International Matters

INTERNATIONAL MATTERS

Significant Developments

A number of universities around the world have requested articulation and joint program development. The Faculty has been mindful of program development enabled by the mapping work of Professor Alan Bowen-James and Kelly Callaghan. It has:

Completed the 2+2 double undergraduate business degree with Assumption University, Thailand. This builds on the previous articulation into our MBA, and foreshadows the potential double masters degree in negotiation. Assumption University attracts a wide range of international students from Europe and the United States; an Australian dimension to the course of study is likely to develop a rich diversity of international students into our programs.

Progressed partnership arrangements with Seattle University. This Jesuit university is keen to establish linkages with ACU Business, and marks a benefit of our membership to the International Association of Jesuit Business Schools (IAJBS) as well as Professor More’s conference presentation at the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Finalised the mapping of two Grande Ecoles in France (ESGI and ESA). These two schools have sought an exclusive Australian partner for students seeking international experience. There are potentially ten students likely to enrol from each institution.

International Visits

The Faculty’s mission has been assisted by colleagues prepared to visit other institutions while travelling for conferences.

Dr Al Marshall visited ESG Paris School of Management in April to teach International Advertising Strategy, an intensive Masters course he designed for them. This follows on from Al promoting studying at ACU, at the EPITECH expos held in January at their twelve campuses around France. In early July he visited IESEG in Paris where four ACU business students were undertaking the IESEG summer business program. He also met with Telecom Business School (a Grande Ecole) to promote linkages with ACU. At ACU Al has undertaken video interviews with 6 French students studying with ACU, that will be used for promotional purposes in France. An ACU Utube video will be produced, and the video footage is also being used by Australiemag, an ACU education agent in France.

Professor Kramar visited Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC), while researching her global Cranet Study. This is an emerging strategic partner for ACU, with very similar teaching and research interests, especially in developing linkages between strategy, CSR in developing countries and entrepreneurship. UCSC is looking for a flexible student exchange program. The VC’s recent MOU has firmed up our efforts to build both exchanges and summer school opportunities with specialist themes in innovation and design management.

Developing Ties with Fairfield University

The Faculty is developing stronger ties with Fairfield University. Fairfield has always had a good relationship with the Brisbane campus. Their recent visit by their Rector indicates a broader range of collaborative exchanges for both faculty and students. Fairfield possesses seven campuses worldwide (for example, Florence, Galway, Provence, Dar Es Salaam) where ACU students can complete the core curriculum units via an international experience. Fairfield has a strong teaching tradition in Finance and long-standing links with Wall Street, with strong internship possibilities. ESSCA in Paris has requested a joint undergraduate degree (2 years in Budapest and 1 year at ACU) which is being investigated. ESSCA has the advantage of a Shanghai campus, which would provide ACU Business students with both an Asian and European study abroad opportunities.

Caritas Agreement in Hong Kong

The Faculty has completed its teaching responsibilities with Caritas in Hong Kong. The final two students are able to complete via cross-institutional credit arrangements. The program has been finalised, and deregistration with the Hong Kong government is now complete. Our contractual obligations with HKUE have ended, with a mutual agreement on the end of the contract and deregistration of the program.

Partnership Programs

The Philippines program has begun and key faculty have been appointed for teaching. ACU Business offers a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) with IPA accreditation in the Stock Exchange Building in Makarti. Students enrolling are ACU students with similar entitlements to ACU students locally, with the possibility of transferring the Australian equivalent Bachelor of Commerce if they desire. Our partner is the Australian Institute of Higher Education, which has a long tradition of providing Australian quality programs in Manila. Our next trimester intake will be in September and the three year program is taught to the same curriculum and standards of the curriculum provided in Australia. The CHED registration of the ACU degree is being finalised with the Philippines Government.

Discussions are planned with St. John’s University (USA) (Rome), the Angelicum University (Rome), DePaul University (USA) and PUC Chile. ACU International continues to promote Business programs in partner negotiations and in representing the faculty to Agents, Conventions and to parents of potential students at overseas fairs.

Curriculum Review

The Faculty’s internationalisation strategy will form part of the overall curriculum review and changes underway. Our internationalisation includes global content in teaching as well as opportunities for greater interaction with our partner institutions, via online and interactive learning, student exchange opportunities, faculty from partner institutions visiting ACU as well as our faculty visiting partner institutions to collaborate in research and teaching activities.