Update from the Provost Portfolio

A message from the Provost, Professor Pauline Nugent:

Dear colleagues,

I am delighted to advise that the University has exceeded total enrolment targets by 0.5% or 126 EFTSL for 2017. CSP continuing load is 4.6% or 635 EFTSL above target, signaling our strong pipeline and retention rates. Total fee-paying overseas load target has also been exceeded by 12.3% and expected to further increase following the July 2017 intake.

Our positive enrolment position is due to strong efforts by many, including the Faculties who have worked hard in developing a strong Mid-Year Strategy, taking full advantage of the CSP agreement for sub-bachelor and PG places, as well as fee-paying strategy and the work of MER to build load across disciplines, courses, campuses, and funding sources. I have also been working closely with Faculties and Admissions to structure strategic offers.

The enrolment planning process has begun to develop the 2018-2023 Enrolment Plan. This consultative process, which involves various areas across the University, is due for finalization by early September this year to facilitate the development of the 2018 University budget.  I appreciate the hard work of all involved in this planning over the coming months.

I have recently returned from China where I spent a week visiting a selection of our partner universities.  While I was in Changsha I visited Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine where the discussions focused on Health Science offerings and International exchange opportunities for students.

In Beijing I presented at the Sino-Australia Nursing Forum in PhD Education at Peking University, which was attended by representatives from nursing schools of the top institutions in China, providing an important opportunity to showcase ACU to an extended audience and increase our collaborations with these schools.

Our final stop was in Shanghai where our partners at Tongji University hosted talks in the areas of Economics and Management, Law, Medicine and International student and staff exchange.  We also held meetings with Shanghai Sibo Polytechnic College and Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

This important international destination for ACU provides continued opportunities for our staff and students and ACU’s expanding International profile.

New Executive Director, ACUcom

I am pleased to announce that Mr Shaun McDonagh commenced on Monday 26 June as ACU’s new Executive Director, ACUcom.

Shaun brings a strong history of leadership in the VET sector, most recently as Executive Director of Education – TAFE Queensland in Brisbane. Shaun’s experience in senior executive roles include experience in multi-state vocational education and training environments; a successful business development record and a familiarity of training pedagogy and principles encompassing online and adult learning.

Shaun has held various strategic, operational and marketing positions in his work history, including National Manager, Marketing and Communications with ACU from 2005 to 2007.  Please join me in welcoming Shaun back to ACU, where he will be based on our Brisbane Campus.