Rate My Professor Sze-En Watts

Sze-En Watts serves as the Manager of the Social Impact Studio at the University of Otago, a role she has held since establishing the University Volunteer Centre, which evolved into the Social Impact Studio in 2019. In this capacity, she leads a team dedicated to empowering students to connect with the community, challenge social norms, and create positive change through volunteering, leadership development, and innovative projects. As a key point of contact on campus, Watts assists students, staff, and community groups in identifying volunteer opportunities, brainstorming new roles, and growing the university's giving culture. The Studio, located in the Information Services Building at 65 Albany Street, Dunedin, supports a range of initiatives including drop-in sessions, workshops, and partnerships with organizations like OUSA and UniCrew.

Watts earned a Masters in Tourism from the University of Otago, specializing in volunteer tourism. Her extensive volunteer background includes eradicating cane toads and small mammals in outback Australia and working as a Panda Habitat Conservation Officer in a remote mountain village in China. Prior to her university career, she worked briefly in the youth travel industry. Under her leadership, the Social Impact Studio manages prominent programs such as the University of Otago Student Leadership Awards (UOSLA), which recognize compassionate and motivated student leaders through workshops, reflection journals, mentoring, and ceremonies attended by university executives. She also oversees the Global Impact Scholars program, where students complete at least 20 hours of community volunteering, culminating in graduations for cohorts starting in 2026. Watts co-facilitates the Emerging Leaders Programme for Master's and Doctoral candidates alongside Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith and serves as Co-President for professional staff in the Staff Women's Caucus. She has organized events including the Social Impact Festival sponsored by Canon New Zealand with diverse speakers, season of giving collections for Foster Hope, International Women's Day breakfasts, and collaborations like the Year 13 ChangeMaker Leadership Day. For her contributions, Watts received the University of Otago Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff.