How UNSW academics shape your career with award-winning teaching

From hands-on learning to real-world impact: where does a UNSW degree take you?

Students in the UNSW Health Translation Hub

At UNSW Sydney, we know that not all great minds think alike.

That’s why we continue to build a diverse community of nationally recognised teachers and ambitious thinkers who take your studies beyond the classroom.

Three of our UNSW lecturers have been recognised for their impactful learning and teaching excellence, each receiving a prestigious Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning at the 2025 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

Our academics are driving collaboration and innovation across study areas to tackle the world’s biggest problems, placing you at the forefront of real-world change. Are you ready to join them?

Discover the diverse ways you’ll learn at UNSW

Industry projects
Innovative teaching
Critical thinking

Industry projects that get you work-ready

Throughout your degree, your teachers embed work-integrated-learning (WIL) into your studies to prepare you with industry experience that can help fast-track your career.

In an AI-driven world, Australian employers continue to hire graduates who can demonstrate in-demand 'soft skills', including adaptability, collaboration, communication, problem-solving and resilience.

At UNSW, you'll develop these human-centred, professional skills through teamwork, industry projects and networking opportunities while grounding your learning in the technical, digital and AI capabilities relevant to your industry.

How do academics expand your network at UNSW Business School?

Across 53 courses in the School of Information Systems and Technology Management, the UNSW Sandbox Program connects you with a global network of industry and community challenges during your studies.

Created by Associate Professor Yenni Tim while teaching Digital Innovation and Responsible AI subjects, the platform gives you the opportunity work on projects with industry partners, learn from career mentors and interact with peers from other disciplines, cultures and backgrounds.

Together, you create solutions for today’s business and social challenges – from cyber security solutions to local marketing and communications plans.

“Students often have limited access to authentic, career-relevant opportunities during their degree. My vision was not to design one strong course but to create a platform that empowers colleagues across disciplines to embed experiential learning into their own teaching.” – Associate Professor Yenni Tim

What soft skills do Australian employers look for?

^{Source: Australian Association of Graduate Employers: Employer Survey 2025}

Innovative teaching that inspires you

Do traditional teaching methods exclude your individual needs? Are you a visual learner and you struggle to digest lots of text? Or a neurodiverse student with specific needs? Maybe you’re an international student who doesn’t speak English as a first language?

At UNSW, we believe that ambition should always be seen. We understand that textbooks can be expensive and are not always the best way to learn.

That’s why our teachers are creating innovative digital resources and hands-on approaches to inspire your studies, spark your curiosity and help you realise your potential.

How do academics enhance your learning at the Faculty of Science?

Associate Professor Terry Ord from the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences is leading the way at UNSW with tailored experiences designed to inspire you.

This includes a series of video shorts titled ‘lectures from the field’, demonstrating science in real-world settings and a free illustrative novel as a textbook alternative for his third-year animal behaviour course.

Not only is this approach student-approved, but has been recognised as a citation by the 2025 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT), and has influenced teaching resources worldwide. The novel is now used by students at universities across Canada, France, India, New Zealand, UK and US.

“Professor Terry Ord’s use of storytelling and illustrations in his graphic novels made learning course content entertaining and thought provoking. Terry’s field work videos felt like mini documentaries inspiring students on the endless possibilities of future animal behaviour research." – Holly Cargill, Bachelor of Science Biology and Biodiversity student

“Rather than being locked into one way of learning, I could switch between interactive lectures, the graphic novel, or both at my own pace and in my own style. It's a course that adapts to you, and that made all the difference to both my engagement and my results." – Suloshi De Alwis, Bachelor of Science Biology and Biodiversity student

“Students routinely report textbooks as dull and hard to digest, not to mention how expensive they are. I realised many of my students needed a different approach." – Associate Professor Terry Ord

Learning that makes you think differently

Have you considered how the abstract theories you learn at university affect your life?

At UNSW, you won’t just learn the theory – you'll learn how to think critically, embrace diversity of perspectives, and unlock solutions to real local issues and the global challenges of the future.

By identifying opportunities to build on your strengths and apply what you learn in real-world settings, our academics will guide you to shape your interests into a fulfilling career.

How do our academics help you put theory into practice at the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture?

As a School of Social Science student, you’ll connect social theory with your own experiences, grow the confidence to engage with political movements and apply your knowledge to meaningful social change.

On our politics and international relations courses, UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture Associate Dean (International) Associate Professor Nicholas Apoifis uses real-world application in your first year to help build your own informed and ethical perspectives about the world.

Whether you’re an Indigenous student, first-in-family student and or student from a lower socio-economic background – the inclusive classroom culture at UNSW will help you synthesize ideas, challenge misconceptions and place your experience at the centre of your education.

"Nick's practical and inclusive teaching methodology encouraged me to visualise myself as a political actor and change maker. I was able to ground my lived reality as central to my understanding of politics. I have used his teaching to fuel my passion for change in social activism, law reform, volunteering, and academia." – Juwariya Syed PhD Candidate, School of Social Sciences

“Studying Politics and International Relations initially felt intimidating as a 17-year-old straight out of high school, but Nick’s teaching completely transformed my experience. He fostered a learning environment that allowed us to apply ideas about power, ethics, inequality, and resistance to current global events and political movements." – Sala-O-Vea Walter, School of Social Sciences student

“UNSW graduates are now active in social movements, contributing to reform across government and civil society, shaping change in the public and private sectors, and taking this teaching into universities around the world.” – Associate Professor Nicholas Apoifis

Progress happens when you learn differently

You’ll graduate with a versatile skillset that fast-tracks your career while helping improve lives around the world. Join Australia’s most employable graduates* driving environmental, social and political change and create a legacy of meaningful progress.

Explore the UNSW Experience

*QS World University Rankings, 2026

FAQs

Academics play an important role in improving your employability by helping you develop both technical expertise and the human-centred skills employers value most. At UNSW, academics combine teaching with industry experience and world-leading research, helping students build critical thinking, communication, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving skills that prepare them for successful careers.

Explore employability
UNSW academics prepare students for future careers by combining world-leading research with practical learning experiences. Students learn from experts working on challenges in areas such as climate resilience, clean energy, health, technology and public policy, while developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing global workforce

Discover our award-winning teachers
UNSW graduates are highly employable because they graduate with industry-relevant knowledge, practical experience and sought-after professional skills. Through opportunities such as internships, mentoring, entrepreneurship programs and career development support, students build the experience employers value. This contributed to UNSW graduates being recognised as Australia's most employable for seven years in a row in the AFR Top100 Future Leaders & Graduate Employers Awards 2020–2026.

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