The 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference was held from August 21st to Aug 23rd, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. An important and exuberant annual gathering within the ASEACCU community, this year’s Conference was hosted by the Australian Catholic University (ACU) with collaborative assistance from the ASEACCU Secretariat, University of Saint Joseph Macao (USJ) and welcomed over 200 Conference delegates and guests from new and long-standing member institutions across Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and with regards from Thailand. 

[Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony at ACU North Sydney Campus]

Conference delegates were warmly received on the ACU North Sydney campus with a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony conducted by indigenous elder Uncle Raymond Weatheral. Continuing the tradition of thought-provoking lectures, this year’s Conference introduced crafted panel sessions and roundtable discussions surrounding the theme “What makes a Catholic University Catholic?”, the social impact and responsibilities of Catholic universities, reflecting mission through service-learning and research, and welcomed sharings from Rectors, student leaders and SACRU members. 

During the Opening Ceremony, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President of ACU, the Hon. Steve Whan, MP from the Parliament of New South Wales (NSW) and Reverend Professor Stephen Morgan, ASEACCU Executive Secretary delivered welcoming remarks to the community of students, leadership members, honourable guests, faculty and speakers present in the Ryan Auditorium. In observance of the IFCU‘s Centenary, the 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference also served as a key regional occasion to foster the mission of the Catholic HEIs and the Church, with IFCU President Professor Isabel Gil in attendance and acting as one of the speakers. 

There were also planned hands-on activities and cultural visits to the Australian Museum and Art Gallery of NSW viewing the comprehensive collection of indigenous arts and a featured talk on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection, complete with a blessed mass concelebrated by members and led by Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP at the Crypt of St. Mary’s Cathedral, and a welcome dinner at the NSW Parliament House co-hosted by University of Notre Dame Australia. 

[From L to R: Reverend Professor Stephen Morgan, Archbishop of Sydney Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP and Professor Isabel Gil at the St. Mary’s Cathedral Mass] 

On the third day of the Conference, the ASEACCU Secretariat held the General Assembly, formally welcoming four new member institutions: Catholic Kkottongnae University (South Korea), Catholic Institute Of Vietnam, St. Louis College Of San Fernando, La Union (Philippines) and Universidade Católica Timorense São João Paulo II (Timor-Leste), leading the association to be represented by 11 countries and 91 member institutions. The 31st ASEACCU Annual Conference to be hosted by Providence University in Taiwan also revealed its theme– “Pilgrims of Hope: Spiritual Development and Action of Gen Z” and the announcement of the 32nd ASEACCU Annual Conference to be co-hosted by members in Indonesia. 

[ASEACCU Executive Board]

[ASEACCU General Assembly at the 30th Annual ASEACCU Conference] 

With heartfelt thanks from Chris Riley, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global and Education Pathways at ACU during the Closing Ceremony, and the celebration of the signing of MOUs between member institutions, the gifting of ASEACCU message glass sticks to members, handover to Providence University as the next host institution and earnest cultural performances from the student delegates, the 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference came to a momentous conclusion. On behalf of the organising committee, the ASEACCU would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the facilitators, speakers, guests and participants in making the Conference a memorable event. 

[ACU Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global and Education Pathways Chris Riley during the Closing Ceremony] 

[Group photo of newly established MOU partners among ASEACCU member institutions] 

[ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Zlatko Skrbis hands over the ASEACCU flag to the next Annual Conference host, Providence University, represented by Dr. Lucia Lin, under the witness of the ASEACCU Executive Secretary Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan] 

[Student performances of top: Elisabeth University of Music, Fuji Women’s University, Nanzan University, Seisen University, Sendai Shirayuri Women’s College, Shirayuri University, Sophia University, St. Mary’s College, University of the Sacred Heart and bottom: Universidade Católica Timorense São João Paulo II] 

 

Watch the Conference highlights reel >

Conference highlights by ACU (Student POV)

Special thanks to all Speakers and Panellists at the 30th ASEACCU Annual Conference: 

Professor Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the IFCU 

Professor Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian Catholic University 

Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, President, De La Salle University Philippines 

Professor Francis Yi-Chen Lan, President, Fu Jen Catholic University Taiwan

Dr. Lucia Shih-Ling Lin, President, Providence University Taiwan

Fr. Dennis Holtschneider CM, Former President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)

Fr. Anthony Casamento csma, Vice-President and Director of Identity and Mission, Australian Catholic University 

Dr. Lisa Buxton, Executive Officer of the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Australian Catholic University 

Professor Lilian Ferrer, Vice-President of International Affairs, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Professor Tetsuo Morishita, Vice-President of Global Academic Affairs, Sophia University 

Professor Phil Parker, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research, Australian Catholic University

Dr. John Selvamani, Dean of the Academia Catholica, Fu Jen Catholic University Taiwan

Professor Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design, University of Saint Joseph Macao 

Professor Jacqui Remond, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University 

Professor Helen Liu, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Saint Joseph Macao 

Professor Benjarit Nimboonchaj, School of Architecture and Design, Assumption University of Thailand 

Ms. Sarah Rose, Associate Director of Student Experience, Australian Catholic University 

Dr Jen Azordegan, Manager for Community-Engaged Learning, Australian Catholic University

Dr. Joselito C. Gutierrez, Officer-in-Charge of the Sustainable Development Goals and Laudato Si Center, Saint Louis University Philippines

Ms. Neveen Korkomaz, Student at the Australian Catholic University 

Mr. Yi-Hsiang Chang, Student at Fu Jen Catholic University Taiwan

Ms. Agustina Galuh Susetyawati, Student at Sanata Dharma University Indonesia

Ms. Sieun Park, Student at Sogang University, South Korea