Our research is reaching global sustainable development goals

QUT is committed to the integrated pursuit of planetary health, economic development and social justice. Our researchers are exploring real-world problems and opportunities related to the environmental, social, economic, cultural and legal dimensions of sustainability.

In collaboration with government, industry and communities, our research centres address all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a common platform where all can contribute to solving the world’s biggest sustainable development challenges.

QUT is progressing the SDGs through its research, teaching, operations, policies and partnerships. The university is strengthening the focus on sustainability in all undergraduate courses to give graduates a broad view of the sustainability agenda and how it relates to their specific field or industry.

The graphic below maps how QUT aligns with each SDG. Click on the arrow beneath each goal for more information.

QUT is seeking to ‘end poverty in all its forms everywhere’ through its research, teaching, operations, policies and partnerships.

We support low-income students with scholarships, bursaries, computers and free financial advice. The QUT Guild supports students in need with a Food Bank, transport vouchers and free legal advice.

Our researchers are investigating the causes and impacts of poverty and ways to prevent or alleviate it in the following areas:

Our courses include Development Economics, which involves an immersive international field project.

QUT seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Our researchers are investigating ways to make food more nutritious and secure and make agricultural systems more productive, sustainable and resilient:

Staff can take part in the QUT Grow Club to learn how to grow an edible garden on campus. Herbs and vegetable are given to students in need.

Our Bachelor of Nutrition Science course teaches food nutrition, food supply and healthy eating policy.

QUT aims to ‘ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages’ through its policies, staff and student programs, community and international programs and research.

QUT has a dedicated medical centre, wellness program and employee assistance program, together with discounted gym memberships and health checks. QUT Health Clinics offers discounted health services for the community, and a training ground for our health students.

Our research covers a wide range of topics that impact on health, including:

All health courses and many units from other faculties contribute to this goal.

QUT aims to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ through its policies, student equity and support programs, community outreach programs, lifelong learning and research.

We offer financial assistance and support to students from low-income families, Indigenous background, LGBTIQA+, multifaith and parents. The university seeks to widen participation by outreach to schools in low socioeconomic, rural, Indigenous and Pasifika areas.

QUT encourages lifelong learning through open online courses, The Cube, public lectures, QUT Library and short courses.

Our research covers a wide range of topics that impact on education, including:

All education courses emphasise inclusive, equitable, high-quality education with postgraduate courses covering inclusive education, trauma-aware education, autism and Indigenous education.

QUT seeks to ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’ through its policies, student and staff programs, community programs and research.

QUT has student scholarships for women, and respect and harassment training for students. Staff can take part in women in leadership program and mentoring, and specialist women in research training. There are parenting rooms and childcare facilities on campus. The university offers community programs including Pathways to Politics for Women and Fostering Executive Women as well as high school engagement events encouraging girls to participate in STEM careers.

Our research covers a wide range of topics relating to gender equality, including:

Our courses include units on justice, social work and human services and other fields such as gender equity and health.

QUT aims to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’ through its sustainability policies, programs and research. QUT has large rainwater tanks, free drinking water, and a chemical management service to reduce water pollution.

Our researchers investigate clean water and environmental projects related to:

Our courses include units on environmentally sustainable design, water and wastewater engineering, groundwater systems and environmental pollution.

QUT aims to ‘ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’ through its sustainability action policies and plans. We have clean energy infrastructure including solar arrays on campus and Columboola Solar Farm which will supply 50% of QUT’s energy between 2022 and 2028.

Our research covers clean energy through:

Our courses include units from engineering, architecture and built environment and science.

QUT promotes ‘sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’ through its policies, plans, programs and research.

We have policies covering human resources, social justice, health safety and environment, and statements on modern slavery and responsible investment.  Our staff employment conditions and benefits meet enterprise agreements. We offer work integrated learning for students along with entrepreneurial co-working spaces.

Our research relates to:

Courses include units from economics, business, creative industries, law, social work and human services.

QUT seeks to ‘build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation’ through its policies, planning and programs.

QUT offers training programs in research methods, academic writing and publishing and more to staff and students, along with entrepreneurship programs.

Our research contributes to the fields of:

Courses include units about industry, innovation and infrastructure from a design, economics, business and engineering perspective.

QUT seeks to ‘reduce inequality within and among countries’ through its policies, programs and research.

