UTS Shopfront, the only community program of its kind at an Australian university, has won the award for the Provision of Education Services to the Community at the 2005 Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Shopfront is a gateway for community access to the University, linking disadvantaged and under-resourced community groups to UTS knowledge, skills, resources and professional expertise free of charge.

UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Ross Milbourne said the Shopfront model had been a boon not only for community groups, but for students involved in projects that have given them valuable professional experience and the opportunity to work with "real people on real projects."

"Shopfront not only serves the community, it serves the reputation of UTS and helps us to fulfil a very important role of a university, that of social responsibility and engagement with those we are expected to serve – the community," Professor Milbourne said.

"Special congratulations are due to Shopfront Program Manager Pauline O'Loughlin, Shopfront Director Associate Professor Paul Ashton and Community Education Officer Lisa Andersen, who this year have supported 40 community projects involving seven UTS faculties and more than 200 students and staff.

"UTS is the only university to have had staff members short listed for the Australian Awards for University Teaching every year since their inception eight years ago, and we have won awards in all but one of those years."

Shopfront Program Manager Pauline O'Loughlin said the Shopfront model was founded on a dual commitment to address the needs of the community and to provide an innovative and practical approach to learning.

"This commitment is achieved through the Shopfront's community initiated projects, identified research priorities and listening and responding to community needs.

"As usual this year we have had a diverse range of projects: design and software engineering students built a website for Bankstown Youth Development Service; a business student is working with the Western Sydney Community Forum to develop an award program for the community sector; a law student designed a bequest program with the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association; and humanities and design students are working with a number of community organisations developing a celebration of Sudanese culture at Newtown's New Theatre on December 19 and 20.

"This award belongs to all the academics, students, admin staff and community organisations who have worked with us and supported the program over its nearly ten years of operation."