Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a
public university
A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universit ...
in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. It has seven Australian campuses and also maintains a campus in Rome.
History
Australian Catholic University was opened on 1 January 1991 following the amalgamation of four Catholic tertiary institutions in eastern Australia:
* Catholic College of Education Sydney, New South Wales
* Institute of Catholic Education, Victoria
* McAuley College, Queensland
* Signadou College of Education, Australian Capital Territory
These institutions had their origins in the mid-1800s, when religious orders and institutes became involved in preparing teachers for Catholic schools and, later, nurses for Catholic hospitals. Through a series of amalgamations, relocations, transfers of responsibilities and diocesan initiatives, more than 20 historical entities have contributed to the creation of the university.
Governance
ACU's vice-chancellor and president Professor Zlatko Skrbis is responsible for representing the university both nationally and internationally and for providing strategic leadership and management.
Deputy vice-chancellors have delegated responsibility for assigned areas of policy. These areas are academic, administration and resources, and research.
Each faculty is headed by an executive dean and supported by a number of associate deans and heads of schools.
Campuses
ACU has seven campuses across Australia: Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney (Blacktown, North Sydney, Strathfield) with a Leadership Centre in Adelaide and another in Townsville. In 2015, the university opened the Rome Centre, a collaboration with the
Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by U.S. ...
, located in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
, Italy.
"Rome Centre"
, ACU website
Student life
Each ACU campus has a student representative council and there is a national student body called the Australian Catholic University National Students' Association (ACUNSA), which advocates on behalf of students both individually and collectively.
The university hosts an annual national sporting event – the ACU Games – and students also compete in Australia's largest annual multisport event, the Australian University Games.
Notable alumni
*Ellie Cole
Ellie Victoria Cole, (born 12 December 1991) is an Australian retired Paralympic swimmer and wheelchair basketball player. After having her leg amputated due to cancer, she trained in swimming as part of her rehabilitation program and progresse ...
- Paralympic swimmer and wheelchair basketball player
See also
* List of universities in Australia
There are 43 universities in Australia: 40 Australian universities (36 public and 4 private) and 3 international private universities. The Commonwealth Higher Education Support Act 2003 sets out three groups of Australian higher education prov ...
References
External links
*
Strategic Alliance of Catholic Universities
{{Coord, 27.378, S, 153.089, E, type:edu_region:AU-QLD, display=title, name=Australian Catholic University (Brisbane Campus)
Universities in Queensland
Universities in Brisbane
Universities in Sydney
Universities in Melbourne
Universities in the Australian Capital Territory
Catholic universities and colleges in Australia
Nursing schools in Australia
Art schools in Australia
Educational institutions established in 1991
Banyo, Queensland
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
1991 establishments in Australia
Municipality of Strathfield
Schools in Queensland
North Sydney, New South Wales