Commonwealth Focus to move to Adelaide

Friday, 24 March 2006

The Games are almost over and the next major Commonwealth event - "intellectual games" - will be held at the University of Adelaide in April.

The University of Adelaide will host almost 300 Vice-Chancellors from universities across the world at a summit meeting for executive heads of Commonwealth universities on campus from April 9-12.

Under the title 'University Futures', the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Conference of Executive Heads will focus on some of the biggest issues facing universities worldwide, many of them with transnational and global implications.

Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha said: "This is a tremendous opportunity for the University of Adelaide to make its mark internationally before a global audience."

"Across the Commonwealth, governments are placing ever-increasing responsibilities on universities that are, in turn, facing more and more demands from their multiple stakeholders.

"Universities are being asked to take on roles in regeneration, economic and sustainable development, while at the same time maintaining quality and ensuring national competitiveness against tightening funding regimes. The debate surrounding these issues promises to be an exciting one."

Among the speakers are: New Zealand Minister of Research, Science and Technology Steve Maharey; former South Australian Premier and Regional Vice-President of World Vision International, Dr Lynn Arnold; South African Minister for Education, Naledi Pandor; and the former Director General of the World Trade Organisation and former New Zealand Prime Minister Mike Moore.

The University of Adelaide was selected to host the 2006 conference after submitting a bid three years ago at the last conference in Belfast. The conference will also include the annual general meeting of the Association.

More information can be found at www.adelaide.edu.au/acu2006.

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