Community engagement as core business

As we approach one year since ACU gained the prestigious Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement (CE), it is important to reflect on ACU’s growing commitment to CE in our core business and the progress made.

During November we invite staff feedback on the development of a university-wide definition of community engagement.

A message from Head ACU Engagement Dr Matthew Pink:

I was thrilled to see the importance of community engagement front and centre in Vision 2033. Thriving communities are key to the Vision. This in-turn impacts flourishing lives and an ethical future. Digging deeper, collaborative engagement and a holistic education are core parts of the Vision’s foundations.

Vision 2033 also highlights ‘serving our communities through connection and collaboration’ as a core focus area for the next nine years. Working under the principle of subsidiarity, with and not ‘on’ or ‘for’ community is critical. Such an approach supports local autonomy and decision-making. It is an exciting time for academic and professional staff to be undertaking community engagement at ACU.

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification allows universities to demonstrate their commitment to the communities they serve and to share good practice in the sector. Carnegie classification has identified ACU as a sector leader domestically and this is an affirmation of our mission to pursue knowledge, advance the common good and affirm human dignity. Commitment to the Carnegie classification however is also a commitment to continual improvement. As such, there are exciting pieces of work in-train.

A university-wide definition

It is now time in ACU’s community engagement evolution to establish a common and university-wide definition. Such a definition should be an umbrella term which community-engaged learning and research can sit beneath yet also capture the spirit of our identity and mission. The definition should also include essential elements of best-practice community engagement.

I invite all staff to provide feedback on definition examples via the link below as we discern upon a definition that will drive community-engaged activity towards 2033. The form allows for ranking the three example definitions (with explainers) and also to provide qualitative feedback on the development of an ACU-wide definition.

The consultation period will run for four weeks and closes on Friday 1 November. There will also be some bespoke presentations announced where the development of the definition can be further discussed.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Give your feedback on the university-wide community engagement definition for ACU

Advancing our Community Engagement

The Community Engagement Unit Review Action Plan is in full swing after a strong review into community engagement units completed by Professor Tim McKenry, Dr Jen Azordegan, Dr Howard Rosing, Associate Professor Alison Owens, and Professor Chris Lonsdale in 2023. There is now a clear purpose statement for community-engaged learning at ACU and a set of unit design principles and guidelines attached to the Structuring Coursework Programs Policy. Professional development opportunities and resources continue to be developed.

At the partnership level, the Carnegie Classification Framework is supporting productive discussions and planning for how ACU can meet focus area 6.4 of Vision 2033, “Transform ACU campuses into precincts focused on innovation and co-location with Catholic partners, industry and community”. The precincts working group continues to further this work. Community-engaged activity has never been better represented in the Academic Promotions Criteria, and we continue to explore how community-engaged outcomes and impacts can be assessed on a university-wide scale. Ongoing development of the institutional support for community engagement will pay dividends for the university and our internal and external communities.

Keep an eye on the staff bulletin for more updates on community engagement at ACU.