Project submissions are now open for Semester 1, 2026. Submissions will close 5 PM Friday, 23 January 2026 or until spots are filled. Fill out the project inquiry form, and we will be in touch with you to discuss the scope and details of the project.
Project types we're looking for in 2026
We are seeking project proposals from community organisations for the following project types:
- Evaluation frameworks and Social Impact reports: Organisational data analysis, evaluation frameworks including Theory of Change and/or program logic, recommendations.
- Customer market analysis reports: new target market recommendations, competitor analysis, marketing activities, and budgeting for marketing activities.
- Research reports: Examples include broad sector research or organisation-specific research, literature reviews citing existing evidence, recommendations and more.
- Software projects: Examples include prototypes or 'proof of concepts' such as chatbot models, designing and recommending open-source software solutions, UX (User experience) and accessibility design recommendations, and researching the viability of software ideas.
- Mechanical or Mechatronic Design projects: Examples include designing and building a physical robotic or mechanical prototype, developing and refining automotive systems or manufacturing, and research-based deliverables such as a feasibility study, scoping report.
- Complex social issue research and proposals (First Nations organisations preferred): Teams of engineering students will tackle your organisation’s identified social issues case study, offering a range of practical ideas while incorporating First Nations approaches to sustainability. Receive multiple, diverse proposals to a complex challenge.
- Sustainability intern: We seek project proposals from organisations working on environmental or social sustainability challenges. Students from the Bachelor of Sustainability and Environment can conduct research, write literature reviews, collaborate on report writing, carry out program evaluations, assist in organising campaigns or events, analyse data, and support community engagement initiatives, providing evidence-based insights and practical recommendations to strengthen your programs, campaigns or impact strategies as they relate to social, environmental and economic sustainability. Please note this is an EOI. This subject will commence in Semester 2, but recruitment starts now.
- Digital marketing strategies: Student teams will analyse how your organisation currently uses digital channels and emerging technologies to engage your audiences. They will assess the effectiveness of your existing digital marketing activities and identify opportunities to strengthen brand visibility, reach and engagement. The project will conclude with tailored recommendations on how to better utilise digital marketing tools and emerging technologies to enhance your organisation’s value and support your mission.
- Strategies for Social Impact: Supporting organisations with a range of strategic needs linked to community and social impact. Examples include developing strategies such as social impact–aligned marketing, fundraising and donor engagement, social media and content plans, volunteer program design, or membership and stakeholder engagement approaches. At the end of the project, community partners receive a selection of strategic recommendations to choose from, ensuring the outcome aligns with current priorities and capacity.
What do we need from you?
Your organisation must nominate a key contact to collaborate with the student/s. This key contact must have capacity to dedicate maximum 2 hours per week of their time and be able to visit UTS campus.
The project inquiry should provide enough information to work out if the project is suitable for Shopfront community coursework. This is based on a few factors including timeframe, availability of expertise, and student availability.
This form is a proposal only. More information will be gathered and we may discuss details further with your before the project is accepted into UTS coursework and students are assigned.
Please contact us at Shopfront@uts.edu.au if you have any questions about filling in the form or would like to discuss your project idea.
What's next?
After you submit a project inquiry, the Shopfront team will assess your project for suitability. If it looks suitable, and we have availability in our coursework to accommodate it, a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly after the submission deadline to let you know and gather more information.
You will be asked to fill out a project brief with more detail about your objectives, and we may organise a meeting to clarify your needs.
Once the teaching session begins, a student or team of students will be assigned to your project and we will arrange a meeting between them and your organisation's key contact.
Submission deadlines
Project submissions are now open for Semester 1, 2026. Submissions will close 5 PM Friday, 23 January 2026 or until spots are filled. You are welcome to submit a project at any point during the year and we will endeavour to organise it for the upcoming teaching session.
There are two teaching sessions a year, with project submission deadlines 1–2 months before the session begins.
- Autumn session (March to June) – Deadline to submit for this session, mid-January
- Spring session (August to November) – Deadline to submit for this session, mid-June
Keep up to date with Shopfront project call-outs, professional development opportunities and network events with our newsletter.
Shopfront exists to serve the community and create positive impact, by connecting real-world outcomes to our UTS students' degree.
If you have questions, are not sure if a project is quite right, or would like to discuss how we can help you, please reach out to us at Shopfront@uts.edu.au.