Academic excellence is one of our core values. When you join ACU, you’ll benefit from our commitment to providing a world-leading learning and teaching environment and quality student learning experiences.
Learning and teaching principles
Here at ACU, we’re dedicated to excellence in teaching. Seven learning and teaching principles guide our approach as an academic institution.
These principles ensure all our students learn in an environment that’s equitable across campuses, uses the most up-to-date teaching methods, and balances practical learning with theoretical frameworks.
Principle 1: Excellent teaching provides an engaging learning experience
Our teaching staff are committed to using a variety of appropriate and effective teaching methods and approaches, as well as current materials, to engage students and build effective teacher and student partnerships.
Meet the teaching staff across our four faculties
Principle 2: Excellent teaching integrates scholarship and research
Our research gives students a greater understanding of the evolving knowledge in their discipline.
Find out more about our culture of research excellence
Principle 3: Excellent teaching involves diverse community cohorts and inclusive learning environments and curricula
Our community is a diverse one, and we treat each member of our student and staff population with respect, dignity and professional courtesy. This extends to being inclusive of differences and the right to different points of view.
We embed Indigenous Knowings into the curriculum, and include global perspectives and international teaching theory into our teaching methods.
Learn more about our First Peoples Directorate
Discover our thriving international student community
Principle 4: Excellent teaching provides enriched learning and teaching, co-curricular support, and technology-enhanced learning
We provide co-curricular programs and support services for students and staff alike, and enriches student learning through technology-enhanced learning.
Browse our range of student services
Explore the learning, teaching and research tools at our campus libraries
Principle 5: Excellent teaching develops knowledge, skills and personal values developed through active learning and real-world experiences
We embed ‘real-world’ learning experiences into the curriculum and into professional practice, and offer students work-integrated learning and industry placements to produce career-ready graduates.
We also give students the opportunity to take action and reflect on situations of disadvantage and injustice, in line with Catholic Social Thought and our Catholic identity, mission and values.
Read more about work experience opportunities
Understand ACU’s Core Curriculum
Principle 6: Excellent teaching supports and develops critical reflection and continuous improvement
Staff and students are regularly asked to reflect on the learning and teaching experience, and their past performance, so they can develop and improve. Learning and teaching is monitored and evaluated to maintain the focus on excellence, relevance and quality.
Log in as a current student to learn about your SELT surveys
Principle 7: Excellent teaching is consistent, comparable and equitable in curricula delivery across the national University
As a national university, the student experience and our courses are consistent, comparable and equitable across all of our campuses.
Discover each of our campus locations
Teaching the future starts with well-supporting teachers
Excellence in teaching isn’t something that simply happens. It only exists when teaching staff are given guidance and are supported and encouraged.
We provide our staff with opportunities to develop their craft and the resources to continue their learning journey to the benefit of our students.
Review our teaching resources for staff