Energy, innovation and engagement

A message from Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Terri Joiner:

The 2022 academic year has commenced with energy, innovation and engagement.

We are delighted to welcome back both staff and students to ACU campuses after an almost two-year hiatus. We are particularly excited to welcome back our international students who add such enthusiasm and diversity to classroom discussions. While virtual, blended and other forms of best-practice learning will continue, campus engagement is central to the student learning approach both across the university, and in the Faculty of Law and Business (FLB).

I’d like to share some recent updates and highlights from the FLB with you all.

Course innovation

The Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice offered for the first time by the Thomas More Law School has been enormously successful. Market-led, relevant, double degrees with Criminology are in the approval/development pipeline along with Graduate Certificates in Privacy and Canon Law.

In 2023, the Peter Faber Business School will also launch a targeted suite of bracketed Commerce degrees in four major areas of specialization:

• Bachelor of Commerce (HRM and Management)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Data Analytics)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting).

Each of these courses is augmented with professional accreditations, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and imbedded Microsoft credentials, which better serves the career aspirations of both our Business and IT students while meeting industry demands.

Thought leadership and engagement

Both the law and business schools launched the new year with impactful thought leadership and knowledge exchange forums. The annual Barry O’Keefe Memorial Lecture was delivered by Libby Lyons, former Director of the Commonwealth Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, who underscored the importance of equal treatment for women, minorities and carers at work. Always forward thinking, Libby highlighted how AI could be employed to analyse anomalies in enterprise agreements that might contravene the FWA or other aspects of law. The lecture was well received by a diverse range of participants.

The business school hosted an international knowledge exchange forum in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affair and Trade and Deakin University. The forum explored the benefits and challenges for students in India and Australia in securing internships underpinned by the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). The panels featured a cross section of corporates, NGOs, educators, researchers, social entrepreneurs and practitioners including a presentation by the Cisco State Head for SDG Development. ACU’s Mark Doggett delivered a key-note session on mapping Laudato Si’ themes and the United Nations SDGs, and shared ACU’s progress on meeting the SDGs.

FLB leadership changes

I would like to acknowledge the support, energy and thoughtful work that Professor Patrick Keyzer has put into the role of Interim Associate Dean Research (ADR). Professor Rocque Reynolds will take over as Interim ADR from 1 April for the remainder of the year.

Professor Reynolds was previous Chair of the Research Committee of the Council of Australian Law Deans, has held several HERDC Category 1 research and commercial grants, and a publication record based on quality and impact.

In the context of my fast-approaching retirement, the search process for a new Executive Dean for Business, IT and Law is well underway.

From my lounge chair (or perhaps bike or kayak), I will admire the next exciting chapter of the Faculty of Law and Business from afar.

Best wishes to all!