SAVE THE DATE

One Health Approaches: on the Boundary between Research and Policies

On November 26 and 27, 2024, SACRU and FAO will host the workshop One Health Approaches: on the Boundary between Research and Policies in Rome at the FAO Headquarters and online. The aim of the workshop is to foster dialogue between the research sector, actively involved in various aspects of the chain from environment to health, including agriculture and food production, and other relevant stakeholders such as policymakers and entrepreneurs. The focus is on addressing the new challenges presented by the One Health approach from a global perspective, drawing insights from diverse experiences across different continents.

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Global Engagement Teams from SACRU Universities Gather
at the 2024 EAIE Conference

 

 

On the occasion of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) 2024 Conference, which is taking place in Toulouse, France, global engagement staff from SACRU member Universities met on Tuesday, September 17, for afternoon refreshments to discuss their collaborations and current and future activities across the Alliance.

 

Research Mobility Funding Application Form

The purpose of the SACRU Research Mobility Funding is to foster and support university cooperation and collaboration by supporting programs that enable mobility of research students across SACRU member institutions

 

Scope

Applications for funding from across SACRU members will be considered for initiatives that demonstrate the following:

  • Supports the mobility of research students from three or more SACRU member institutions,
  • has defined outcomes and can be delivered within the upcoming calendar year,
  • fosters global cooperation with the goal of advancing world leading knowledge and higher education aligned with Catholic mission and the common good.
  • Is focused on research students (Masters and Doctorate) or early career researchers with no more than 6 years’ experience as a researcher.

Timing

  • Applications must be submitted to the SACRU Secretariat (sacru.alliance@unicatt.it) by no later than Friday, November 1, 2024.

Quantum

  • Maximum per project: 10,000 Euros
  • Funds may be used to assist with the cost of travel, including flights and accommodation, venue hire, external presenters or facilitators.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposal:

  • Must align with the Vision and Mission of SACRU as a network of Catholic research universities,
  • Must demonstrate clearly defined outcomes that support and enhance research collaboration, between SACRU members,
  • Must involve a minimum of three SACRU member institutions,
  • Funds must be expended by the end of the following calendar year.
  • Must be endorsed by a SACRU Executive Committee member of each participating institution.
  • Must include a presentation or element such as a webinar that is open to either the public and external organisations, or staff of SACRU member institutions.

Evaluation Process

  • Applications for SACRU Mobility Funding will be reviewed by the SACRU Internationalisation Committee for recommendation to the SACRU Executive Committee. Applications deemed not to meet the evaluation committee will not proceed to the Executive Committee
  • The SACRU Executive Committee will review and approve the final applications.

 

Download the application form below 

SACRU Governing Board meeting held in Sydney 

 

 

The Governing Board of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities met on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the campus of the Australian Catholic University, Sydney, under the chairmanship of SACRU President and Australian Catholic University Vice-Chancellor and President Prof. Zlatko Skrbis. The SACRU Rectors and Presidents endorsed and progressed the SACRU strategic agenda to ensure its future success.

On Tuesday, August 20, a workshop was held to discuss and strengthen the impact of SACRU on Higher Education and high-quality research.

 

Reflections on United Nations SDGs:
n.16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore has realized this insight through the written article of Claudia Rotondi, Full Professor in History of Economic Thought, and the video of Gloria Mussetto, Ph.D. student in Sociology

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 with the goal of providing a path for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. The core of the Agenda is represented by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership to adopt strategies that aim to end poverty and other deprivations, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities is collecting insights from SACRU experts and students on the SDGs. This contribution is by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore on SDG n16:Peace, justice and strong institutions

 

Our antibodies: knowledge and accountability

Written by Claudia Rotondi, Full Professor of History of economic Thought and Development Economics and Coordinator of the graduate programme in international cooperation policies for development

We are often inclined to circumscribe the meaning of SDG 16 to opposing war. In doing so, however, we risk shutting ourselves off from active commitment to its achievement. For what can we personally, in our roles, do to stop a war, to stop ongoing wars? Let us then consider the targets into which the goal is divided: those of SDG 16 refer, among others, to child trafficking, rule of law implementation, and illegal arms trafficking. Even these aspects could lead us to a further frequent error: that of considering these targets as mainly, if not exclusively, concerning developing countries. And thus, again we would move away from a direct and personal engagement.

