SECTION ONE


THE MISSION OF ACISE

The mission of ACISE is to provide the opportunity for the Catholic institutions concerned with the study of education to explore and develop education inspired by Christian values and principles. In doing so it recognises the primacy of the person, living a life of service through the values of the Gospel.

ACISE will foster mutual cooperation among members in pursuit of these ideals.

This is achieved by

  • developing conferences and seminars to support the aspirations of this Association and its member institutions
  • conducting joint research activities in areas of mutual or joint interest
  • communicating among the member institutions in order that it will support their collective aspirations, and assist each member institution
  • liaising with external bodies on matters related to Catholic higher education
  • undertaking any other such matters as agreed by the Executive Committee.
ACISE should offer its membership to all institutions in, or affiliated with IFCU.


The Relationship between the Association and its member institutions

 The Association is open to all institutions which are members of the International Federation of Catholic Universities. Associate membership is also open to institutions (see Appendix for the constitutional position).

The Association is formed by the leader or 'responsible person' or someone designated by that person of the institution which holds membership.

The policies of the Association are developed through an Executive Council (Conseil d'Administration) which is elected in conformity with the constitution.

There is normally an annual meeting of the Association at which details of developing or extant policies of the Association are considered, and if necessary, agreed. The Executive Council tries to ensure that it develops policies and practices which address the needs of the member institutions, by communicating regularly with them, by being available for advice and comment, and by holding meetings on matters of current and continuing interest to the institutions and to the Association.

While ACISE has begun as a European-based organisation it seeks to foster relationships with institutions and organisations concerned with Catholic education in all parts of the world.

SECTION TWO


SOME DISTINCTIVE QUALITIES OF EDUCATION RELATED TO ACISE

There are a number of distinctive features of the form of education which ACISE corporately represents.
  • The identifiable and unique mission of each institution, and the encouragement to create an ethos and climate particular to that Catholic institution.
  • The unique focus of institutions in meeting the needs of the students.
  • The particular concern for the education of the whole person, including the spiritual, academic, social, physical, cultural, aesthetic, religious and moral aspects of herlhis formation.
  • The pursuit of excellence in all aspect of education for the purposes of serving God and society.
  • The pastoral care of the student in an education which centres on the student. The close relationship between institution and church in support of education.
  • The admission of students to the institutions to support a greater need.
  • The concern for an education which goes beyond the expectations of the formal curriculum is based on Christian values and takes account of the society in which this education is set.
ACISE seeks to support and develop the distinctive mission of each constituent institution while encouraging an appropriate corporate voice for all Christian institutions who are members.

Every attempt is made to avoid parochialism and isolation in such developments, and to develop ecumenical approaches as necessary. It also sees much value in developing appropriate relations with international groups such as UNESCO, the UN, EU, etc.

SECTION THREE


POLICIES AND PRIORITIES 1997-2001

This section seeks to identify the Policies and Core Activities of ACISE in the years 1997-2001.
The key policies to be developed by ACISE from 1997-2001 will be:

Policies and Priorities for ACISE
  • The developing mission of the system of Catholic institutions of education.
  • The developing shape of the system, including issues of
    - developing wider representation in the Association
    - advising on models of mutual development planning
  • Developing a research culture among institutions
  • Providing opportunities for shared professional practices.


Policies and Priorities for Individual Institutions
  • Providing opportunities for discussing matters of interest in the institutions.
  • Providing opportunities for
    - joint teaching
    - joint research
    - joint staff development.
These aims will be achieved by
- running conferences on themes of major interest
- joint projects being promoted for research and development work
- meetings of groups interested in particular areas
- student exchanges
- personal or other contacts.

SECTION FOUR


THE ACTIVITIES OF ACISE 1997-2001

During the years 1997 - 2001 ACISE will undertake the following core activities in relation to its mission, priorities and resources. These are organised in the form of cognate projects relating to the overall policies of ACISE.
  • Annual conference
  • Quality Assurance in Institutions
  • Staff Development


    Annual Conferences

    In the years 1997-2001 there will be an Annual Conference which will be
    • on a theme of current and continuing interest to the Association, as advised by the membership, or delegated to the Executive Committee
    • open to all member institutions, who may send more than one member (but normally not more than three, other than the host institution)
    • free-standing in terms of costs (ie it should be self-viable)
    • reflective of the main aims of the Association
    • open to others invited by the Executive Committee.
    The Executive Committee will be responsible for ensuring that the planning of the conference takes place in an appropriate, effective and timeous manner.

    Such Conferences will normally be run in the form of a commission from the Executive Committee to one or more institution.


    Staff Development

    ACISE has established a reputation for mounting high quality staff development opportunities. This will continue in the period 1997-2001, with an annual programme developed according to:
    • the current developments in Catholic Education
    • the perceived and expressed interests of Catholic institutions
    • the actions which are developed in support of this Strategic Plan
    • available technological developments.
    ACISE will offer opportunities for staff development
    • by secondments, attachments and exchanges
    • by negotiating secondments to other agencies, as appropriate
    • by additional sessions, workshops and conferences
    • engaging in discussion about effective strategies for staff development
    • establishing video-conferencing opportunities among member institutions.


    Person Responsible Output Key Dates
      Appointed Member:      

      Mr James Conroy
      St Andrew's College
      Scotland
      Annual Plan for Staff Development

    • Seminars, Workshops,
    • Conferences
      Annual Plan (May - annually)

      Ongoing


    Research

    ACISE will seek to foster and promote research within and among its member institutions. This research will be developed
    • for the benefit of Catholic education
    • for the benefit of individual institutions
    • for the advancement of education generally.
    ACISE will develop this by
    • the effective sharing of information
    • promoting research seminars and conferences
    • seeking financial or other support for research.

    Person Responsible Output Key Dates
      Appointed Member:      
      Dr Renata Vigano
      Sacred Heart University
      Milan
    • Indications annually of collaborative opportunities for research

    • Identified project for research in Catholic Higher Education
      Annual Plan (May - annually)

      Ongoing



    SECTION FIVE


    QUALITY ASSURANCE

    To ensure that ACISE maintains a quality service for its institutions it will undertake the following quality assurance procedures:

    Regularly
    • Seek the views of institutions on priorities - for projects and conference themes.
    • Seek the views of institutions on their degree of satisfaction in the service offered.
    • Seek information about alternative provision by ACISE.
    • Seek the views of the member Institutions about priorities and issues to be addressed.

    From time-to-time
    • Collect data about conferences as they are completed
    • Invite each project to undertake an evaluation of its success, by establishing targets and reporting on their accomplishment.
    • Undertake such quality assurance arrangements as seem necessary to ensure the provision of a service of high quality.

    6.4.97

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