Presentations

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Pre-conference session 2: Leadership and the vice-chancellor: the critical first years

Dr Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina in Canada, presented on the importance of leadership for new Vice-Chancellors. Download presentation here.

Pre-conference session 3: Establishing a brand for new universities

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, UK, focused on how new universities can establish an effective brand, from creating an inspirational vision to incorporating social responsibility. Download presentation here.

Dr Tim McTiernan, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), detailed how UOIT established its brand. Download presentation here.

Dr Christina Yan Zhang, China Director - QS Intelligence Unit, shared insights from her work at the Unit. Download presentation here.

Wednesday 27 July 2016

Concurrent session A1: Responsibilities towards staff

Emma Falk, Research Officer at the ACU, shared insights from ACU Measures, which enables member institutions to benchmark their performance in a number of areas, including gender and salaries. Download presentation here.

Dr Brian Jennings, Institutional Quality Coordinator at Ghana Christian University College, shares his experience of being part of the ACU's pilot training programme for university administrators. Download presentation here.

Professor Emmanuel Mbennah, Vice-Chancellor of St John's University of Tanzania, discussed how his institutions is changing its institutional culture, with reference to the establishment of a Code of Good Practice - which is based upon the ACU Code of Good Practice Model used for Research Management. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session A2

Professor Paul Jones and Professor Gideon Maas, from the International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship at Coventry University, discuss the UK experience of entrepreneurial education, including the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Download presentation here.

Professor Ranbir Chander Sobti discusses the changing role of universities in context of changes to funding, local and global pressures, and societal expectations - and why including entrepreneurial education is essential for universities, what the barriers to achieving this might be, and how universities can achieve this. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session A3

Daniel Shah is Assistant Director, Policy, at the International Unit (based at Universities UK). In this presentation he shares various insights, covering internationalisation, development strategy, and UK Aid funding. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session B1: Developing the new generation

Dr Olayide, is a research fellow at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. In this presentation he details developments in intra-African research mobility and human capacity development, including the CIRCLE programme, which is managed by the ACU and the African Academy of Sciences. Download presentation here.

Herine Otieno-Menya - a current Commonwealth Scholar, studying for a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University - shared her personal experiences as an emerging African scholar, with particular reference to a conference organised by Commonwealth Scholars to debate the current state of research training in Africa. Download presentation here.

In this presentation, Dr Caroline Moss and Professor Graham Furniss discuss the Nairobi Process, researcher support, and why a new generation of researchers and academics is needed in Africa. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session B2: How far can universities meet labour market needs?

Focusing on what employers expect from students after graduation, Joana Dodoo and Professor Kuupole referenced various case studies and made some recommendations, including advocating for academia and industry working together to train and develop students, with the right skills. Download presentation here.

Speaking from the perspective of the Ontario Institute of Technology, Dr Tim McTiernan analyses how the shifting global landscape puts a strain on the traditional role of universities, the challenges arising from this, and what responsible universities can do to meet these challenges. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session B3: Social responsibility – embedding the third pillar

Corporate social responsibility is an increasingly popular concept. Here, Professor Craig Mahoney talks about the rise of social responsibility in universities, what it means at the University of the West of Scotland and the higher education sector as a whole. Download presentation here.

Professor Charity Angya discusses the realities facing African universities, dependent on the varying historical, economic, political, and social contexts of each region. Further analysis explores public responsibility in these different contexts, what factors are influencing higher education across the continent, and what more can be done to have a positive impact on African development. Download presentation here.

What role do universities have in creating a more socially responsible and sustainable society? Professor Sobti details initiatives at his institution, Babasahab Bhimrao Ambedkar University, in Lucknow, India - from compulsory course credits, to educating students on environmentally friendly practices. Download presentation here

Concurrent session B4: Responsible use of scholarships

Postgraduate education is critical for social and economic development, yet without adequate funding this cannot happen. Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, shares what the University of Pretoria is doing and how postgraduate education and funding could be further developed in Africa. Download presentation here.

