COMM2000 Creating Social Change: From Innovation to Impact - 2026
General Course Information
Course Code : COMM2000
Year : 2026
Term : Summer
Course Details & Outcomes
Course Description
Do you want to lead change and implement social innovations? Would you like to find ways to address complex social problems?
This course is for aspiring change agents across all sectors, including business, not-for-profit and government. You will develop practical skills to lead complex systems to create better social outcomes. We explore the issues that policymakers, industry leaders and social service providers grapple with every day, such as inequality, place-based disadvantage, mental health, homelessness, and human rights. We will introduce models for systems change, and social innovation.
The course will equip you with a broad understanding of social systems and the keys to initiating and sustaining positive social change. Through a range of local and global case studies, you will acquire the skills to identify and analyse stakeholders and structural elements in the social challenges that shape society.
Join us to become a catalyst for change and make a tangible impact on society!
Course Aims
This course aims to introduce students to Systems Thinking and social change scenarios. It provides an overview of how sectors (public, private, and not-for-profit) create social impact and how they can work together more effectively to achieve positive social change. Students will examine these change processes within specific sectors as well as how these sectors interact to generate change. Catalysts and barriers to change will also be considered. Students will be given the opportunity to put this learning into practice by planning their own change process to solve a social problem.
Relationship to Other Courses
This course aims to introduce students to systems thinking and societal change scenarios. It provides an overview of how sectors (public, private, and not-for-profit) create social impact in Australia and how they can work together more effectively to achieve positive social change.
Students will examine these change processes within specific sectors as well as how these sectors interact to generate change. Students will put this learning into practice by planning their own change process to address a social problem. This course is a compulsory core course in the Business Sustainability and Social Impact major. It can also be taken as a Business School elective or as a General Education course for students from other UNSW faculties. It is designed to complement learning within the broad range of programs from across the University.
Course Learning Outcomes
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Course Learning Outcomes
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CLO1 : Explain how a systems thinking approach supports positive social impact.
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CLO2 : Discuss the drivers of, and barriers, to positive social change.
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CLO3 : Compare and contrast approaches to social change in different cultural contexts.
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CLO4 : Design a social change process integrating ethical, environmental and sustainability concepts and practices.
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CLO5 : Justify complex social impact ideas logically and persuasively based on relevant evidence.
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Course Learning Outcomes
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Assessment Item
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CLO1 : Explain how a systems thinking
approach supports positive social impact.
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• Storyboard Presentation
• Critical Analysis Video
• Proposal Plan
• Social Change Proposal
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CLO2 : Discuss the drivers of, and barriers, to positive social change.
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• Storyboard Presentation
• Critical Analysis Video
• Social Change Proposal
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CLO3 : Compare and contrast approaches to social change in different cultural contexts.
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• Social Change Proposal
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CLO4 : Design a social change process integrating ethical, environmental and sustainability concepts and practices.
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• Proposal Plan
• Social Change Proposal
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CLO5 : Justify complex social impact ideas logically and persuasively based on relevant evidence.
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• Storyboard Presentation
• Critical Analysis Video
• Proposal Plan
• Social Change Proposal
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Learning and Teaching Technologies
Moodle - Learning Management System
Learning and Teaching in this course
The overall pedagogical philosophy of this course is based on the belief that learning is an active process requiring engagement and immersion.
Due to the dynamic nature of social change this course will be highly interactive and discussion oriented. It will utilise innovative and varied learning, teaching and assessment strategies designed to apply content to practical examples and case studies.
Learning activities and teaching strategies:
In order to maximise the collaborative and experiential nature of this course, a 'flipped' learning and teaching approach will be used that will help to support deeper student engagement and outcomes. The flipped approach means students undertake reading and researching independently and use face-to-face class time for active and interactive learning. You have three major resources to help you learn:
1. The course materials comprise readings, references, insights and commentary for each unit. You will do much of your learning independently by working through the course materials and completing the learning activities.
2. Your class discussions are conducted during intensive face-to-face classes. Your facilitator's role is to guide your learning by conducting class discussions, and answering questions that might arise after you have done the week's work. The facilitator also presents insights from practical experience and understanding of theory, providing you with feedback on your assignments, and directing discussions that will occur between you and your co-participants.
3. Your co-participants are an invaluable source of rich learning content for you. Their work and life, and their willingness to question and debate the course materials, your views and those of the facilitator, represent a great learning opportunity. They bring much valuable insight to the learning.