Leading with impact: universities as gateways to community

In the gardens, laneways, and community halls of inner-city Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is quietly reshaping what it means to be a good neighbour – and a truly civic university. This isn’t about charity or one-off extractive projects. It’s about a philosophy: universities as gateways to community. 
 
At the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion (CSJI), this philosophy comes to life every day. We work closely with our neighbours in Pyrmont, Ultimo, Haymarket, and Glebe to help facilitate social good and change in society. Locals bring deep knowledge of what their communities need to thrive. UTS brings expertise, resources, and infrastructure to help turn those ideas into action. 
 
Communities have lived experience and are full of expertise. Our role is simple: to uplift and support them. Through purposeful partnerships, research collaborations, and hands-on learning opportunities, CSJI connects students, academics, and community organisations to address complex social challenges together. 

Why community engagement matters

Across Sydney’s inner-city neighbourhoods, UTS shows up differently. Where others might study communities from a distance, we walk alongside them – listening first, acting second, and building together. 

One community partner put it best: ‘The difference is UTS is structured formally to engage with the community. When we meet and have workshops and work on projects, it’s a two-way exchange.’ 

This approach reflects a bigger idea: universities as public purpose institutions. It’s about using our expertise and infrastructure to amplify community strengths, not replace them. It’s about creating spaces where UTS students and staff work side by side with local leaders on issues that matter, including housing, sustainability, youth engagement, and social inclusion. 
 
And it’s not just good for communities. It’s good for students, too. Today’s students want more than academic excellence – they want purpose. According to a recent QS survey, over 80% of students factor a university’s performance on social issues into their decision-making about where to study. 

Students as changemakers: UTS SOUL Award 

Through the SOUL Award, thousands of students have stepped beyond the classroom and into the community – volunteering, leading, and learning in ways that transform both themselves and the world around them. 
 
So far in 2025, 2657 students enrolled, 383 graduated, and together they logged 24,322 hours of social impact action. The program also recently won the 2025 Engagement Australia Award for ‘Excellence in Community Engagement’. 
 
‘Community-engaged learning programs like SOUL allow students to venture beyond their degree and into the community; to put the skills they learn in the classroom into practice,’ says Ruby Wawn, SOUL Program Lead. 
 
For students like Joshua Chelashaw, the impact is personal. ‘SOUL has changed the way I see myself. There’s more to life than just a career. I can donate my skills and make meaningful change.’ 
 
And for Humna Khan, it’s about belonging. ‘SOUL gives me a sense of community within the university, and it connects me to the world outside. Even if you feel like you’re one person, the smallest gesture makes a difference.’

Partnerships in action: UTS Shopfront

Through UTS Shopfront, students collaborate with community organisations on real-world projects, bringing fresh ideas and professional skills to groups that often lack time or resources. In 2025, Shopfront worked with 114 organisations and 5500 students 
 
One organisation was CPR Kids, a social enterprise teaching lifesaving first aid to parents and carers. UTS students redesigned their online course, audited their website for accessibility, and developed a digital marketing strategy to reach Gen Z parents. 
 
Sarah Hunstead, Founding Director of CPR Kids, says the results speak for themselves: ‘We are already seeing the outcomes – more web traffic, more bookings, fewer drop-offs. The students really listened to our challenges and made such an impact.’