This resource outlines the strategic priorities and guiding principles of ACU Thrive, a student success model that builds confidence and supports long-term success. It offers a blend of independent learning, collaboration, and engaging online content to ensure a smooth transition into university.

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What is ACU Thrive?

ACU Thrive is a student success model designed to provide a unique commencing student experience. The model focuses on delivering a high-quality and consistent learning experience for students at a course level to help build their confidence and support long-term success in their studies at ACU and beyond.

ACU Thrive was piloted in 2023 and endorsed for full implementation in 2024 for commencing undergraduate students. By 2025, the majority of undergraduate students will be undertaking their first year under the Thrive model.

Read additional ACU Thrive FAQs here

Learning with ACU Thrive

The model is based on a flipped classroom design where the traditional learning environment is reversed, and students are given the opportunity to access their learning content online to prepare for classes in advance. This allows students to learn new content at their own pace, in their own time and ensures students can use class time to participate in interactive activities and collaborative discussions with their peers.

Guiding Principles

To learn more about each of the principles that guided the development of ACU Thrive, expand the sections below.

  • Supporting the transition into and through university life
  • Accommodating and celebrating the diversity of students
  • Designing learning-focused environments through intentional integration and sequencing of learning
  • Engaging learning environments that are active and collaborative
  • Early and frequent formative assessment to help support and guide students
  • Influenced by the INSPIRE toolkit
  • Other meta-analyses in fields related to higher education
  • Rigorous primary research (e.g. controlled trials) in higher education
  • Other forms of research evidence (e.g. qualitative research) that elucidates review-level findings
  • Student Learning Management System (LMS) and Echo360 analytics
  • Early semester student feedback
  • Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys and Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) results
  • Unit and course success rates
  • Longevity data within and across units and courses

Provide multiple means of:

  • engagement through recruiting interest, sustained effort and persistence and enhancement of self-regulatory action
  • representation by providing alternative presentations, using language and symbols and boosting comprehension
  • action and expression by optimising access, varying media and methods and promoting meta-cognition

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Page last updated on 20/03/2025
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