Take part in the Staff Communication Survey
News 4 SeptemberShare your thoughts on communication at ACU by taking part in the Staff Communication Survey by Friday 13 September.
19 December 2017
Share
A message from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Greg Craven:
At the end of a year marked by global upheaval and controversy, Christmas is a time to join our fellow Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus and remember His eternal message – one of infinite love, compassion and hope.
At Australian Catholic University (ACU) we have plenty to reflect on, celebrate and be proud of as 2017 draws to a close.
In January I was honoured to attend the Global Foundation Rome Roundtable in Rome. ACU was a key partner of this unique gathering involving senior leaders from politics, business, faith and academia to discuss solutions to issues under the umbrella term coined as ‘inclusive globalisation’ by His Holiness, Pope Francis.
This year also saw us reposition the way we look and sound. Our new brand proposition “Impact through Empathy” has been developed to capture elements of our mission as a Catholic university and shows how our work and our students and staff have the capacity to change the world. The ACU mission will continue to shape what we do – from the ACU staff and student experience to the research that we undertake to the programs we offer. To demonstrate our new brand in action, we became the National Education Partner of Orange Sky. A non-profit organisation formed in 2014, Orange Sky is the world’s first free mobile laundry service for the homeless.
We also strengthened our international relationships by meeting with senior staff at the International Federation of Catholic Universities and also the Rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP). I travelled to the University of Verona, one of our longest standing Italian partner universities and met with leading universities and senior government colleagues in Belgium and Germany. We also signed an MoU with the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome – the preeminent Catholic institute for studies on relations between Christians and Islam.
In August we hosted the Federal Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast at the National Press Club in Canberra. The breakfast was attended by around 220 guests, including the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, Education Minister, the Leader of the Australian Greens and the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.
And recently, my wife Anne and I had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis while we were in Rome attending meetings of the Holy See and joining senior Catholic Healthcare executives from Australia who were in Rome to take part in an ACU facilitated seminar of leadership in mission in Catholic healthcare.
Our students also continue to be a source of pride and inspiration for all of us at ACU.
Brisbane psychology student Nathan Pitt, was named the inaugural Francis Xavier Conaci Sholar. The Francis Xavier Conaci Scholarship recognises the life of an extraordinary Indigenous seminarian and enables an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student to undertake one of their Core Curriclum Units at the ACU Rome Study Centre.
The inspirational Grace Corcoran became ACU’s first student to win a New Colombo Plan scholarship. This award is the most lucrative and prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country, and is highly sought after. It will see the Applied Public Health and Global Studies student head to overseas to undertake an internship followed by a semester of studies at the College of Micronesia.
On the sporting field two student athletes from ACU’s Strathfield campus won medals at the Summer Universiade (also known as the World University Games) in Taipei. Kyle Cranston took out the gold medal in the Men’s Decathlon while Alysha Burnett claimed silver in the Women’s Heptathlon.
These are just a few of very many highlights during 2017. Now we have the chance to look forward to a successful, productive 2018 where we will continue our commitment to the pursuit of knowledge, the dignity of the human person and the common good.
Wishing you and your families’ blessings, love and peace this Christmas, and a joyous start to 2018.
Professor Greg Craven AO, GCSG
Vice-Chancellor and President
Share your thoughts on communication at ACU by taking part in the Staff Communication Survey by Friday 13 September.
Congratulations to ACU Professor Daryl Higgins and the team behind the landmark Australian Child Maltreatment Study who have won a Queensland Child Protection Week Award.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: I continue to be inspired by ACU’s staff, in the commitment they show to the greater good and to the value they place on th...
ACU Library’s Research Engagement team invites all researchers and higher degree research (HDR) students to join updated Research Essentials skills sessions for Semester 2.
Belated Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, granddads and father-figures. Hear from ACU working parent Timothy Ly about how access to leave and flexible working arrangements helped when he became a fa...
The Library is pleased to introduce SIFT, a robust methodology designed to enhance student information evaluation skills.
Applications for ACU Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning and the Vice Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching close on Monday 9 September.
Hear from staff and students about how they are navigating the potential of generative artificial intelligence. Register for HELTA's three-part series to explore GenAI’s impact and applications in hig...
We are in the middle of National Child Protection Week – it’s a great reminder to check out ACU resources on safeguarding our students.
Under the Obelisk, a striking monumental sculpture by acclaimed artist Akio Makigawa, is the latest addition to the ACU Art Collection
Teaching staff are encouraged to check their units have been correctly linked to their names for the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys in upcoming teaching periods.
Members of the university community are warmly invited to join this online forum on 6 September.
Lecturers in Charge are encouraged to communicate with their students when they are referred for potential academic misconduct. A guide with ready-to-use text is now available, read and download a cop...
Join the conversation and register for the free online Equity @ ACU Symposium, to be held on 9 and 10 October. The symposium will feature keynote addresses from leaders in equity research, experts in ...
Lecturers in Charge (LICs) are now able to make a determination of poor academic practice as an outcome of an investigation into academic misconduct. Register for upcoming workshops and access guidanc...
Equity @ ACU Week is fast approaching. Join the conversation and register for the online Equity @ACU Symposium, a professional learning event for all staff on 9 and 10 October. The symposium will expl...
The library has created an AI hub, which explores the responsible and ethical use of generative technology.
A message from Executive Dean Faculty of Education and Arts Professor Mary Ryan: I am excited to announce the launch of Synergy, an innovative platform designed to foster collaborations between academ...
IT invites you to participate in a Technology in Teaching Spaces survey to gather feedback on the usability, reliability, and overall experience to improve future designs and focus investment.
All staff are warmly invited to participate in upcoming graduation ceremonies held in Sydney and Melbourne to offer a final show of support and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.