ACU takes a step forward in an exciting collaboration with Boston College

A message from the Provost Professor Pauline Nugent.

Earlier this year I met with Boston College President Fr William Leahy, Provost Professor David Quigley, Vice Provost for Global Engagement Professor Alberto Godenzi, and other representatives for initial discussions regarding potential teaching, student exchange and mobility, and research collaboration.

In late March a Skype meeting was held with Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing Dean Professor Susan Gennaro, Associate Dean for Research Professor Christopher Lee, and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs Professor M. Colleen Simonelli. Attending the meeting from ACU were Professor Michelle Campbell, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mr Chris Riley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, International and myself. The introduction of a semester-long exchange program for ACU and Boston College Nursing students was discussed. This will be progressed through sharing of Nursing Curricula and further meetings.

This exciting initiative will give nursing students from both universities an opportunity to undertake studies overseas and get credit towards their degree. Students participating in this exchange program will gain international perspectives on global health issues, diversity in healthcare systems and needs, and cultural differences.

I am excited to progress ACU’s international partnership with Boston College, a prestigious and globally recognised institution. ACU currently has over 80 university exchange partners from various parts of the world that are assisting ACU to shape our students into responsible and ethical global professionals with practical knowledge and skills for the workplace.

Our recent discussions with Boston College also centred on joint collaborative research projects between our universities, which are founding members of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU). Boston College’s Professor Lee from the School of Nursing has been invited to participate in the upcoming “Self-Care in Health” research symposium, convened by ACU Professorial Fellow Professor Barbara Riegel and organised by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Wayne McKenna and the Faculty of Health Sciences at our Rome Campus from 4 to 7 June this year. While there, further meetings will be arranged to discuss potential collaboration in various areas of research expertise shared by our universities.

These are indeed new and stimulating opportunities for ACU to increase our international footprint and solidify our position among the finest Catholic research universities in the world.

I look forward to the further development of these initiatives in the coming months.

Professor Pauline Nugent
Provost