Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Newsroom
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... 2020
  4. arrow_forward_ios 02
  5. arrow_forward_ios Universities unite for community engagement framework

Universities unite for community engagement framework

5 February 2020

Seventeen universities convened at UTS this week to prepare a collective approach to championing social justice in Australian higher education, ahead of submitting their response for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in May.

The cohort includes representatives from the U.S. where the Classification originated, and from Canadian universities, who are also embarking on their own unique framework.

Presentations included community engagement case studies from Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS, Southern Cross University, Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney, and the University of Alberta.

The Australian universities have been participating in a national pilot of the internationally renowned classification, exploring a collective approach to contributing to stronger, richer communities.

The result will be a bespoke Carnegie Community Classification framework, interpreted for an Australian context that encompasses the unique geographical and cultural differences our universities span. The submission will be followed by an assessment process by representatives from Brown University, who will visit each participating university to determine those which will be awarded the classification.

The University of Technology Sydney and Charles Sturt University are jointly leading the initiative. Eight other universities are actively taking part in the pilot and a further seven have an observer status, with a view to taking part after the framework has been finalised.

“Being a lead university in the first Australian trial of the Carnegie Classification is an institutional highlight,” said Professor Andrew Vann, Vice Chancellor of Charles Sturt University.

“We are committed to working meaningfully with our communities. This process will ensure that community participation and engagement continues to be at the core of what we do and enable us to deepen our work in the development of our regions and our people.”

“Australian universities have a strong history of community engagement, and the higher education landscape in Australia is distinct from other national contexts,” said Verity Firth, Executive Director, Social Justice at UTS. “For universities, meaningful community engagement means an end to ‘ivory tower’ thinking.  Partnerships between universities and the community need to be mutually beneficial and accept the knowledge and experience that both parties bring to the table.  The end goal is to deepen scholarship, research and creative activity, all while addressing critical social issues.”

The Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement is an elective classification and has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in US higher education for the past 13 years. The new elective Community Engagement Classification has been adopted by more than 350 US campuses.

Share
Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share this on LinkedIn
Back to UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion news

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility