St Andrews joins the Association of Commonwealth Universities
The University of St Andrews is pleased to join the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Building on our many ties in education, research and community engagement across the Commonwealth, St Andrews will be able to benefit from a new platform to facilitate collaboration with staff and students at over 500 universities in over 50 countries.
“We are delighted to join the Association of Commonwealth Universities and look forward to engaging with network partners across the world. We share the ACU’s commitment to supporting and enhancing international collaboration and believe that membership provides a valuable opportunity to collaborate on projects that tackle global challenges and share best practice across the higher education sector.” – Sam Lister, Director of the Global Office.
Founded in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s oldest international university network. The ACU’s mission is to build a better world through higher education, and address global challenges. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association made up of 56 countries, mostly former colonies of the British Empire, which works for democracy, prosperity and peace. 33 of the world’s 42 small states are Commonwealth members, and many of these are especially vulnerable to climate change.
As the third-oldest university in the English-speaking world, St Andrews has a number of historical connections to Commonwealth Universities. A St Andrews alumnus, Professor George Halford, was the founding professor of the University of Melbourne medical school. In 1948, St Andrews established its first student exchange with an ACU member university. Today, St Andrews has a large number of partnerships, research collaborations, student activity and community engagement around the world. St Andrews also supports a number of prestigious scholarships administered by the ACU, including the Chevening Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission awards.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities offers a number of possibilities for staff and students at member universities to get involved in its work. For example, the ACU brings the voice of its members to key policy forums; delivers projects to strengthen its member universities; and supports international mobility. The ACU Member Communities are free to join for all staff at ACU member institutions. They include the Climate Resilience Network, the Peace and Reconciliation Network; HR in the HE Community, Supporting Research Community and the Higher Education and the SDGs Network. The ACU offers a number of funding opportunities.
The Global Office coordinates St Andrews’ membership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Please contact [email protected] for further details.