Goal #17
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
UNSW is committed to this goal and demonstrates its commitment through:
- national and international partnerships with governments, universities and broader stakeholders on research and innovation.
- education and development projects that focus on outcome-based sustainable development worldwide.
- being an anchor institution in our local community, respecting our ancient past as we partner with First Nations communities and peoples.
The Institute for Global Development (IGD) has established numerous education and research partnerships since 2016, creating new student and institutional research opportunities working with partners and communities in developing countries. With local and international partners, the IGD co-creates knowledge and translates research findings into changes that matter: generating sustainable and equitable futures for people around the world, and together working towards achieving the SDGs.
ACOSS partnership
ACOSS (the Australian Council of Social Service) and UNSW have partnered since 2017 to tackle poverty and inequality head on. The partnership works with NGOs to focus national attention on poverty and inequality through high-quality research, policy development and advocacy to effect change.
HEAL network tackles health impacts of climate change
The Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network is a Federal Government funded program of research focused on enhancing population wellbeing through identifying environmental factors that shape health, developmental trajectories and inequities. Its research has been translated into policy and practice - such as the City of Sydney’s strategy to plant 700 new trees annually for 10 years and reach 40% green cover by 2050.
Massive Action Sydney
Massive Action Sydney (MAS) is part of a multidisciplinary global movement drawing on our ‘collective power to design a better future now’. Its goal is to explore, reimagine and redesign solutions to critical challenges within Climate, Health and Power using innovative approaches. MAS is a partnership between the UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture Innovation Hub and the Massive Change Network.
International Universities Climate Alliance
Established by UNSW in 2020, the IUCA represents leading climate research universities from 25 countries across six regions, with its Secretariat currently hosted in Australia by UNSW. Members include universities that encompass thousands of the world’s most accomplished climate researchers, including hundreds who have worked as authors of reports for the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Torch Innovation Partnerships
Torch Innovation Partnerships bring together industry representatives, small to medium-sized enterprises, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers from around the world to the UNSW campus. Between 2016 and 2019, this resulted in $76M worth of contracts.
PLuS Alliance renews global partnership
PLuS Alliance is a global partnership between UNSW, Arizona State University and King’s College London, combining the strengths of three global universities to create sustainable futures, solve global problems and increase access to education. Researchers from the three partners collaborate to pursue solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges underpinned by the SDGs.
Impact X Summit
In November 2022, students, staff and researchers from UNSW joined industry specialists at the 'COP27 and Beyond' research showcase in Sydney. Part of the Impact X Climate Summit, it highlighted Australia’s university-led research contribution to the global response to climate change. Panel topics included protecting community wellbeing, supporting blue and green economies, Australia’s role in global climate security and raising ambition on climate solutions.
NUW Alliance: Women, Infrastructure and Sustainability
The NUW Alliance launched the the Six Cities Region Vision in October 2022.
Governments, community and industry are planning on a larger scale to achieve greater cohesion, momentum and impact. The ‘Six Cities Region’, spanning Newcastle, Wollongong and Greater Sydney, represents Australia’s greatest opportunity for realising transformative, sustainable and inclusive development in the decades ahead. The NUW Alliance is committed to realising that potential for the communities it serves.
UN meeting on SDGs in Bangkok
In August 2022 UNSW development leaders and experts, facilitated by the UNSW Institute for Global Development, participated in an introductory meeting between UNSW and the regional UN Development Coordination Office in Bangkok to discuss the SDGs and begin an ongoing knowledge partnership.
UNSW Global Water Institute
World leader in water research, innovation and problem solving. The Institute draws on water expertise across UNSW to create the Nation’s most advanced water knowledge hub.
The Kirby Institute
Leading global research institute dedicated to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.Their research projects are conducted in partnership with communities most affected by epidemics.
UNSW builds high-level engagement in Timor-Leste
A senior delegation from UNSW travelled to Timor-Leste in 2023, as part of broader efforts to achieve societal impact in the region. The visit built on the University’s long history of engagement with Timor-Leste and sought to amplify UNSW’s role as a critical intermediary and strategic advisor for governments, the UN, regional universities and civil society.
Senior representatives from UNSW Engineering, Medicine & Health, the Sustainable Development Reform Hub, the Global Water Institute and the Institute for Global Development travelled to Dili to strengthen the University’s existing partnerships and explore new opportunities for ongoing engagement.
UNSW Strategy in Action 2025
UNSW 2025 Strategy Update
This document celebrates the key achievements of the first phase of the 2025 Strategy, highlighting where we have come from and where we are now. It also updates the framework against which we will assess, track and measure existing and new strategic initiatives over the next five years.
UNSW Annual Reports
Informing, engaging and leading through critical thinking, evidence and debate.
UNSW Sustainable Development Goals 2022 Report
This report outlines UNSW's performance against the SDGs in 2022.
