The 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference organised by ASEACCU Secretariat University of Saint Joseph and hosted by Australian Catholic University
The 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference organised by ASEACCU Secretariat University of Saint Joseph and hosted by Australian Catholic University
02
Sep
02/09/2024
The 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference themed “What makes a Catholic University Catholic? Expressing and Integrating Identity and Mission” was held from 21 to 23 August, in Sydney, Australia.
The 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference themed “What makes a Catholic University Catholic? Expressing and Integrating Identity and Mission” was held from August 21st to Aug 23rd, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. An important and exuberant annual gathering within the ASEACCU community, this year’s Conference was hosted by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) with collaborative assistance from the ASEACCU Secretariat, University of Saint Joseph Macao (USJ), and welcomed over 200 Conference delegates and guests from new and long-standing member institutions across Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and with regards from Thailand.
[ASEACCU Executive Secretary Rector Morgan’s Presentation during the General Assembly]
[ASEACCU Executive Board Meeting]
Continuing the tradition of thought-provoking lectures, this year’s Conference introduced crafted panel sessions and roundtable discussions surrounding the theme “What makes a Catholic University Catholic?”, the social impact and responsibilities of Catholic universities, reflecting mission through service-learning and research, and welcomed sharings from Rectors, student leaders and SACRU members. Reverend Professor Stephen Morgan as the ASEACCU Executive Secretary delivered welcoming remarks to the community of students, leadership members, honourable guests, faculty and speakers present in the Ryan Auditorium. In observance of the IFCU‘s Centenary, the 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference also served as a key regional occasion to foster the mission of the Catholic HEIs and the Church, with IFCU President Professor Isabel Gil in attendance and acting as one of the speakers.
USJ Professors Helen Liu and Nuno Soares delivered presentations during a shared panel on mission-aligned community engagement case studies, on the subjects “Education as a tool to Reduce Inequalities: A Pathway to Reintegration” (the USJ Prison Outreach Programme) and “Bamboo Architecture: Applied Research for Community Engagement” respectively.
At a networking luncheon on Day 2 for UNISERVITATE, a service-learning oriented association of Catholic HEIs in which USJ Macao recently became a member of, Dr. Teresa Loong, Prof. Helen Liu and Prof. Nuno Soares conversed with fellow members and other ASEACCU delegates to foster service-learning practices within universities.
Committing to the promotion of dynamic exchange between members of the association, Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan on behalf of USJ also signed an Memorandum of Understanding with ACU, Saint Mary’s University of Bayombong, Philippines and San Beda University, Philippines respectively.
[From left to right, Vice-Chancellor and President of ACU, Prof. Zlatko Skrbis, Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan, and President of Providence University, Dr Lucia Lin]
[From top to bottom, MoU Signings: President of Saint Mary’s University, Dr. John Octavious Palina and Rector-President of San Beda University, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB]
Meanwhile, USJ Student representatives Ms. Bonnie Lok and Ms. Ivy Ieong attended the Conference’s Student Program, engaging in hands-on activities, presentations and cultural visits to the Australian Museum and St. Mary’s Cathedral with fellow student delegates, and delivered a heartfelt performance on behalf of Macao and USJ during the Closing Ceremony.
[USJ Members at the NSW Parliament House]
[USJ post-graduate student Ivy Ieong performing Psalms 23]
The next ASEACCU Annual Conference to be hosted by Providence University of Taiwan ROC will be held on August 18 – 21, 2025.
More highlights from the Conference >
