Professor Colin Riordan, ACU Secretary General, is set to visit Ghana to deliver a keynote address at the KNUST E-Learning International Conference. During his visit to Ghana, Professor Riordan will also meet with Vice Chancellors Ghana, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), and other institutional partners. He looks forward to strengthening the ACU's ties with Ghana and exploring new opportunities in the country.

Look out for your annual subscription fee invoice over the next few weeks, which will be dated 1 August 2024. Your subscription covers your ACU membership from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025. If you have any questions about your renewals or member benefits, please email our team at membership@acu.ac.uk for support.

Ahead of the ACU Ambassadors Summit on 8 October, ACU Ambassadors will have access to our forthcoming online members' area – ACU Connect. This new invitation-only space will open opportunities in our network of over 400 members in more than 40 countries around the Commonwealth. ACU Ambassadors will have first access to this new member benefit from September, and we intend to invite other groups from across ACU member universities to join in a phased way.

ACU staff and PEBL West Africa participants attended the eLearning Africa conference in Kigali, Rwanda in May. PEBL WA academic colleagues shared their expertise and experience in sessions focused on digital literacy, blended learning and digital learning platforms.

Aditya Malkani (ACU Regional Director, Membership: Asia-Pacific) joined University of Bristol (UK) academics on a visit to SVKM’s NMIMS in Mumbai, in support of a long-standing partnership. Aditya also joined a panel discussion (pictured) arranged by ACU member QMUL (UK) in Mumbai to discuss a range of topics related to careers and employability.

Ikita Pokharna (ACU Regional Engagement Representative – Asia) met with senior Newcastle University staff during their visit to India to discuss international partnerships. To learn more about how the ACU can help to foster global connections in India and Asia, please contact membership@acu.ac.uk

Are you determined to widen your international network, broaden your experience, and help address our shared global challenges? If you have expertise in policy influence, community engagement, and/or proposal writing, we have mentoring opportunities for you. Recognised researchers can support international postgraduate students to address marine-related challenges through the OCPP Scholarships programme. Please read the terms of reference and complete the form linked below to register your interest by 12:00 UTC on 11 July. Please contact us if you have questions.

What HR project could you deliver at your university with the help of a grant? Up to GBP 10,000 is available for your virtual or in-person project. These can include workshops, training, research, benchmarking, events, policy development, and more. Closing date: 13 August.

The Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships provide support for research projects on Commonwealth-related themes. Two studentships are available each year of up to GBP 5,500 each. Applications close: 31 July.

Are you passionate about your subject and interested in opportunities to advance your career, and contribute to new and exciting projects and programmes? Join our Roster of Experts and highlight your skills to gain access to opportunities to make a difference in a variety of subject areas.

The ACU will have a booth at PIE Live Asia Pacific and ACU members have a discount to join us there. Learn about Australian higher education, hear from students, meet our colleague Aditya Malkani (ACU Regional Director, Membership: Asia-Pacific), and use our space to make new connections over the course of this two-day event in Broadbeach, Australia. ACU members can use the following code for a 20% discount: PLAP24ACU20

ACU members are invited to apply to speak at The PIE Live North America 2024, taking place from 19-20 November in Boston, US. Read more about the discussion topics on the webpage linked below.

The ACU invites members to support research by the Digital Education Council to understand how artificial intelligence tools are being used by students in universities around the world. The findings will be shared in a joint ACU/DEC webinar, with individual institutional reports sent to all participants. Contact Hui Rong, Research Analyst at DEC, to take the 5-minute survey.

Developing positive mental health during your first professional role

Book your free place today for this Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) webinar. The webinar is open to anyone, irrespective of age, who will find it beneficial.