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As a distinctive part of ACU’s curriculum, community-engaged learning (CEL) helps to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in an interconnected and changing world.
Community-engaged learning at ACU refers to curriculum-embedded opportunities for students to learn in and with community.
It forms a central part of the ACU’s commitment to fostering thriving communities and developing graduates who can engage critically with societal issues and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and advance the common good.
It prepares students to flourish in their lives and careers with insights formed through critical reflection; empathy for others’ diverse lived experiences; imagination to pursue new solutions to society’s complex issues; and a sense of responsibility to impact society and their professions by working for social justice and a sustainable world.
For more information, see our Community-Engaged Learning Design Principles
Students engage directly with the community to undertake or support activities through an existing community-based program offered by ACU and/or an external partner organisation.
Students (individually or in groups) work with partners on a project to understand, address and/or advocate for a community-identified issue with tangible, meaningful outcomes
Students conduct or contribute to research initiatives appropriate to an undergraduate level in collaboration with a community organisation and related to a community-identified need.
The Community Engagement Community of Practice brings together staff involved in community-engaged learning at ACU and beyond. It provides a space to connect, share insights, and learn from one another’s experiences in fostering meaningful engagement with communities.
Our approach to community-engaged learning partnerships is asset-based, and built on principles of mutual benefit, reciprocity, and subsidiarity. Across our Australian campuses, we partner with over 80 organisations that work tirelessly to promote human dignity and the common good.
Students participating in community engagement gain valuable opportunities to apply their learning in real-world contexts, develop practical skills, and build meaningful connections with communities. These experiences encourage personal growth while fostering a deeper understanding of social responsibility and the common good.
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