• Posted on 7 Nov 2019
  • 8-minute read

Universities are incredible places. We are houses of learning, generators of new knowledge, unifiers and convenors and, sometimes, drivers of social change.

Social justice is core to UTS’s DNA and has been so since its inception over 30 years ago. The development of the Social Impact Framework was the university’s way of taking its commitment to social justice and responsibility as a public purpose institution a step further.

We believe universities have an immense contribution to make towards positive change, which is why, in 2017, UTS developed the Social Impact Framework.

The Framework is the first of its kind for an Australian university. It is a ‘Theory of Change’ document that outlines a clear, shared strategic vision for the university to follow to increase its social impact.

The Social Impact Framework is shifting broad practice at UTS (and beyond) in three distinct ways:

  1. It recognises and rewards excellence in practice
  2. It evaluates existing initiatives so we are able to continually refine and reform efforts, in order to remain forward-thinking and proactive in our social justice response
  3. It is a key tool used to identify gaps and lead to new social justice initiatives

If you follow our activities this won’t be the first you’ve heard of the UTS Social Impact Framework. Two years on from its launch, we’re thrilled see the benefits this type of approach can have both at UTS and beyond.

The Social Impact Framework in practice at UTS

As a result of the framework, the UTS Shopfront Community Program has been recognised for its excellence in practice. UTS Shopfront is one of the university’s key programs championing social justice and social change, benefitting community organisations and the people they serve while offering students valuable real-life experiences of working for a client. Since its inception UTS Shopfront has facilitated over 1,000 successful projects by UTS students as part of their coursework.

With the framework as a guiding tool, the program will be scaled up in 2020. Another level of student development will be introduced, targeting future change makers and building their capacity to drive social innovation and change.

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UTS sits within the bustling metropolis that is the global city of Sydney. Yet on its doorsteps are communities with great disadvantage. So our services are focused around women who are presenting alone or with their children who are experiencing homelessness, systemic disadvantage, and domestic and family violence. And it's been actually incredible working with UTS on this project. The core area of benefit was actually developing a really robust Theory of Change, and one we are now applying to our program of support and something that will help guide us in terms of our decision making around use of resources and areas of greatest need to lead towards greater social impact for our women. One of the big issues that we outline in the Social Impact Framework is that a university has to actually be trusted to bring about social change. The framework is really a way of working, a way of collaborating internally and a way of reaching out and engaging with the world. And so the approach we've taken in terms of the Human Rights Commission approach has been how do we bring as many voices as possible into the room when we're discussing digital technology and human rights. At this moment in time if we do not start talking about ethical issues, who is going to be excluded, how is it that we want to use this technology? To create a better future. Well then we are simply creating technologies that then guide the development of a future in some direction. Is it going to be in a good direction? Who knows? So that's why I think that having this centre based at the University of Technology Sydney is so important, because what we're doing here is effectively, we are trying to make social justice, make inclusion into a core discussion that shapes the visions of the future that we create through the technologies that we design. Universities exist for the public good. We are massive publicly funded institutions. We have these amazingly brainy people living inside of us and they do their best work when they're engaged with the meaty public problems of the day. And that's what makes it powerful.

Our impact in the community

The Social Impact Framework recognises that universities have a responsibility, as public purpose institutions, to be actively involved in the community. To enable this the UTS Social Impact Lab was born.

The Lab is a neutral space where wicked problems can be tackled in a collaborative manner with the combined efforts and contributions of UTS and community partners. It is a space where UTS can play a role in community by offering up its considerable resources and expertise.

Through the Social Impact Lab, we’re experimenting with new ways the university can contribute to public good in three different ways:

  1. Large scale thematic challenges
  2. Place-based community collaborations
  3. Partnering with significant organisations in the social impact space

Two of the projects that the Social Impact Lab has focussed on include a partnership with Primary Ethics and GlebeConnected.

Primary Ethics

Primary Ethics is an independent not-for-profit that develops engaging, age-appropriate ethics classes for primary aged children.

Their 3,000 volunteers deliver ethics classes to children in 500 primary schools, with plans to expand into high schools. The Social Impact Lab has assisted Primary Ethics in strengthening its systems as it grows and develops at a rapid scale.

UTS social impact experts delivered workshops for Primary Ethics’ leadership, volunteers, admin staff and teachers to identify tech solutions to streamline their people management – a notorious stumbling block for NFPs growing from small to medium organisations. They are also currently in the process of recruiting student interns from the UTS community to work with PwC to build Primary Ethics a new volunteer management system, following a thorough evaluation of their current system.

“We see the university’s role as building capacity and strengthening organisational structures, alongside gathering and imparting information,” said Mitra Gusheh, Executive Manager, Social Impact at the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion.

“Change is achieved when the relationship shifts from the traditional transactional approach to something truly transformational. That comes about through trust developed over a long-term partnership.”

GlebeConnected

GlebeConnected is a community coalition with a place-based mission. It brings together government agencies, local businesses, social services and individuals active in the community, forming a framework to work together towards achieving a socially sustainable Glebe.

As the local university, UTS has acted as a convenor and facilitator, identifying community needs and challenges and helping to surface the community voice.

We ran consultations with 250 people living in Glebe, and 50 in-depth interviews to get a comprehensive picture of the community’s vision for a sustainable Glebe. We then distilled this information and we are preparing to present it to the key stakeholders of GlebeConnected to inform their ways of working.

“Impact has already been felt in the community. But the real benefit of this project is the longevity of the partnerships we’re forming,” said Mitra.

“When we involve the community and come to the table as equals, we can begin to respond meaningfully to complex social issues.”

The Social Impact Framework amidst UTS’s broad vision

In 2019, the university collectively agreed to put social justice at the heart of it’s UTS 2027 strategic priorities. We were delighted (but not surprised) that the UTS community continues to support our longstanding commitment to delivering positive social change, and as a centre we look forward to ensuring this commitment goes from strength to strength.

The development of the Social Impact Framework and launch of the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion is a clear sign that UTS takes its commitment to social justice and social impact seriously.

Merging together the university’s vast resources and expertise with external stakeholders working towards achieving social good is already having a tremendous impact both within and outside our walls. There will always be room for improvement, but if we keep on track, the sky’s the limit for what could be achieved.

Achievements

  • 3-year cross-faculty partnership with AHRC exploring impacts of new technologies on rights and freedoms
  • 200 participants in a UTS Big Thinking Forum to unite experts and practitioners in addressing homelessness
  • 55% increase in participation of low socio-economic students at UTS
  • 27% increase in Indigenous participation across UTS postgraduate and undergraduate courses
  • 150 students logged 23,992 volunteering hours through UTS Shopfront
  • 130+ staff and students, across multiple disciplines and areas of practice, contributed to the SIF’s development
  • ½ UTS’s annual power is covered by a Power Purchase Agreement with the Walgett solar farm. UTS committed to purchase the equivalent of half our annual electricity demand from solar power

Byline: Amy Grady and Shantelle O'Riordan

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