As part of its commitment to increasing staff mobility and building the capacity of universities worldwide, the ACU is launching nine new bursaries this year for Member Community members to attend a major international conference in their areas of work.

The new bursaries, of a maximum of £2,000 each, will enable members of the Engage, Internationalisation and Research, Knowledge and Information Communities to gain new skills and knowledge to assist them in their roles, and in turn have a positive impact on their home universities.

Georgina Nicoli, Member Engagement Coordinator at the ACU, said: 'We are pleased to launch these new bursaries, providing a unique opportunity for members to meet and learn from fellow Community members and other topic experts from around the world.'

As part of this scheme, three bursaries are available for Internationalisation Community members to attend the British Council’s Going Global conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 2-4 May 2018. The theme for 2018 is ‘Global connections, local impact: Creating 21st Century skills, knowledge and impact for society-wide good’.

Three bursaries are available for Engage Community members to attend the 8th Living Knowledge Conference 2018, taking place in Budapest, Hungary from 30 May - 1 June 2018. This year’s theme is ‘Enriching Science and Community Engagement’, and last year the event attracted over 250 participants from 25 countries.

Three bursaries are available for RKI Community members to attend the 7th biennial congress of the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS) in Edinburgh, UK from 4-7 June 2018. This conference will bring together delegates from across the UK and Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Americas, and explore the theme ‘Promoting Global Research Management, Supporting Global Research Challenges’.

The bursaries will be used to cover international travel and visa costs, conference fees, accommodation and subsistence. Applications are now open and close on Wednesday 28 February 2018.

Read more on eligibility and how to apply

What are the ACU Member Communities and how do I join them?

The ACU’s Member Communities are special interest groups open to all staff at ACU member institutions which connect colleagues and other stakeholders working in four key areas of university activity. The Communities bring university staff from across the Commonwealth together to share their experiences, explore ideas, and discover potential avenues for collaboration.

The ACU Engage Community is a forum for university staff involved in university community engagement and outreach, including university public engagement staff, industrial liaison officers, research managers and communication officers, and those specialising in distance or open learning. To join, please email your name, job title and contact details to [email protected]

The ACU Internationalisation Community is a forum for university staff involved in international education, including student and staff mobility, international campuses, and the internationalisation of curricula and research. To join, please email your name, job title and contact details to [email protected]

The ACU RKI Community is a forum for university staff who support and encourage, but don’t directly engage in, the research process, including those working in libraries and information, as well as research management and administration. To join, please email your name, job title and contact details to [email protected]