Next Generation Learning & Skills category
The University of Technology Sydney’s BUILD Program (Beyond UTS International Leadership Development) is a long-standing, extra-curricular initiative designed to cultivate global citizenship, sustainability awareness, and leadership in students. Since 2010, BUILD has empowered over 1,675 students through a flexible mix of workshops, forums, field trips, and international collaborations. The program encourages learners to explore social and environmental justice themes and align personal values with global action. Grounded in SDG 4.7, BUILD fosters transformation not only through travel-based experiences but also through rich, local engagement—enabling students to lead change in their own communities and beyond.
Impacts and Social Benefits
- Developed global citizenship skills and cultural intelligence in more than 1,800 enrolled students in 2024 alone, with 135 completions and significant increases in sustainability awareness and leadership confidence.
- Delivered localised sustainability education with a global lens, allowing students to engage deeply with issues such as modern slavery, circular economy, and Indigenous knowledge without the carbon footprint of international travel.
- Encouraged personal growth and leadership confidence among previously hesitant students, many of whom now pursue leadership roles and sustainability advocacy on- and off-campus.
Leadership and Engagement
- Co-designed and co-delivered events with UTS Sustainability, including Global Goals Month, Climate Action Week, and Green Week, promoting campus-wide SDG awareness.
- Promoted peer-to-peer, intercultural learning by integrating international and domestic students into a shared, inclusive leadership community.
- Maintained strong collaborations across faculties and external partners, including Humanitarian Affairs Asia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and the SDG Academy, to scale student opportunities and impact.
Wider Societal Impact
- Equips students with intercultural communication, systems thinking, and values-based leadership, enabling them to contribute to socially cohesive and inclusive communities.
- Shifts student mindset from “local” to “global,” inspiring them to identify and act on global challenges within their immediate environments.
- Contributes to the creation of ethical, culturally competent graduates equipped to lead sustainability initiatives across diverse professional and societal contexts.
Top 3 learnings
Supported by
Category finalists
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills category
The University of Technology Sydney’s BUILD Program (Beyond UTS International Leadership Development) is a long-standing, extra-curricular initiative designed to cultivate global citizenship, sustainability awareness, and leadership in students. Since 2010, BUILD has empowered over 1,675 students through a flexible mix of workshops, forums, field trips, and international collaborations. The program encourages learners to explore social and environmental justice themes and align personal values with global action. Grounded in SDG 4.7, BUILD fosters transformation not only through travel-based experiences but also through rich, local engagement—enabling students to lead change in their own communities and beyond.
Top 3 learnings
Impacts and Social Benefits
- Developed global citizenship skills and cultural intelligence in more than 1,800 enrolled students in 2024 alone, with 135 completions and significant increases in sustainability awareness and leadership confidence.
- Delivered localised sustainability education with a global lens, allowing students to engage deeply with issues such as modern slavery, circular economy, and Indigenous knowledge without the carbon footprint of international travel.
- Encouraged personal growth and leadership confidence among previously hesitant students, many of whom now pursue leadership roles and sustainability advocacy on- and off-campus.
Leadership and Engagement
- Co-designed and co-delivered events with UTS Sustainability, including Global Goals Month, Climate Action Week, and Green Week, promoting campus-wide SDG awareness.
- Promoted peer-to-peer, intercultural learning by integrating international and domestic students into a shared, inclusive leadership community.
- Maintained strong collaborations across faculties and external partners, including Humanitarian Affairs Asia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and the SDG Academy, to scale student opportunities and impact.
Wider Societal Impact
- Equips students with intercultural communication, systems thinking, and values-based leadership, enabling them to contribute to socially cohesive and inclusive communities.
- Shifts student mindset from “local” to “global,” inspiring them to identify and act on global challenges within their immediate environments.
- Contributes to the creation of ethical, culturally competent graduates equipped to lead sustainability initiatives across diverse professional and societal contexts.
Supported by
Category finalists
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
Next Generation Learning & Skills
