Social Innovation
Embedding social innovation principles and practice across our education, training and research, we work with government, industry, business and community to empower people to solve real-life challenges.
In 2017, CQUniversity took our social innovation agenda global, as Australia’s first Changemaker university with Ashoka U, an international network of universities committed to social innovation, entrepreneurship and impact.
And in 2021, we became Australia’s first and only social enterprise university, certified by Social Traders.
A social enterprise is a business that operates for social, community and environmental benefit, and CQUniversity achieves this impact as Australia’s most inclusive, accessible, supportive and socially innovative university.
Study with CQUniversity and build your changemaker career.
Partner with CQUniversity and grow your social impact.
Because social impact is at the heart of CQUniversity.
We’re empowering our students with the practical skills and experience to design creative solutions to entrenched social problems. Our graduates are equipped to be life-long changemakers, whatever their career, and wherever they choose to live.
Students can discover CQU’s unique social innovation commitment via orientation program iChange, then grow their impact journey via the Build Your Changemaker Profile micro-credential. Both offerings earn digital badges, and are free for CQU students.
Social innovation principles and practice are embedded across CQU’s curriculum, the annual Festival of Change celebrates changemaker ideas and impact, and the student-led Social Innovation Network provides opportunities to collaborate and grow changemaking across the CQU community.
Through the commitment to giving back, and our values of engagement, leadership, a can-do approach, inclusiveness and openness, CQU staff embody a socially innovative mindset.
CQU’s Social Innovation Education Strategy and the annual Festival of Change give all staff the opportunity to increase their understanding of human-centred and co-design thinking, and to embed this in learning and teaching, and across all operations.
Staff can explore CQU’s unique social innovation commitment via orientation program iChange, then grow their impact journey via the Build Your Changemaker Profile micro-credential. Both offerings earn digital badges, and are free for CQU staff via the Be Different platform.
For staff passionate about business for good, CQU’s social enterprise short course iActivate is available online, or via regional accelerators in community partnerships.
We offer a range of opportunities for alumni to stay involved with our activities and programs, and increasingly, these initiatives include social innovation.
Our alumni can share their knowledge and experience as mentors or guest speakers and lecturers, join local networks, committees or boards, sponsor events, or be an employment or job placement provider.
CQU’s annual Alumni Awards recognise an Alumnus of the Year for Social Impact, and community members can nominate an inspiring candidate, or self-nominate.
For alumni passionate about business for good, CQU’s social enterprise short course iActivate is available online, or via regional accelerators in community partnerships.
We define social innovation as ‘engaging with our communities to address entrenched social issues.’
To this end, we have partnered with a wide range of organisations, businesses and individuals across our footprint, to deliver a wide range of socially innovative activities and programs.
International
Our longest-running social partnership is with India’s Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), a charity providing shelter, health care and education to street children. Through student placement opportunities, we also support education and health care delivery for SBT.
Through international partnerships for impact-led research and CQUGlobal Outbound study programs, academics, staff and students work with international communities to meet local needs through human-centred practice.
Australia
As Australia’s first and only social enterprise university, certified by Social Traders, CQU is a thought-leader and agenda-setter for social impact in higher education. When individuals, businesses and community partners procure goods and services from CQU, the investment changes lives and buys social impact in the same transaction.
Through our own social procurement targets, CQU is committed to supporting Indigenous business and the social enterprise sector.
CQU’s iActivate social enterprise short course also inspires and guides emerging social entrepreneurs to build and grow their business for good. Through regional partnerships with government and community, is ensuring social entrepreneurship and social impact ecosystems can thrive.
To begin your relationship with our Office of Social Innovation, email us - we look forward to changing the world with you!
“Just being involved in social innovation [through the uni] has challenged me and made me realise there's so much more we can do for our community.
Toluwalope Akinsheye
Master of Human Resource Management | Nigeria
Social Innovation News
Read more on our changemakers and how they are helping support and shape our communities.
