Since June, when delegates of the CUAC Triennial Conference made their ways home from York, we have had several accounts of the "regular business" of CUAC.
Australia: Delegates, Raymond Heslehurst, and John and Angela Bannon, returned inspired by their participation in the Conference in June. They reported back to the national College Heads Conference in Sydney at the end of September. At that meeting, Dr Ivan Head, Warden of St Paul’s Anglican College, University of Sydney gave a paper on the attributes of Headship. Professor Trevor Cairney, Master of New College, University of New South Wales, delivered a major address on ‘The challenge for residential accommodation in a changing higher education environment.’ Another paper, ‘Sudden change’ was given by Professor John Morgan, Warden of St John’s Anglican College, University of Queensland describing the handling of a disastrous fire that destroyed a building in his college last Easter. The heads are hoping to increases their participation in CUAC. They are encouraged that a student from St Mark’s College, University of Adelaide, will be a participant in the forthcoming CUAC study tour in India this January.
Service-Learning: Several CUAC college leaders attended the 23rd International Conference of the Partnership for Service Learning and Leadership in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA, October 16-22, 2005. The conference focused on the skills of listening, eliciting and telling stories in service-learning, and gave special emphasis to the American Indian oral traditions and the IPSL Lakota Nation program. As well as lectures and discussions, participants had Indian dance performances and a special visit to service-learning sites of Pine Ridge Reservation. Dr. Nirmala Jeyaraj, Principal of Lady Doak College, gave a presentation in the Institutionalizing Service-Learning Workshop, and Dr. Maher Spurgeon of Madras Christian College attended - as well as Dr. Don Thompson. Dr. Linda Chisholm, IPSL President and former CUAC President, was given a star quilt for all her work over many years in international service-learning.
India: The India Chapter met on 11/12 November hosted by Rt. Rev. Gladstone, Bishop of South Kerala Diocese.
It was held at Dr. Somervell Memorial Medical College and Hospital in the picturesque town of Karakonam. About twenty principals/representatives attended. The special guest was Dr. Gerald Pillay, Vice-Chancellor & Rector, Liverpool Hope University, UK. In his address he stressed the need to articulate our faith through an education that shapes life and moulds character. He pointed out that the only way to make a mark as Christian colleges and universities is to stand for quality and care of individuals. Institutions could perform better together than standing alone in fulfilling their mission. Financial independence through innovative resource-generation and pooling of resources and building trusting relationships would take the institutions to greater heights. He concluded by quoting Nelson Mandela who went into prison as a young angry man but came out totally transformed as a proof of transformative education.
Dr. Achuthsankar S. Nair of the Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Kerala highlighted the impact of globalization and led the delegates through the latest ways in which information technology could be used in higher education. He illustrated how different kinds of educational experiences could be provided using sample software. Dr. Nirmala Jeyaraj made a small presentation on the ‘why and how’ of networking of colleges as an introduction to the group to chalk out strategies for effective collaboration.
After discussing the business of the Chapter, certain networking initiatives were planned:
1. To have a common training programme in the summer for young and relatively new faculty members from all member colleges.
2. To invite Chapter members for all programmes/workshops/conferences conducted by individual institutions exempting them from registration and other charges
3. To strengthen institutional, regional and international collaborations and partnerships with Chapter members.
4. To make a conscientious effort to provide access to the underprivileged to study in our institutions.
Dr. Raju K. John agreed to act as Coordinator of the group. Prof. Hephzibah Doss, Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, Bangalore offered to host the next Chapter meeting to be held in summer 2006.
From Hurt to Health Two of the India colleges, Madras Christian College in Chennai, and Lady Doak College in Madurai are hosting the CUAC-IPSL Cross-Cultural trip in December-January "From Hurt to Health," looking at the ways in last year’s tsunami disaster was responded to in both short and long term development. The trip will go to the village of Kokilamedu south of Chennai, where MCC has been helping re-equip villages with new fishing boats and nets. It will then move to Madurai to look at development in rural areas of India.
United Kingdom: There was a meeting on November 17 of the Church of England College Principals, along with Bishop Martin Wharton of the CUAC Board. Up until now, this regular body has fulfilled the role of the UK Chapter. It was agreed to meet in the spring to form a new body whose purpose is to be specifically the English Chapter of CUAC. The Principals reviewed the operation of the UK Triennial. There was also a plea for CUAC to recover its links and opportunities for service learning.
United States: The next meeting of the Association of Episcopal Colleges, which is the US Chapter of CUAC, is to be held at the Bard College Graduate Center in New York, will have a discussion of a recent survey "The Spiritual Life of College Students" in the United States, published by the University of California. The study shows that students have high expectations for the role that colleges and universities can play in their spiritual and emotional development. More than two-thirds say that it is "essential" or "very important" that their college enhance their self-understanding, and rate highly the role they want their college to play in expressions of spirituality. The survey has significant consequences both for academic programs and chaplaincy.
Japan-Canada: In May and June of this year, four Renison college students (Canada) went to Poole Gakuin University in Osaka to study Japanese. The program is part of Renison’s Program in East Asian Studies. The trip occurred just after the Golden Week holidays in early May. Students stayed with "host families," which gave a real base to learning Japanese culture. They commuted to the college. Students were also paired with Japanese students, so on a daily basis the Japanese students helped the students with their Japanese homework, while later the Renison students taught English. "You don’t realize how complicated a language can be, even when learning one, until you try to teach one," said one student. The program operates thorough an exchange program, with students paying the cost of their travel and a small admin. fee. The program was organized by Dr. Yoshisuke Inoue of Poole Gakuin, and Dr. John Crossley & Dr. Gail Cuthbert Brandt of Renison.
The Rev. Dr. Don Tompson,
CUAC General Secretary
