UTS College lets students tell ‘The Year That Made Me’

UTS College has handed the storytelling to its students in The Year That Made Me, a new campaign from The Core Agency built from real footage, photos and words supplied by students.

The work focuses on what changes during a year at UTS College, including growing confidence, finding a sense of belonging and building resilience when things do not go to plan.

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Students provide the creative

Rather than reconstructing the student experience, The Core Agency developed a suite of films and digital assets using content students created during their time at the College.

Christian Finucane, Creative Director and Founder at The Core Agency, said: “Gen Z see straight through marketing hype, so we knew the best way to convince them was to be real and feature the people who had already been to UTS College and killed it.”

UTS College provides pathway programs into the University of Technology Sydney, with most of its diplomas leading students into second year at UTS.

Natasha Wheeler, Brand and Communication at UTS College, said the campaign was designed to move beyond the usual emphasis on academic outcomes.

“It's easy for this sector to talk in outcomes, degrees, pathways, results. What matters to our students is the belonging and transformation they build along the way, and we wanted this campaign to reflect that. The Core Agency brought that vision to life, and we're so proud of how our students are celebrated in it."

Nikki Duffey, Campaign and Digital at UTS College, said maintaining a connection with the broader UTS brand was also part of the brief.

“It was important that this campaign still felt like UTS College, reflecting the University's brand while giving our own creative and personality room to come through. That balance is what made the stories feel true to our students,"

Building on The Core Agency's UTS work

UTS College said the appointment followed The Core Agency's 2025 brand work for the University of Technology Sydney. That campaign, It's not just a university, it's UTS, also used real students and their stories, with film supported by outdoor, digital display and social activity.

Finucane said the latest project revealed the impact students attributed to their time at the College.

“Through their stories we quickly discovered the immensely positive impact UTS College had on students. It was a lot of fun and a great privilege to work on a product that genuinely gives people more confidence and changes their futures.”

The Year That Made Me is rolling out across paid social, digital video, owned assets and student touchpoints.

Credits

Client: UTS College

• CEO: Morwenna Shahani
• Executive Director: Peter Harris
• Campaigns and Digital: Nikki Duffey
• Brand and Communication: Natasha Wheeler

Agency: The Core Agency

• Creative Partners: Christian Finucane and Jon Skinner
• Managing Partner: Rebecca Turner
• Client Strategy Officer: Megan Sneesby
• Senior Creative: Sarah Mould
• Copywriter: Lauren Seaborn
• Art Director: Callum Foot
• Senior Account Director: Joseph Rosslind
• Producer: Meredyth Judd

Production

• Director/Editor: Zac Lynch-Woodlock
• Producer: Victoria Beck
• DOP: Matt Maule
• 1st AC: Darren Mak
• 2nd AC: Dillon Mak
• Gaffer: Remi Durrenberger
• Lighting Assist: Alex Wilson
• Sound Recordist: James Yeremeyer
• H&MU Artist: Steph Cainaro
• Photographer: Jeremy Shaw
• Production Assistant: Gia Smith
• Motion Graphics: James Manton
• Colourist: Nickolas Andrews

Sound Design: Mosaic