Plenary 1 – Responsibility in different national and regional contexts

Professor Furqan Qamar, Chair of the Association of Indian Universities, discusses the challenges facing equitable access to higher education in India, from regional disparities to the exclusion of certain social groups. In this presentation, he presents what resources are required to tackle these issues. Download presentation here.

Professor Boyle introduces Leicester's PROUD approach to responsibility and what this looks like in practice, with reference to health and wellbeing, open access to resources and community engagement. Download presentation here.

Thursday 28 July 2016

Plenary 2 – Universities, faith and tolerance

Professor Thero, Vice-Chancellor of the The Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, gives his views on faith and religious tolerance, covering the central principles of the Buddhist faith and how this relates to education. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session C1: Responsibilities in international partnerships

Professor Jan Thomas discusses the role universities can play in promoting global peace, in light of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Talloires Declaration. Download presentation here.

Making use of international networks is crucial for developing and maintaining research and development partnerships. Dr Peter Mascher's presentation illustrates McMaster University's approach to global engagement, with examples from partnerships with India and African countries. Download presentation here.

Conccurent session C2: How far can universities meet labour market needs?

QS was founded with the mission of fostering international mobility, so students are at the heart of what they do. Ashwin Fernandes's presentation discusses how QS produce its international rankings and why including graduate employability makes them so popular. Download presentation here.

Professor Redwood-Sawyerr focused on the 'must-have graduate toolkit', which goes beyond subject-specific skills and academic prowess to include basic software knowledge and proficiency. His presentation encompassed international factors and expectations, and the necessary changes in pedagogy and modes of instruction required to meet labour market needs, with specific examples from Sierra Leone. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session C4: The future of Commonwealth Scholarships

Professor Crispus Kiamba, Chair of the CSFP Taskforce, talks through the current status of the CSFP, its history, future direction and scholarships in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session D2: New directions for undergraduate education

What role should universities play in truth and reconciliation? Here, Dr Ralph Nilson talks about the University of Vancouver Island's outreach programmes, curriculum initiatives, and involvement with Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session D4: Visions of social responsibility

Professor Dhanaraj talks through the current issues facing universities in India, and the six pillars required to maintain a responsible university - from research and innovation, to good governance and financial management. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session E1: Ensuring that research benefits society: case studies

Professor Kanyama Phiri is Vice-Chancellor of LUANAR - in this presentation, he discusses the importance of community engagement and how this works in practice at LUANAR. Detailed examples illustrate the benefits from such projects, both to the university and agricultural sector, as well as the community as a whole. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session E2: Social responsibility of the private university

In this session Isaac Gachanja, Professor Nganga and Lucy Maina, explored the impact of blended learning on entrepreneurship students at Mount Kenya University, concluding with ideas for what more can be done to further improve outcomes. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session E3: Universities, access and inclusivity

Around the world women and LGBTI people face discrimination, and men are increasingly reporting instances of harassment and assault. Universities can play a role in combatting such behaviours. Professor Jan Thomas outlines the Universities Australia 'Respect. Now. Always.' initiative, which aims to do just that, with tangible examples from her own institution, the University of Southern Queensland. Download presentation here.

Concurrent session E4: Defining the value of undergraduate education

Dr Michael Mahon is the President and Vice-Chancellor at Lethbridge, in this presentation he explains how the university promotes the value of a liberal arts education. Download presentation here.

In light of the growing enrolment figures in higher education around the world, how can universities continue to deliver a valuable experience to undergraduates? Dr Vianne Timmons shares the experience of the University of Regina, Canada, and how successful universities must find ways to balance competing demands. Download presentation here.

Plenary 3 – Addressing historical injustice: from Rhodes to reparations

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is built on an old sugar plantation, worked by slaves. Since establishing a centre for reparatory justice to address its history, it is has been instrumental in denouncing crimes of slavery and is seen as an influential force across the Caribbean. Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of UWI, examines the role of universities in seeking reparations for past injustices. Download presentation here.

Friday 29 July 2016

The ACU's Deputy Secretary General, Dr John Kirkland, reports on the ACU's current activities, from managing government scholarships to its member communities, and suggests ways in which member universities can get more involved. Download presentation here.

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