QUT has social justice, human resources and student admissions policies and plans which aim to reduce inequalities. There are a range of scholarships and support schemes to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as networks and societies for various groups. Equity Services offers a range of training and development opportunities and forums. There is a dedicated Oodgeroo Unit to support Indigenous students.

We conduct research related to reducing inequity in the following fields:

Courses include units on social work, human services, nursing, economics, justice and law.

QUT aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable through its policies, programs, research and education.

Our sustainability action plan includes environmentally sustainable design standards and guidelines for campus buildings. We support students with affordable housing, sustainable transport systems and cultural heritage programs including historic buildings, museums and art galleries.

Our researchers investigate sustainable cities and communities from a range of perspectives:

Courses include units from architecture and landscape architecture, urban development and planning, civil and environmental engineering, disaster management and geography.

At QUT, we ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns through our sustainability action plan and policies, programs, research and education.

We have a range of waste reduction and recycling programs, together with a staff Green Champion program and Sustainability Week event.

Our research relates to:

Courses include units from business, health safety and environment, design and chemical process engineering.

At QUT, we ‘take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’ through our policy, research and education.

We have a range of energy, water, transport, recycling/waste and engagement programs (see SDGs 6, 7 and 11), and a sustainability action plan with carbon and energy targets.

Our researchers investigate climate change from a range of perspectives including:

Our courses offer units in climate science, disaster management, environmental law and environmental health.

QUT supports the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development through its biodiversity programs, research and education.

Our sustainability plan sets down water consumption targets and need to comply with environmental licences and we have a range of community outreach programs. These include the Living Reef digital display on The Cube and the Virtual Reef Diver citizen science project.

Our researchers investigate life below water from a range of perspectives:

Our courses include units from biological, earth and environmental sciences and other fields including environmental law and economics.

At QUT, we protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.

We have a sustainability action plan, annual campus biodiversity audits, habitat boxes for native wildlife, habitat restoration on campus and tree planting at our Samford Ecological Research Facility.

The following research relates to this goal:

Courses include units from biological sciences, environmental sciences, environmental health and environmental law.

QUT promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, and seeks to provide access to justice for all, and build effective accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Our governance policies and structures, along with staff and student programs in the area of respect and safety, harassment and discrimination, and corruption and fraud contribute to this goal.

Our research in the following fields contributes to this goal:

Our courses include units in justice, law, domestic violence, public sector management and other governance areas.

QUT is a member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a UN Initiative to advice the Sustainable Development Goals through research, education, policy and partnerships.

QUT has many international partnerships, and our research and education forge many global and local industry and community partnerships.

Making real progress

13 Feb 2025

Made with Love: QUT researchers question how much shoppers care

Love might be in the air for Valentine’s Day, but QUT researchers have found not all consumers are smitten with handmade products at the point of purchase, especially if they like to shop at speed.

6 Feb 2025

Half the coral trout caught on the Great Barrier Reef come from marine reserves

A new study of the Great Barrier Reef has revealed that the network of no-take marine reserves supplies nearly half of the region’s coral trout fishery catch.

6 Feb 2025

We love luxury goods, as long as you don’t tell us they're sustainable

Marketers promoting circular luxury products should discard words like ‘recycled’, ‘sustainable’ and even ‘eco-friendly’, say QUT researchers who found consumers prefer a combination of ‘sustainable’ and ‘progress-focused’ action words when considering sustainable luxury buys.

4 Feb 2025

QUT scientists develop groundbreaking biosensor for rare earth element detection

QUT synthetic biologists have developed a prototype for an innovative biosensor that can detect rare earth elements and be modified for a range of other applications. 

3 Feb 2025

NHMRC grant to investigate diet strategies to alleviate cancer treatment side effects

Dr Megan Crichton has received a $500,000 NHMRC e-Asia Joint Research Program grant to lead the project, “Identifying therapeutically targetable nutritional biochemistry and dietary intake profiles to address nutrition impact symptoms during chemotherapy: An international multisite prospective cohort study”.

25 Jan 2025

Dr Katrina Wruck named 2025 Young Australian of the Year

Dr Katrina Wruck, QUT research fellow in industrial chemistry and lecturer in the School of Chemistry and Physics who advocates for the power of green chemistry has been named the 2025 Young Australian of the Year.

+ Show more