Dear Colleague,
It was only two months ago that the delegates of CUAC conference from five continents gathered together in Canterbury for CUAC Triennial Conference. They represented diversity and breadth (as well as depth) of the educational tradition of the global Anglican Communion. The topic of the Conference, Learning through Each Other’s Living with the many excellent presentations, provoked intense and fruitful discussions, both in the Plenaries and during the coffee and meal breaks.
Conference Materials Online
If you (like me!) were unable to attend the conference, you still have a chance to read most of the conference papers, which are available on our website (click here). A summary of the Conference is available here.
If, however, you were among those whose presence made that Conference a success (as reflected in the Conference feedback forms that we received), then I am sure you made a number of contacts and promised to stay in touch. After a conference like that, I usually have a couple of pages of "To Do," at least half of the items being about email messages to be sent and further contacts to be made. If you need help with that, be sure to download directory of Conference participants, which may be handy for finding an email of someone whom you planned to contact with an eye organizing an international exchange program. Directory of participants may be downloaded here.
Glancing through the names of the new friends whom you’ve met at the conference is, in some ways, like going through a photo album, as both activities tend to invoke vivid memories of conference events and conversations. So, if you would like to take a look at the conference pictures, you may want to click here.
If you have some photos you would like to share, send them to me and I will add them in.
Online Bulletin Board
There was a Bulletin Board at the conference, on which representatives of CUAC institutions posted what they, as an institution, have to offer and what they need. All those postings are available on line now. Among those postings are fellowships (some even with stipend!) offered by St. Chad’s (UK), faculty and student exchange opportunities at Lady Doak (Tamil Nadu, India), and much more. To see all the postings please go to our website (Exchange and Networking section).
I am planning to make this section of the website, "Bulletin Board", permanent and vibrant. However, to do so, I need your help. If you have an opportunity to offer something, e.g. an exchange programme, fellowship, or if you are asking other colleges for help or mutual interest, please drop me a note at office@cuac.org. I will post your announcement promptly. Facilitating exchanges and mutual assistance among CUAC institution is an important part of CUAC mission, and our website is a fine tool to that end.
Cross-Cultural Program in India - December
Unfortunately, the months since the end of CUAC Conference witnessed the shock of attacks in London, and, more recently, devastating hurricanes, especially the latest hurricane Katrina that destroyed vast areas in Missisipi and Lousiana, most notably New Orleans. Rightly or wrongly, this disaster have been compared to tsunami. While we don’t know the long-term effects of the catastrophe on the half a million community of the displaced persons from New Orleans, we have set up a cross-cultural programme to study the impact of tsunami on the local communities in India and Sri Lanka. The study, From Hurth to Health: Communities in Development, will take place 27 December 2005 to 10 January 2006 in India, and is sponsored by Madras Christian College and Lady Doak College. Along with tsunami issues, the programme will provide a great cross-cultural exposure to its participants. Participants may be college or seminary students, but that’s not required and all interested are welcome. For more information on the programme, check out our web site (Programme brochure as well as application are available there as well):
News
Yet, fortunately, there are a number of pieces of good news from CUAC institutions.
We were just notified by Rev Canon John Hall of the Church of England that several of the CUAC institutions in UK have now formally adopted the title university, with the permission of HM Privy Council and the Charity Commission. The institutions with the new title are:
- Canterbury Christ Church University (formerly University College)
- The University of Winchester (formerly King Alfred's College, then University College Winchester)
- The University of Chester (formerly Chester College, then University College Chester)
- Liverpool Hope University (formerly University College)
The heads of all these institutions are now called Vice-chancellor rather than Principal. Incidentally, the Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire is Lord Carey of Clifton and the Archbishop of Canterbury will be installed as Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University in Canterbury Cathedral in December this year.
Cuttington University College, Liberia, has been also awarded the full university status. And on July 24, Cuttington University celebrated completion of the first academic year since they have been able to return to the partially restored campus. Cuttington's campus in Suakoko had been looted and severely damaged during the years of civic unrest, all the roofing material was removed, library and farms were destroyed… In spite of that, and with generous assistance from its friends and supporters, Cuttington managed to have a full academic year on the partially restored campus. And they are doing some remarkable things, like re-training "ex-combattants" for peaceful life, preparing teachers for devastated village schools, doing research in agriculture and sociology, and running a program in nursing. Cuttington needs any help it can get in terms of funds, textbooks, research grants, and visiting faculty. More information on Cuttington and its recent graduation ceremony graced by the USAID chief in Liberia, please go to Cuttington website, http://cuttington.org/.
With these encouraging news I conclude what I hope to be our regular monthly newsletter. I wish you a successful and exciting academic year. Your feedback is always appreciated. And if you would like to share your news, ideas, proposals with CUAC community, please send me an email, office@cuac.org.
Best wishes,
Alexei Khamin
CUAC Manager of Communications
