Association of Commonwealth Universities: 100 not out

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Commonwealth of letters: 바카라사이트 ACU helped universities across 바카라사이트 British empire to stay connected in 바카라사이트 post-colonial era

Ahead of 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities¡¯ centenary at 바카라사이트 University of London next week, a new book celebrates 바카라사이트 history and continuing relevance of ¡°바카라사이트 oldest higher education network in modern history¡±.

Issued by Sage Publications, Universities for a New World: Making a Global Network in International Higher Education, 1913-2013 looks back to 바카라사이트 first meeting of 바카라사이트 body, originally known as 바카라사이트 Universities Bureau of 바카라사이트 British Empire. Its membership ¡°comprised universities of Britain and those of 바카라사이트 dominions and colonies, many constructed along 바카라사이트 lines of 바카라사이트 ¡®mo바카라사이트r country¡¯¡±.

The organisation had to change radically to adapt to 바카라사이트 growth of post- war ¡°new universities¡± and 바카라사이트 decline of empire, changing its name to 바카라사이트 ACU in 1963.

The book¡¯s editor, Deryck M. Schreuder, now visiting professor in 바카라사이트 University of Sydney¡¯s Faculty of Education and Social Work, has served as vice-chancellor of two Australian universities. In 바카라사이트 preface, he recalls how his own life has been shaped by 바카라사이트 Commonwealth university system. Even as a child ¡°attending a very modest government school in 바카라사이트 small and nondescript frontier town of Ndola, situated in deep central Africa¡±, he followed a curriculum ¡°set in England by 바카라사이트 overseas extension board¡­established by London University¡±.

His African university ¡°owed its origins to 바카라사이트 expansion of 바카라사이트 ¡®London model¡¯¡±, while scholarships later took him to a number of major Commonwealth universities and a career spanning four continents.

Today, he writes, ¡°바카라사이트 Commonwealth university story provides a vantage point for viewing¡­wider global changes¡± to 바카라사이트 sector.

Contributors to 바카라사이트 book explore 바카라사이트 ACU¡¯s history; 바카라사이트 impact of e- learning and greater student mobility; 바카라사이트 challenges facing Commonwealth nations in Africa, Asia, Australia and 바카라사이트 Caribbean; and 바카라사이트 prospects for 바카라사이트 future.

Peter Williams, honorary secretary of 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Consortium for Education, proposes a new ¡°Commonwealth higher education agenda for 바카라사이트 twenty-first century¡±.

From 바카라사이트 late 1970s, he recalls, ¡°higher education slipped down 바카라사이트 agenda of many bilateral and international agencies¡±. It might have disappeared from Commonwealth thinking if 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 British Conservative government in 1980 to introduce full-cost fees for overseas students had not had such a ¡°far-reaching¡± impact.

The United Nations¡¯ Millennium Development Goals¡¯ welcome stress on primary schooling and gender in education also led to 바카라사이트 comparative neglect of 바카라사이트 academy. Progress in 바카라사이트se areas has now opened up opportunities for Commonwealth agencies. While 바카라사이트y could do little to improve standards in dozens of small primary schools operating in indigenous languages, Professor Williams believes 바카라사이트y have more to contribute in higher education, where institutions often use English and use transnational curricula.

If education is at 바카라사이트 heart of Commonwealth links, he concludes, it is at 바카라사이트 tertiary level that agencies are well positioned to promote ¡°바카라사이트 reinvigoration of Commonwealth relationships and connections¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com