![](/-/media/feature/micrositesnewsandevents/staffnews/suzanne-chambers-460px.jpg)
Innovation in practice
News 24 JulyA message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
03 April 2019
Share
A message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Wayne McKenna.
The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) outcomes released last week demonstrate another major improvement in ACU’s research profile. They show that ACU is achieving research outcomes above or well above world standard in our areas of strategic priority.
The Faculty of Health Sciences achieved ten top scores of five, well-above world standard, in Medical and Health Sciences, and in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences. For health sciences in the last ERA we achieved five scores of 5, one of 4, and one of 1; in this ERA, in health sciences, there was not a single score below 5 and we doubled the number of scores of 5 that we achieved.
ACU has also made excellent progress with our scores in education. Across the three Field of Research (FoR) codes of 1301 Education Systems, 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy, and 1303 Specialist Studies in Education, there were 93 assessments at four-digit level and only four scores of 5; one each for ACU, Melbourne, Sydney, New South Wales. No other universities managed a score of 5 in any of the four-digit fields of research in education. In the last ERA we scored 3, 3, and 4 in this field of research. In this ERA ACU maintained its 3 in 1301 Education Systems, improved in 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy, moving up from a 3 to a 4, and improved in 1303 Specialist Studies in Education, moving up from a 4 to a 5. At two-digit level, FoR 13 Education, our overall score of 4 improved on our previous score of 3. Only two universities achieved a top score of 5 in education at two-digit level (FoR 13): the University of Melbourne and the University of New South Wales (with the result of UNSW based on one FoR code, 1303).
In Religion and Religious Studies, ACU scored the highest result for any Australian university, achieving the only score of 4 awarded this year. No Australian university has ever scored a 5 in this field of research, and ACU is the only one to perform consistently above world standard over the past six years. With the recent expansion in biblical and early Christian studies, religion and theology, and medieval and early modern studies, ACU is leading the field nationally in FoR 2204 Religion and Religious Studies and well-placed in pursuit of a 5 in the next ERA.
In Philosophy, ACU has been recognised as above world standard for the past two assessment rounds. The creation of a new Institute for Philosophy will strengthen the University’s profile in this priority area with the aim of achieving a world-leading position for philosophical research in the analytic tradition. New research appointments in 2019 are expected to improve ACU’s performance in moral philosophy and ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics and epistemology in the next ERA submission, which will include outputs up until the end of 2019.
In other fields of research, scores of 3, world standard, were achieved in business and management, law, history, politics, and sociology. Some of these areas have been strengthened recently and should improve on those scores in the next ERA.
The most recent ERA results not only confirm research excellence in ACU’s strategic priority areas. They are also evidence that we have become, within a relatively short period of time, a leading Australian university, above and well above the world standard in the research that aligns with our core mission and identity.
A great many people have contributed to this remarkable transition. They include a significant number of early career as well as senior researchers, as well as the professional staff who provide the support without which the researchers could not achieve these results. All are to be commended for their hard work and should be congratulated on achieving this outstanding result for ACU. I should also like to acknowledge the strategic support of the Senate, the Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Craven, the Senior Executive team, and all of the leaders in the University who have contributed to a marvellous collective effort.
A message from Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Suzanne Chambers: Winter has so far been a season of future-thinking and action for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
From Monday 22 July to Friday 9 August, Service Central will be available for extended hours to support staff.
A message from Vice President Father Anthony Casamento csma: From 5 – 9 August we will celebrate Mission Week across our campuses. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to cele...
Are you going to be a grandparent soon? Did you know ACU offers personal leave for staff to care for their child or grandchild after birth or adoption?
Discover the learning and career development opportunities that are available online, including the brand-new leadership development program, 'The Edge Series'.
Join ASCILITE and become a member of one of Australasia’s most vibrant professional technology enhanced learning communities, with more than 2200 members from tertiary institutions across Australia an...
Phones will be removed from all classrooms over the mid-semester break, from 23 September to 27 September.
Include an additional survey item in the Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) survey for units that are offered in Professional Term 5 (202455).
Australia’s first five-time diving Olympian, a Kiwi gymnast and the woman who taught actor Chris Hemsworth to row will be among 15 ACU students and alumni to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Para...
A message from acting Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy Associate Professor Richard Colledge: Recently, the faculty has hosted opportunities for reflection on the possibilities for reconcilia...
Are you on your parenthood journey? A practical guide is now available to support staff, and their supervisors, through the stages of becoming a parent and transitioning back to work.
Embark on an exhilarating journey into the mysterious world of enrolments. Register to attend an enrolment information session for Semester 2, 2024.
Join upcoming online workshops in preparation for Semester 2. Secure your spot today to learn how you can utilise Canvas and its features to enhance your teaching practices.
A limitless professional horizon awaits ACU students after its three IT programs were awarded certification by the nation’s most trustworthy player in the tech sector, the Australian Computer Society.
Following evaluation and voting by a panel of ACU judges, Co-Lab is delighted to announce Thomas Clark and Xavier Chalkley as the winners of the $1000 prize for the ACU Co-Lab Social Enterprise Pitch ...
ACU Library staff will participate in professional development activities on Thursday 18 July. While away from their usual posts, they'll be working together across three locations to plan our future ...
Applications for 2024 Teaching Development Grants, Citations and Awards are open. Explore guidelines and resources to enhance your teaching project’s impact or gain recognition for your contributions.
As we sit in this small window of the winter break gearing up for Semester 2, it's important to recognise that not everyone experiences this period as downtime. For many, workloads and busy lifestyles...
This week is NAIDOC Week, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACU staff who are also members with UniSuper can now access free expert medical advice and services to support their health and wellbeing through MetLife 360Health.
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.