It must be remembered, then, that this objective has broader horizons: it aims to make peace and inclusiveness the basis of social coexistence; it links peace and inclusiveness to justice and the promotion of sound institutions, free from opaque and corrupt practices. So: what can it mean for a university to promote this objective? The university has the great opportunity to be able to create, through the dissemination of knowledge but also through the university community’s behaviour, the most favourable environment for the development of the antibodies suitable for counteracting those attitudes that prevent the attainment of goal 16 in everyday life.

On the one hand, academic knowledge, particularly knowledge of past and present history, teaches us how much of a part the lack of justice, inclusion and cooperation has played and still plays in fuelling conflicts and reinforcing the vulnerability of peoples and states. On the other hand, living in an accountable university community can show us that the way to achieve these ends passes through personal behaviours on which attention can and must be maximised: non-violence, participation, non-discrimination, the opposition to all forms of abuse of power, the centrality of honesty in our interaction with people and institutions.

Thanks to these antibodies, we can legitimately and with great awareness ask governments never to derogate from these principles.

What’s next for liberal democracy?
SACRU Summer School in Lisbon ended on a high note

 

The program “A New World Order: The Way Ahead between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges” was held from July 1 to July 14, 2024, at the campus of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. 16 students from 6 SACRU Universities shared unique perspectives on the future of liberal democracy in 42 hours of teaching divided into classes, tutorials, debates, and networking activities. Faculty members from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Sophia University joined to bring their expertise 

 

There could not have been a more suggestive location than the city of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to officially conclude the inaugural SACRU Summer School “A New World Order: The Way Ahead between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges,” held from July 1 to 14 at the Lisbon campus of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The visit to Sintra marked the end of the unique program of the Alliance, which gathered 16 students from 6 SACRU Universities to discuss the future of liberal democracy in light of pressing contemporary issues such as authoritarianism and democratic backsliding. Students, who came from different countries and disciplines, engaged in debates and discussions between themselves and with the 16 faculty members coming from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Sophia University.

The program enabled the participants to learn the key features of Political Leadership, Governance, and Democratic Practice in contemporary societies and addressed how to defend peace, pluralism, prosperity and human rights in light of the rapidly changing dynamics of contemporary global politics. «The inspiring success of this inaugural edition of the SACRU Summer School clearly shows how powerful the alliance between the diversity of scientific expertise, the willingness for generous communication and the spirit of cultural interchange can be when striving to find solutions to the mounting challenges threatening both the appeal and stability of liberal democratic forms of government. Our students came from all over the world and have been shaped by different cultural traditions and upbringings – still they were all deeply united in their commitment to delve deeper into the intricacies of democratic existence, and their passion for democratic ideals», Ana Cavalieri, Executive Director of the Summer School, commented.

The classes covered a whole spectrum of contents such as The Portuguese Revolution of 1974 and its rolling stones; Democracy and the challenges of populism and polarization, and the strategies to reshape world politics through the mix of hard and soft power. A specific focus was given on the critical topics like climate change and artificial intelligence through the classes of Raul Caruso, Full Professor of Economic Policy at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, and Tetsuo Morishita, Full Professor of Law and Vice President for Global Academic Affairs of Sophia University.

Tetsuo Morishita addressed the topic of AI and the rule of law, stimulating students on how we could address AI to foster democracy: «Students actively expressed their views on issues such as what limitations AIs have, how various decisions in the democratic process may be delegated to AIs, and how AIs can be used to strengthen democracy. The students’ comments and questions were all excellent and to the point. Through the discussion, I believe we were able to deepen our thoughts on how democracy should interact with Ais. This Summer School is a valuable exchange opportunity not only for students but also for faculty members. I was only able to attend for a day and a half, but I wish I could have attended longer to further exchange views with students and other faculty members. I would like to express my sincere respect to those who have planned and implemented such a valuable learning opportunity».

Raul Caruso gave a lecture on the impact of climate change on social turmoil, and violence and protest: «The class was designed to stimulate students’ critical thinking on the relationship between violence and climate change, which was the core of the lecture. Students showed great engagement, bringing various approaches to the topic. This is due to the topic’s interdisciplinary nature and the different cultural contexts from which the students came. In fact, I believe the main strength of this SACRU initiative is that it stimulated both students and faculty members’ reflections».

Students were given the chance to have a 360-degree experience that was not only centred on class but also on cultural visits to the beauties of Lisbon, such as the Castle of Sao Jorge, the Belem Tower, and the Monastery of Jeronimos. Other social moments were a boat tour of Lisbon and listening to Fado, a typical Portuguese music, in a restaurant. These activities were important to complement students’ knowledge of democracy by strengthening inter-community ties and familiarity with SACRU.

