Global outlook, local expertise

PLuS Alliance is a transformational global partnership combining the strengths of three leading research universities on three continents – Arizona State University, King's College London and UNSW Sydney. Launched in February 2016, with a vision to empower global communities through innovative and accessible education and research, the PLuS Alliance strives to:

• Build partnerships to foster global innovations 
• Launch education programs nuanced to the needs of global learners
• Develop solutions to global challenges through collaborative research

The Sydney Quantum Academy is a collaboration between four NSW universities - UNSW, The University of Sydney, Macquarie University and University of Technology Sydney.  

As leaders in quantum computing, the Academy aims to develop a quantum ecosystem through education, industry and community engagement, and entrepreneurship. By training the next generation of innovators, it will establish NSW as a global leader and incubator in this rapidly evolving field 

TEDI-London is an innovative, new higher education institution in London wholly focussed on engineering. Co-founded by the PLuS Alliance partners, TEDI's vision is to transform engineering education to change lives – both for students and for users of the products they design and make.

TEDI's mission is to attract and empower individuals and partners from diverse backgrounds to provide opportunities for students to participate in a cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary learning experience to develop the skills and confidence to create practical real-world solutions that advance liveable global communities. 

Since launch, UNSW staff and students have participated in summer schools, curriculum and partnership development at TEDI-London. And in September 2021, the college launched its new Bachelor of Global Design Engineering degree.

Maridulu Budyari Gumal, also known as the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE), is a collaboration between leading experts in health, research and education sectors. It aims to develop new and innovative ways to deliver better healthcare for communities in NSW. 

 The partnership enables translation of medical and health research and science into real world solutions for patients and communities - addressing health priorities in the state. 

SPHERE’s eight strategic platforms work with clinical academic groups to help translate research into better healthcare delivery. They are also developing essential, research-enabling infrastructure and systems that will support the long-term future growth of the partnership. 

Project Mezze was established to find ways to deepen existing collaborations between UNSW Sydney and Western Sydney University (WSU). 

The partnership is closely aligned to core strategic objectives for both universities around positive societal impact, which is central to current and emerging Mezze projects. Project Mezze provides a platform for the partners to leverage each other’s expertise and resources in pursuit of these objectives, creating efficiencies and maximising overall impact. 

UNSW and WSU have a strong history of collaboration, and at the establishment of Mezze in 2020, were already working together on many important projects, bilaterally or with other partners.

As part of Project Mezze, we are currently working on areas related to:

• Aviation
• Liveable Communities
• Health
• Engineering
• Entrepreneurship

The mission of the NUW Alliance is to seek out the big collaborations that make a difference and unlock new value, impact and benefit for our communities across NSW.

NUW Alliance partners include University of Newcastle (UON), UNSW Sydney (UNSW), the University of Wollongong (UOW) and Western Sydney University (WSU).

Since its launch, the Alliance has: 

• Delivered a new STEM education model for the Multiversity at the Western Parklands City Aerotropolis, integrating VET, industry and HE. 
• Launched NUW Energy in December 2020, bringing together energy expertise across the universities. 
• Facilitated research collaborations via NUW Impact-funded projects as well as proposals to national and state funding bodies. 
• Collaborated with professionals and academics across defence, student services, domestic violence research, libraries, Women in Research Network, Research & Development Network. 
• Launched new Colombo Plan program with NUW partners included 6 industry projects (incl mentors), three academic supervisors and 25 students.

The International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA) represents a global collaboration of universities seeking to accelerate action on climate change through sharing the latest climate research and empowering people through climate education.  In addition to supporting global leaders, policymakers and industry in planning for and responding to climate change.  The Alliance provides a central hub for universities to share the latest climate research and education with the public and enable greater collaboration between leading research teams and educators.  In addition to supporting global leaders, policymakers and industry in planning for and responding to climate change. The UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) remain at the heart of the Climate Alliance Strategy 2023 - 2025.

Established in 2020, the Alliance represents leading climate research universities from 25 countries across six regions, with its Secretariat currently hosted in Australia by UNSW Sydney.

UNSW is a founding member of the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN). The USRN was established in 2015, bringing together universities from around the globe interested in embedding social impact into their activities.

UNSW has participated actively in the Network to date. Associate Professor Fengshi Wu (UNSW ADA) is UNSW’s representative on the Executive Committee. Associate Professor Fengshi Wu and Vinita Chanan (Director, Strategic Alliances and Initiatives) also sit on the membership's sub-committee.

UNSW and ACOSS (the Australian Council of Social Service) have partnered to undertake a research and impact collaboration to sharpen the national focus on poverty and inequality in Australia. This collaboration monitors trends in poverty and inequality over time, explores drivers, and develops solutions to sharpen the focus and stimulate action to tackle these policy challenges. 

The Partnership has had a major impact by leading research and policy debates and influencing action to tackle poverty and disadvantage.