Community impact of Massey’s SDG programme wins global recognition

Massey’s Master of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been shortlisted and named in the top 20% in the Sustainable Education Action category of the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards.

The international awards, which attracted more than 1600 global entries, are often referred to as the "Oscars of Education." They celebrate cutting-edge projects, pedagogies and technologies that are transforming education for the better.

Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University's entry in the award titled Driving Real-World Change: Master of the SDGs included a state-of-the-art video, which features SDG students during their Masters practicum placements throughout Aotearoa and showcases the impact they were able to make. Conceptualised and scripted by Professor Regina Scheyvens and produced in-house by David Wiltshire and Graeme Ninness, the video was celebrated for its strong focus on practical outcomes and its contribution to advancing sustainability education.

Massey University Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes says she is incredibly proud of the team behind the Master of Sustainable Development Goals.

“The QS Reimagine Education Awards celebrate and reward the most innovative projects, pedagogies, and technologies transforming education globally. This reflects the outstanding contributions our team continues to make, their commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering impactful outcomes which will not only advance Massey’s commitment to sustainability education, but we hope it will also inspire others in the sector.”

Led by Professor Regina Scheyvens, the Master of SDGs programme is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to drive sustainable change across communities, organisations and governments. The programme integrates interdisciplinary learning with practical, real-world application ensuring graduates are ready to tackle complex sustainability challenges.

‘When we heard about the QS Reimagine Awards, we thought this would be a cool opportunity to showcase how our practicum placements empower our students to turn classroom theory into real life action - and that’s a great way of preparing for their future careers in the sustainability space,’ Professor Scheyvens says.

The winners in the 2025 QS Reimagine Education Awards will be announced in December at the QS showcase event in London.

Click here to watch the submission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJpCNYZBk58