. Working in small international teams, Fellows will develop Future Talent Insight Briefs and present their findings through a capstone presentation at the conclusion of the program. In addition, students will participate in youth insight activities with organizations in the FTC ecosystem, contributing perspectives on emerging workforce trends, early-career expectations, and global talent dynamics.
“The launch of this inaugural cohort represents an important step in bringing student voices directly into global conversations about talent and the future of work,” said Daniel Kjellsson, Director-General of the Future Talent Council. “These students are not only future leaders, they are already shaping how organizations, institutions, and policymakers think about what comes next.”
The Global Student Fellowship Program reflects FTC’s ongoing commitment to building inclusive, globally minded talent ecosystems and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging leaders to engage with real-world challenges.
The inaugural cohort will complete the program in June 2026, coinciding with the annual FTC Stockholm Summit, which gathers policymakers, corporate executives, and university leaders from around the world.
For more information about the Future Talent Council, the Stockholm Summit, and its Emerging Leader Initiatives, visit our page.