The feedback from students in this regard was nothing but positive. «It was a real pleasure to travel to Lisbon to attend the first SACRU Summer School. The theme of the program provided a fascinating and timely backdrop for our discussions. With my background in law, I found the Summer School’s interdisciplinary approach immensely valuable, especially as it allowed me to learn from other disciplines, notably political theory. It was a remarkable learning pathway that allowed me to engage deeply with these topics. I had the opportunity to discuss with experts and peers from a variety of disciplines and cultures, making it a truly interdisciplinary and multicultural exchange. As part of the program, we visited various historical places such as Sintra, the National Palace of Pena, and the Belem Tower, among others. The experience of participating in the SACRU Summer School and immersing myself in Portuguese culture was, in a word, “inesquecível” – unforgettable. I am deeply grateful to SACRU and Universidade Católica Portuguesa for organizing such an excellent program and for their memorable hospitality», Lima Atkar, Ph.D. student in Law&Business at the Australian Catholic University, said.

To conclude the Summer School, students will present an academic portfolio composed of 10-15 sources on a case of their choice on democratic backsliding.

Students from SACRU Universities debate
Liberal Democracy in Lisbon

 

 Inês, Marco, Pau, Felipe and Erica came from Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Santiago de Chile and Milan to debate liberal democracy in Lisbon. From different backgrounds and cultures, they gather at the Institute for Political Studies, Católica, for «intense and interesting debates, as everyone brings unique perspectives to the table». Read the students’ testimonies from SACRU’s first Summer School.

 

On the lawn of Católica’s headquarters and flanked by the walls of São Jorge Castle, in the sunny city of Lisbon, 16 young students from all over the world gathered to debate Liberal Democracy. A rich academic reflection on a journey across four continents, from 1 to 14 July. Inês Caxias and Marco Osório were two of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa students selected to take part in this inaugural Summer School of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities. Studying Political Science and International Relations at UCP’s Institute of Political Studies – co-organizer of the programme – for Inês the choice was obvious and at the end of the first week she said she «is thoroughly enjoying it». «The classes are intense, but you truly learn a lot» and «the environment is amazing,» she added. She is particularly interested in «the classes on crises and challenges to democracy» and especially the sessions on «sharp power, the threats to international institutions, and whether AI will undermine democracy».


In a different field, attending the Master’s in Management at Católica Porto Business School, Marco, 23, was equally enthusiastic about the programme. «I’m particularly interested in topics that move the world, such as politics. I like getting to know various points of view and deepening my knowledge of this area,» he explains. About the «very enriching and complete» programme, as he describes it, what interests him most is exploring in depth «topics such as liberal democracy, the threat of authoritarianism and social change.» Also on the Iberian Peninsula, Pau Gener Ferrer, 21, is studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona. He learnt about the SACRU Summer School through the student association and saw it as an opportunity to discuss liberal democracy, a topic he believes society «owes a lot to.» In Lisbon, the student says he met «incredible people.» But «the best part was meeting them while working together, debating. It is always exciting to study abroad, but it is not every day that you get a chance to work hand in hand with people from different ages, backgrounds and nationalities,» he emphasized, in what is precisely the key point of this Summer School: multiculturalism and multidisciplinarity.


Coming from Milan, Erica Locarini brought with her the expectation of getting to know “different perspectives” and addressing «points of democracy that are not covered in regular classes, for example, the link between democracy and AI.» Currently studying for a Master’s degree in Policies for International Development Cooperation at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Erica is particularly excited about the opportunity to get to know Portuguese culture at Fado Night. From the other side of the world came Felipe Lledó. He’s 24 years old, Chilean and in the final year of his Master’s programme in Language and Literature at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. It’s the first time he’s visiting a European country, and he confides that he wanted to take part because he’s always liked «to learn about politics.» Having tried to link linguistics research to political discourse: «I think this Summer School can give me theoretical tools to better understand the political phenomena I want to study from the area of linguistics.»

