UNSW Sydney is a leading public teaching and research university in Sydney, Australia with a long history of commitment to social responsibility. In early 2020, our motto was updated from ‘Scientia Manu et Mente’, to ‘Scientia Corde Manu et Mente’: Knowledge by Heart, Hand and Mind, a more complete embodiment of our vision to improve lives throughout the world.
UNSW’s belief that it has a role to play in positively impacting society started early. As the first Australian university to participate in the Colombo Plan in the 1950s, UNSW welcomed many Southeast Asian students, beginning a long tradition of a vibrant mix of cultures on its campuses.
Many initiatives followed, such as the highly respected Kingsford Legal Centre, which has provided free legal advice to tens of thousands of clients, many vulnerable and disadvantaged, over more than 40 years.
The Medicine & Health and Law and Justice Faculties have worked to help build the national Indigenous medical and legal workforces and today, UNSW offers Indigenous Pre-programs that provide an alternative entry pathway to UNSW.
This commitment to addressing societal challenges was formalised and strengthened with the launch in 2015 of the UNSW 2025 Strategy. The Strategy set UNSW on a path to deliver not only academic excellence, but a major program built on equity, diversity, and inclusion. A division was established in 2017 to manage EDI at UNSW, the first at any Australian university. Led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Equity Diversity & Inclusion, it has been working to integrate social responsibility into every aspect of the institution: leadership, teaching, research, services and community activities.
Since the launch of the Strategy, University leadership and the Division have led or collaborated with other areas of the University in important areas of social responsibility, including:
- The appointment of a Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous, and the development of an Indigenous Strategy for the University to address inequities and to prepare Indigenous leaders for the future;
- A broad range of gender equity initiatives;
- A focus on social engagement as a key requirement for all academic promotions;
- A program of education, support, awareness, and the development of a reporting portal for people experiencing sexual misconduct, as well as a process for managing related complaints;
- The appointment of Diversity Champions to work with the UNSW community to invigorate, communicate and embed EDI throughout the University;
- University-wide work on integrating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through raising awareness and providing such tools as the UNSW SDG Toolkit;
- Establishment of the Institute for Global Development, which seeks to advance knowledge on sustainable development and social justice to tackle complex and disruptive global challenges;
- In November 2020, UNSW realised its long-held vision to achieve net zero emissions from energy use and switched to 100% renewable energy. This landmark will see the University save 1.25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 15 years;
- The development of a body of policies and procedures to address issues of equity, diversity and inclusion. Access & Equity programs that ensure that students who are underrepresented in higher education have the opportunity to access the benefits that flow from a university education
These are just some of NSW’s extensive programs and initiatives that ensure its staff and students have the best possible employment and educational experiences, and appreciate their obligation to improve economic, social, and environmental outcomes.
University Website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/
