Domains

Delivering for the public good: our local, national and global impact

The University of Queensland exists to serve the public good – a purpose embedded in our founding legislation and carried forward in our mission. In an era of changing expectations, we reaffirm this commitment and continue to ask a simple yet powerful question: What are we good for? The answer lies in our identity as the University of, for, and with Queensland.

Our focus on expanding access to education through The Queensland Commitment, harnessing our research to benefit society and the economy, advancing reconciliation, and leading capacity-building and development projects across the Indo-Pacific and beyond all exemplifies the diverse ways in which we deliver for the public good.

We fulfil this purpose by engaging directly with our communities. Community engagement at UQ is a mutually beneficial and authentic partnership involving knowledge and resource sharing, joint decision-making, and co-created outputs. This partnership extends across Queensland, throughout Australia and internationally. Our engagement is inclusive, is responsive to cultural and social context, and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing.

Looking ahead, we will build on our strengths in teaching, research and partnerships to drive meaningful change – shaping a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future that delivers lasting benefits for Queensland, Australia and the world. 

Our objective is to:

• create positive social impact across local, national and global communities
• drive sustainable and responsible economic growth in Queensland and Australia, with a global impact
• grow a flourishing UQ community built on connections across and beyond the University.

Learn about how we will achieve our objectives for delivering for the public good

Our measures of success

• Strengthen UQ’s local, national and global leadership by:
  • achieving the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
  • continuing to rank highly in global rankings of universities.
• Maintain UQ’s standing as a leading Australian university for development impact in the Indo-Pacific.
• Advance The Queensland Commitment 2032 targets, including increasing the representation of:
  • domestic undergraduate students from a low socio-economic, regional or remote background
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Grow major strategic partnerships that support government, industry and community organisations.
• Increase philanthropic support and launch a new comprehensive campaign.
• Deliver UQ’s Stretch RAP targets.

Teaching and learning: education for leadership and impact

UQ’s distinction in Australian higher education comes from our combined strength in teaching, student experience and research.

We have Australia’s most awarded university educators delivering high-quality, research-driven programs designed to meet current and future societal needs. Our students enjoy a wide range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including research internships, entrepreneurship initiatives, work-integrated learning and international exchanges. As a university distinguished by its on-campus experience – including diverse student accommodation – we offer a vibrant academic and social environment that supports immersive learning. Through The Queensland Commitment, we also work to ensure that students who wish to study at UQ, regardless of their circumstances or location, are supported throughout their university journey.

In a rapidly changing world, our teaching and learning must continue to evolve. We will deliver research-led curricula that engage with emerging technologies, invest in advanced teaching tools and expand opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. Our graduates develop deep disciplinary knowledge together with the mindset and capabilities needed to navigate complexity, adapt to change and contribute meaningfully to society.

We will prepare graduates to lead with integrity, empathy, creativity and courage, supported by learning environments that are safe, inclusive and enabling. By cultivating a community of learners who think critically, act ethically and engage constructively, UQ equips future leaders to create positive impact and thrive in an unpredictable world.

Our objective is to:

• develop graduates who combine deep disciplinary knowledge with future-oriented skills, enabling them to lead and contribute meaningfully to society
• provide a vibrant on-campus experience through immersive opportunities that support meaningful connection and academic, professional and personal growth
• ensure every student receives proactive, inclusive, strengths-based support that enables them to succeed academically and personally.

Learn how we will achieve our objectives for teaching and learning

Our measures of success

• Expand external recognition of UQ’s teaching excellence.
• Exceed national and Queensland benchmarks for student satisfaction.
• Maintain high retention of commencing domestic bachelor students into second year.
• Grow the number of graduates who complete entrepreneurship, research or global experiences during their time at UQ.
• Strengthen the effectiveness of UQ’s student wellbeing and support services.
• Maintain UQ’s top position in Queensland for graduate employment outcomes 3 years after completion.

Research and innovation: from discovery to impact

UQ is internationally recognised as a leading, comprehensive research-intensive university. We remain committed to excellence across the entire research and innovation pipeline.

Our aim is not only to create new knowledge but also to translate it in ways that enrich our communities and deliver tangible societal benefit. As the University of, for, and with Queensland – and guided by The Queensland Commitment – we aim to shape the state’s future prosperity, address its most pressing challenges and work with partners to achieve outcomes that often have global significance.

We leverage the breadth and depth of our research capabilities, balancing ‘blue-sky’ exploration with research that delivers impact. Research excellence remains the foundation of our work, and we continue to focus on outstanding fundamental research. We also pursue applied research that translates discoveries into new ideas, improved services and innovative products for the benefit of society.

UQ has established itself as a leader in university commercialisation in Australasia, consistently ranking first in Australia for licence income and the value of equity held in spin-out companies. Our world-leading innovations – from the UQ-invented cervical cancer vaccine GARDASIL®, to ventures such as Protagonist Therapeutics and the landmark 2025 acquisition of a biopharmaceutical company commercialising our Molecular Clamp technology – demonstrate the global reach of UQ research. Building on these achievements, we will strengthen our innovation pipeline and expand the reach of our research and commercial endeavours. Strong partnerships with government, industry, non-government organisations and community groups are central to achieving these ambitions and delivering lasting public benefit.

World-leading researchers are at the heart of our ambitions. We are committed to attracting outstanding talent while supporting the next generation. Investing in the success of early- and mid-career researchers and HDR students is essential to sustaining a strong research culture. We are also investing in research infrastructure and strengthening a culture grounded in integrity, transparency and respect – ensuring our research upholds the highest standards of ethics and accountability, now and into the future.

Our objective is to:

• pursue excellence in discovery-led research, recognising that it is the foundation of our innovation and impact
• continue translating our research through policy, commercialisation, and societal uptake
• create an ambitious, inclusive and supportive research community with an open and ethical culture that champions diversity and empowers our researchers.

Learn how we will achieve our objectives for research and innovation

Our measures of success

• Increase in the reach of UQ’s research through growth in the number and value of research partnerships.
• Expand UQ’s impact and influence across all disciplines by:
  • remaining Australia’s leading University for commercialisation revenue and equity held in start-ups
  • increasing the adoption of UQ scholarship and research in policy and decision-making, along with policy citations, patent citations and IP notifications.
• Attract a greater share of national funding for priority-driven research and significantly increase industry and philanthropic research funding.
• Grow inter- and transdisciplinary research activity across the University.
• Improve citation performance.
• Increase the proportion of early- and mid-career researchers who collaborate with non-academic partners and the proportion of HDR graduates who gain industry experience.