Fellowships of up to GBP 5,000 are available for university staff to collaborate with universities in different countries. From climate action to engineering, the ACU Fellowships cover a range of disciplines. Atiqah Aziz, a Research Officer at the University of Malaya, used an ACU Fellowship to take part in collaborative research at the School of Medicine, Swansea University, UK.

‘The ACU Fellowship allowed me to build my research interest in cancer and significantly enhance my career.I received mentoring, enhanced training, and made connections which often led to further opportunities.'

Deadline: 24 May at 15:00 UTC

Over 150 members have already signed up to take part in ACU Measures - an annual service to help member universities benchmark policies, practices, and resource allocation in key areas of university management. This is performed in a confidential, non-competitive, and non-ranking way.

To assist the Supporting Research Survey, 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. 

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. From sourcing energy-saving and clean energy options for Fijian schools, to a project on gender-based disparities in access to finance in Bangladesh — the grants have funded a diverse range of activities, projects, workshops, and events.

Four grants of GBP 2,500 are available.

Deadline: 17 May at 10:00 UTC

The Commonwealth Peace and Reconciliation Challenge Grants fund ACU members to deliver 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.

Members have used these grants to fund a diverse range of initiatives, including designing new learning modules on relations between settlers and indigenous populations, and promoting a decolonised approach to studying abroad. Applications could include ideas for a virtual exchange, fellowship, collaboration and more – visit the ACU website for further information.

Grants of up to GBP 2,500 are available.

Deadline: 1 June at 16:00 UTC

The ACU is delighted to be partnering with the University of Johannesburg Library on their international conference 'RECONNECT: Embracing the changing shape of the world and how we work together', taking place 17-18 May. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed how we work, learn, and teach. By connecting thought leaders and like-minded colleagues from across the world, this international conference will explore a range of lessons learned about navigating a post-pandemic recovery in libraries and teaching and learning. 

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

Applications are welcomed from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, but preference may be given to disciplines usually covered by the Round Table journal. Last year’s award winner used the Studentship to investigate how the colonial circulation of plants and garden ideas has shaped the public garden practice in Bangalore.

The studentships are up to GBP 5,500 each.

Deadline: 31 July at 23:59 UTC

The Virtual Mobility Project Grants provide funding for members to deliver a virtual mobility project – such as an online summer school – in partnership with another university. One grant will fund a partnership between two medical schools, while a further five grants are open to applications from any department.

The grants have been used to fund a range of projects, such as a summer school on peacebuilding and a virtual event on education for sustainable development.

Grants of up to GBP 4,500 are available.

Deadline: 7 June at 16:00 UTC

Applications for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) are 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 Fiji, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Deadline: 24 May at 16:00 UTC

More than half of the 47 counties in Kenya are without a radiologist, which creates significant challenges for caring for patients in need of diagnostic radiology services. Through the ACU Fellowship, Queen's University, Canada has partnered with the University of Nairobi to train more than 50 radiology residents through online lectures.

Ministers have pledged greater support for higher education at the 21st Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM). They directly recognised the essential role that higher education plays in sustainable development and the need for further investment to ensure greater access to a better quality of global higher education for all.  

After consultation with ACU members, we made a series of policy proposals and recommendations at the conference.  The Ministerial Statement supported a number of these, including ensuring equitable access to higher education, addressing the digital divide, and acknowledging higher education’s role in all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You can read our full report and details of what has been secured, on our website.