We have re-launched ACU Measures, our annual online benchmarking service, with the Supporting Research Survey. Please forward this to the main research contact at your university.

ACU Measures is a unique opportunity for you to benchmark your policies, practices, and resource allocation in key areas of university management in a confidential, non-competitive, and non-ranking way.

The service has been redesigned with ACU members to create a more responsive and informative annual service with new features, such as a bespoke report for your institution highlighting key trends at the pan-membership and regional levels

To support the success of ACU Measures, we need your help to identify the primary research contact at your university. As ACU Measures collects institutional rather than departmental/faculty data or individual views, we suggest ownership of the survey resides with a senior contact responsible for research and research support activities at your university.

ACU Fellowships enable university staff at ACU member universities to collaborate with ACU member universities in different countries across a broad range of disciplines. From climate action to engineering, the ACU Fellowships cover a range of disciplines. A list of available Fellowships can be found on the ACU website. 

Each Fellowship is up to GBP 5,000.

Deadline: 10 May at 15:00 UTC

Do you have an idea for a project, workshop or event to help support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda? The ACU Higher Education and the SDGs Challenge Grants fund collaborative work for professional and academic staff at member universities. 

Four grants of GBP 2,500 are available.

Deadline: 3 May at 16:00 UTC

A new network is launching to support young people across the Commonwealth to contribute to, and advocate for, sustainable urbanisation, and to look at ways in which cities and human settlements can better reflect the needs of young people.

To join the network you must be:

• A citizen of a Commonwealth Nation - check here: https://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries
• Age 15 - 35 Years old
  

Want to give your students the life-changing opportunity to study and work abroad? The Turing Scheme funds international opportunities for personal and professional development for UK students from all backgrounds. Universities, schools and colleges across the UK and British overseas Territories can apply now to secure funding that enables their students, including those from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds, to undertake life-changing study or work placements around the world.

If you haven’t yet registered to apply please click here. If you have registered and would like to begin your application click here. The Turing website contains a range of resources and guidelines to support your application, including:

• The Turing Scheme Programme Guide
• The Turing Scheme Application Guide
• Blog: How to give your Turing Scheme application the best chance of success

Application deadline: 29 April 

Applications for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) are now open. QECS offers fully-funded Master’s scholarships to Commonwealth students to travel to a different country in the Commonwealth, where they can study a variety of courses and benefit from the expertise provided by leading universities.

Developing new skills, gaining a qualification and experiencing life in another country benefits both the individual and their home country. Scholarships are currently available at member institutions in Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Sri Lanka. 

Deadline: 25 May at 16:00 UTC

Dr Sian Davies-Vollum from the University of Derby delivered a virtual mobility workshop with the University of Education Winneba in Ghana with a Virtual Mobility Project Grant.

The Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Challenge Grants are awarded to ACU members to support initiatives advancing peace, reconciliation, and indigenous knowledge. Aimed at academic and professional staff, the grants support collaborative work focused on the strategic priorities of the Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Network.

Applications will open in the week commencing 11 April

The ACU Virtual Mobility Project Grants provide funding for ACU members to deliver a virtual mobility project – such as an online summer school – in partnership with another ACU member university. The grants aim to help students enhance their intercultural skills and global knowledge without the need for physical travel. Watch this video to learn more about virtual mobility projects.

Applications will open in the week commencing 25 April

The PhD studentships provide support for research projects on Commonwealth related themes. Two studentships are available each year, one for UK-registered students and one for Commonwealth students in other countries.

The studentships are up to GBP 5,500 each.

Applications will open in the week commencing 9 May

In this article for The PIE blog, ACU Chief Executive Dr Joanna Newman reflects on the immense potential of the Turing Scheme to open up new horizons for individuals and institutions alike.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has committed to transitioning to a Blue Economy. A key pillar of this is the establishment of a Centre of Excellence at the University of the West Indies.