We believe in channelling student creativity, vision and insight for maximum social impact.
Social Impact Studio is a hub for social impact through creativity and innovation – a place where University of Otago students, staff, faculty and community work together to design and implement projects that benefit our society and environment.
We have discovered how important social purpose is to our students and finding opportunities and organisations where their purposes align. Personal and professional development goes hand-in-hand with becoming socially responsible citizens.
We have learned that the values of human connection, empathy and creativity shape a large part of the work we are doing. Students care deeply about social issues like belonging, purpose, quality education, mental health and well-being. These projects have students at the helm with passion, spark and creativity that enables them to be part of a positive social change which may involve volunteering in the community, building their leadership skills or supporting their peers through hard times.
The work of the Social Impact studio focuses on the outcome, the purpose and the why that inspires students to take action.
Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals
The work of the Social Impact Studio is underpinned by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The challenges we face locally and the positive impact we make on them contribute to a global conversation that we cannot ignore. With each student, academic, and organisation we meet through the Social Impact Studio, we see an opportunity to connect their degrees, research and teaching, and community work with the goals.
For the most part, we know what we are supposed to do to contribute to sustainability. To get this information from our heads to our hearts is through action, with our hands. So let's get stuck in!
We will track our impact on the SDGs by identifying how our volunteer roles, programmes and events to specific goals.
Read about our strategy