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Learning and Teaching

Commitment to high-quality learning and teaching

The priority of quality learning and teaching at Australian Catholic University is expressed in the University’s Mission:

Australian Catholic University has a primary responsibility to provide excellent higher education for its entire diversified and dispersed student body. Its ideal graduates will be highly competent in their chosen fields, ethical in their behaviour, with a developed critical habit of mind, an appreciation of the sacred in life, and a commitment to serving the common good.

Students at ACU experience a learning environment that is nurtured by a strong Catholic ethos, where:

Spiritual, moral and ethical perspectives are an intrinsic part of the curriculum in each faculty: students and staff develop an ongoing awareness of global perspectives and internationalisation, multicultural and Indigenous issues, sensitivity to social justice, and attention to equity.
Students and staff are deeply engaged through structured, long-term learning programs with those in their communities who are in need.
Students’ views, responses and cultural perspectives are respected, and the welfare and progress of individual students, including those with disabilities, are supported across the university.
Accepted views and theories within a discipline are acknowledged as provisional and subject to enquiry and criticism, and students are encouraged to see how understanding evolves, and is subject to challenge and revision.

ACU faculties teach within areas from the Catholic intellectual tradition: theology, philosophy, education, health, the liberal arts, and business, with a focus on learning that leads to the holistic development of students. The individual's beliefs, dispositions, attitudes and values all influence their learning: because effective personal learning depends upon an open-minded response from the learner, the University aims to provide student centred learning experiences.

Teaching activities aim to engage students as active participants and make appropriate use of information and communications technologies. The expectations and requirements for achieving each learning outcome are clearly communicated.
Teaching staff are encouraged to develop critical, well-informed, up-to-date and innovative knowledge and research in their disciplines and in their teaching.
Graduates attain professional accreditation standards and develop independent learning skills as well as attaining Graduate Attributes.
Course and unit processes and outcomes are systematically documented and revised, using the results of ongoing student and staff evaluations of teaching and learning.

The University’s commitment to learning and teaching can be seen in its Strategic Plan; the continuous improvement of learning spaces and learning and teaching infrastructure; the many facets of learning support offered by the Office of Student Success; the work of the Learning and Teaching Centre; and the recognition and awards provided for learning achievement and teaching excellence across the University.