ACU Summer School EOI 2022/2023 - Association of Commonwealth Universities

Closing date: Wednesday 24 March, 16:00 UTC

The ACU is seeking proposals from member universities to host the 2022 and 2023 ACU Summer Schools. Hosting an ACU Summer School is a great way to boost your university’s visibility to international students and academics.

The ACU’s Summer School brings together 40-50 students from around the Commonwealth for an exciting week of expert lectures, group project work, field trips, skills development, and social and cultural activities. Launched in 2011, the ACU Summer School is hosted by a different ACU member institution every year.

The Summer School is open to postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students from Commonwealth universities. Each year, ACU-funded bursaries are available for approximately 50% of participants from member universities who have not previously had the opportunity to travel overseas.

Taking part in an international summer school is a great way for students to learn new skills, increase their intercultural understanding, and build diverse new networks.

We delivered the ACU Summer School virtually last year due to the pandemic. For ACU Summer School 2022 and 2023, we are seeking proposals for a physical event only. It should be noted that the ACU is prepared to work with hosts to deliver the event virtually if deemed necessary.

Students often tell us they find attending the Summer School to be transformational. Arif from COMSATS University in Pakistan attended the 2019 Summer School in Mauritius:

I have before never been out of Pakistan and it was my first experience in the piece of heaven (Mauritius). ACU has provided me an opportunity to interact with fifteen different cultures and to understand global public health issues. It was life changing.

- Arif, ACU Summer School 2019 delegate

Themes, eligibility and timelines

For the 2022 and 2023 events, the ACU is seeking proposals on topics linked to the following themes:

Ocean science and the blue economy
Sport and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Peace and reconciliation
Decolonising the curriculum

Other strong themes linked to the Sustainable Development Goals will also be considered. Please avoid topics offered as part of one of the previous summer schools. Details of recent topics and hosts can be found on the ACU Summer School page. The ACU is particularly keen to receive proposals from institutions in countries which have not hosted the summer school in the last three years.

The event should be planned for June, July or August 2022/2023. Proposals from institutions in the southern hemisphere for which this would be a winter school are warmly welcomed.

What do I need to submit?

As part of the proposal, you must submit the following:

An explanation of the theme and details of your university’s institutional expertise in that area
Learning outcomes
Details of their organising committee, including the academic lead and visa/immigration contact
Details of proposed speakers
A draft programme. The programme should be broken down day by day and include a mix of lectures/seminars, discussions, skills development, group project work leading to project presentations, intercultural sessions, field trips (which should feed into the group project work) social events and one full-day excursion. View and download an example programme.
A proposed budget. The host institution is required to contribute at least 50% of event costs. The ACU cannot fund the host institution's staffing costs or pay speaker fees, but will contribute to event costs such as accommodation, catering, transport, entrance fees and welcome packs. Please give costs in both local currency and GBP. View and download an example budget.
Accommodation and venue details
Safeguarding and student welfare information
A letter from the Executive Head of the institution expressing support for the planned event. The letter should explain how the event links to the university's expertise and should confirm that the university will commit to dedicating sufficient staff time, resources and facilities to enable the delivery of the event.

Host and ACU responsibilities

Summer School hosts are required to:

Provide an organising committee and sufficient staffing to ensure the successful planning and delivery of the event
Fund at least 50% of event costs
Lead on the development of the programme and the sourcing of speakers
Work with the ACU to promote the event
Contribute to the committee that selects the student participants.
Sign an event contract, safeguarding agreement and data sharing agreement.

ACU support

The ACU will:

Provide staff to work on the planning and delivery of the event
Contribute to event costs and fund travel bursaries for a proportion of student participants
Work with the host on programme development
Publicise the event to members
Fund the travel of at least two international speakers
Lead on registrations, communication with students and post-event evaluation.

Proposal form

Submit an online proposal form.

Deadline: Wednesday 24 March, 16:00 UTC