 


With a truly rich programme, this small group, which also includes students from Boston College, USA, and Australian Catholic University, «promotes intense and interesting debates, as everyone brings unique perspectives to the table,» explains Inês. And after just five days, “new friendships have been created and global connections made,” Marco points out. Reflecting on the Summer School, Pau stresses that he learned «both how to criticize and defend democracy,» which he believes helped him «to better understand how ideas and political systems work.» On the other hand, Chile’s Felipe highlights the different perspectives on democracy: «listening and learning how these issues are discussed and seen in the US and Europe, in contrast to Latin America,» but also between different authors and theories, as emphasized by Marco. For these students, it was not only an opportunity to debate issues, but also their first contact with SACRU. Marco believes that the «experience provided an excellent image of the Alliance,» noting that it is an initiative of «extreme importance for strengthening inter-community ties and developing students’ knowledge.» «At a time when we are witnessing trends towards ‘de-globalisation’, these moments of sharing and study between different cultures are very important,» Marco concluded. 

SACRU Summer School in Lisbon started at full speed 

 Classes, cultural visits, debates involving students from different continents and a good mood marked the start of the two-week programme “A New World Order: The Way Ahead between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges”

SACRU has kicked its first Summer School: “A New World Order: The Way Ahead between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges.” The initiative occurs from July 1st to July 14th, 2024, at the Lisbon campus of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. The two-week program was opened on Monday by Prof. Monica Dias, Director of the Institute for Political Studies at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Scientific Director of the Summer School, and Prof. Francisco Proença Garcia, Associate Dean at the UCP Institute for Political Studies. Classes started shortly after, with the lectures “What is democracy? The ancient and modern concept of understanding” given by Prof. Joao Pereira Coutinho, a columinst in portugal and brazil and commentator on Portuguese television and “The Portuguese Revolution of 1974 and its rolling milestones” by Prof. José Miguel Sardica, Historian and Associate Professor at the UCP Institute for Political Studies. Classes were combined with the cultural visits at Gulbenkian Gardens and the Castle of Sao Jorge.

Between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges:
SACRU to host its inaugural Summer School in Lisbon

 

The Summer School will welcome 16 students from 6 universities in Europe, Oceania, North America and South America, showcasing the global outreach of the SACRU network and its commitment to engaging the young generation worldwide

 

 

The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) will hold its first Summer School: “A New World Order: The Way Ahead between Democracy and Authoritarian Challenges.” The initiative will take place from July 1st to July 14th, 2024, at the Lisbon campus of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, one of the partners of the SACRU network.

The Summer School will welcome 16 students from 6 universities in Europe, Oceania, North America and South America. The program aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience, combining academic study with cultural immersion. This first edition will be dedicated to the pervasive and pressing challenges currently threatening the stability and deemed desirability of ‘liberal democracy’ in an increasingly interconnected, competitive and complex global order.

A crushing sequence of world-rocking events – from the 9/11 terror attacks and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a global refugee crisis, unprecedented waves of migration, and a global public health catastrophe caused by Covid-19 – has taken a heavy toll on liberal democracy’s standing, self-confidence and perceived suitability in dealing with present-day intricate realities.

«This Summer School reflects SACRU’s commitment to engaging the young generation worldwide. This program will offer students a unique experience that goes beyond the hours of teaching. It will be an opportunity for them to feel part of a global network and build strong ties with one another. In a present and future defined by internationalization, it is fundamental for the Alliance to keep proposing similar initiatives» SACRU Secretary General and Università Cattolica Vice-Rector Prof. Pier Sandro Cocconcelli commented.

The course will be both extremely relevant and consequential to scholars and students seeking to reflect on how ‘liberal democracy’ should be defined, how it was developed, what interactions have been adopted, what has gone wrong, what criticisms have become popular, and what principles should guide a possible ‘liberal democratic” revival. The multidisciplinary nature of the program is one of its principal strengths. Indeed, the students selected to attend the program come from several backgrounds: Political Science, International Relations, Development and Cooperation, History, Philosophy, Law, Nursing, Languages, Business, and Psychology. This integration of various disciplines enriches the learning experience, fosters a comprehensive understanding of complex global issues, and proves that the SACRU’s focus on interdisciplinarity is a cornerstone of its activities.

In addition to professors from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, faculty members from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy) and Sophia University (Japan) will contribute with their expertise. Participants will also engage in visits and cultural activities around Lisbon, enhancing their overall experience. «Many of the challenges currently threatening the stability of democratic societies are global – both in nature and impact. That is why initiatives like SACRU Summer School bring immense value: it allows experts and students from all over the world to come together and share unique experiences, offer different perspectives and propose innovative solutions, while immersing themselves in a program that promotes scientific curiosity and generous communication. It is a true honor for the University Católica Portuguesa to host this inaugural program in Lisbon and contribute to the revitalization of democratic political thought», Prof. Mónica Dias, Director of the Institute of Political Studies at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Scientific Director of the Summer School, affirmed.