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Annual Report Australian College of Theology

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Annual Report Australian College of Theology ANNUAL REPORT AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY The Australian College of Theology ("ACT") is an Australian government approved Higher Education Provider, fostering and leading a robust consortium of independent affiliated colleges in the systematic study of theology and other disciplines related to Christian ministry. ACT’s chief purpose is to equip people faithfully to serve God’s church and God’s world in support of the Gospel’s message in society and culture. To this end, ACT delivers programs, processes and services necessary to deliver learning and teaching, research and scholarship up to the highest level, in collaboration with its affiliated colleges and other stakeholders, supported by external specialist advisers. This report covers key performance measures and major developments during 2019. Further detail on standing policies and operations of the College may be found on the ACT website at http://www.actheology.edu.au/ 1 CONTENTS 1 Chair’s Report 3 Dean’s Report 7 ACT Governance & Staff 10 Courses & Enrolment 15 Outcomes 23 Research 24 Compliance & Reporting 2 Chair’s Report In its 129th year, the Australian College of Theology has continued to “go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7) For this we give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and rejoice that “blessed are those whose strength is in you” (Psalm 84:5). True to its original purpose “to foster and direct a systematic study of Divinity” the ACT has continued to nurture theological education through its network of eighteen affiliated colleges. In 2019 ACT welcomed the Chinese Theological College of Australia and Trinity College Queensland. The scale of the enterprise is significant. More than eight hundred students graduated in 2019. The ACT is and remains the largest provider of theological education in Australia. Yet the measure of achievement is not quantity alone; quality is of paramount importance. Here the ACT excels. In the Course Experience Questionnaire 2018-19 our undergraduate student’s overall satisfaction was fourth out of one hundred tertiary institutions in Australia and our postgraduate students’ overall satisfaction was the top out of all tertiary institutions. These outstanding results are a testament to the knowledge, skill, expertise, care and character of the dedicated staff of the affiliated colleges. In addition to its excellent teaching credentials, the research reputation of the ACT continues to grow. ACT scholars regularly contribute at the cutting-edge of theological thought through the publication of books, journal articles and conference presentations which influence and encourage the world-wide body of Christ. The quality and quantity of research outputs are on an upward trajectory. This is being spurred on by timely initiatives. For example, in 2019, eight inaugural Senior Research Fellows were appointed to further ACT research. Two inaugural Winifred Merritt Research Fellowships for female academics will soon be awarded. On a larger scale, an ACT Research Centre is in the pipeline, with other centres expected to follow. 1 The higher-education sector as a whole has seen increasing regulation and tightening of accreditation requirements. It is likely that further shake-ups and consolidation will occur. The Coaldrake report and the Minister’s response signal the near-term future. The ACT is agile in adapting to these changing circumstances. The management team have been outstanding in dealing with this challenge. The ACT continues to pursue university status as appropriate to its vision and mission even though this has been stalled by the inordinate delays in the unfinished dealings with TEQSA. However the ACT may be classified by the Australian government, it will remain academically rigorous, evangelically oriented, theologically astute and pastorally sensitive. On a personal note, I sincerely thank Greg Hammond for his service as Interim Chair of the Board and in his ongoing role as Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, Paul Barker for his willingness to serve as Deputy Chair of the Board, and Brian Harris for the work he does in his role as Chair of the Academic Board. My thanks – and I am sure the thanks of all the ACT family – go to Martin Sutherland as his term of office as Dean and CEO draws to an end. Martin has remarkable insight, clarity of vision, unwavering perseverance, theological acumen, deep understanding, an easy and affable manner in relating to people at all levels across the ACT and is unfailingly unflappable. Our prayers are with Martin and his family in the next season of life. “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Roger Lewis Chair of the Board of Directors 2 Dean’s Report This Annual Report covers the activities of ACT in 2019. ACT has continued to offer first class teaching and research in a rapidly changing tertiary environment. This environment offers ACT both challenges and opportunities. NEW AFFILIATES ACT was pleased to welcome applications for affiliation from two colleges. Chinese Theological College Australia (CTCA) has been connected with ACT indirectly for many years, via its link with Christ College in Sydney. CTCA has developed its faculty and infrastructure over the years and enters 2020 as a fully affiliated college. Trinity College Queensland (TCQ) is a theological institution of the Uniting Church in Australia. TCQ applied to affiliate and offer ACT’s programmes. With its energetic faculty and commitment to scholarship Trinity will bring new perspectives and opportunities to ACT KEY STATISTICS A detailed analysis of ACT’s performance statistics follows in a later section. The year under review showed mixed results for ACT and its affiliated colleges. Continuing the excellent results of previous years, ACT has the most outstanding results of any Higher Education Provider in the Student Experience Survey. It is clear that our students enjoy and value the education they receive. Overall enrolments, by contrast, were again down. On five-year trends, the major part of that decline has been in undergraduate programmes (AQF levels 7 and below). Although there are signs that the trend is plateauing, there has been a marked downward trend in undergraduate, three-year courses. This is not unique to ACT. All fields of tertiary education are beginning to respond to an increased call for flexibility and shorter-term qualifications. However, in 2019 ACT’s Level 5 Diplomas also experienced the sharp decline in numbers. This is the level at which some colleges offer a “gap year”-type experience and it seems these courses have been particularly affected. There are some local factors, but curriculum restructuring and tighter conditions on student funding may have played a part. 3 FINANCE AND PROPERTY These structural challenges aside, the accompanying Directors’ Report and Financial Statements for 2019, records another pleasing financial performance. ACT has been able to maintain a creditable surplus. This has been especially pleasing given the shift in premises during the year. For some time, it had been becoming evident that the space available at 257 Clarence St, Sydney was no longer adequate to meet the growing needs of the ACT office. As expansion at that address was not possible, we began looking for larger premises in the Sydney CBD. We were very pleased to come across Level 5, 33 York St, which was purchased and occupied in June 2019. This new facility affords approximately twice the space and has enabled more meeting rooms and improved amenities for staff. The location has also proved excellent for the visiting members of ACT’s various committees, as the building sits immediately above Wynyard rail station. The bulk of the move was accomplished over just a few days, with all staff pitching in to ensure a smooth transition. There are still some “tailoring” issues to complete, but the new space has become a strong new asset for ACT. UNIVERSITY OF SPECIALISATION The College lodged an application for recognition as an Australian University of Specialisation (AUS) in March 2016. After a number of rounds of draft responses and new submissions, the application was declined by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) in June 2019. This was, of course, a disappointment, especially given that some of TEQSA’s concerns go to the heart of ACT’s federated structure, in partnership with many individual colleges. The Board of Directors has been considering options for appeal or re-submission. At the same time, it has commenced a dialogue with the colleges about how best to shape the affiliated structure in the years ahead. RESEARCH Research and publication are key ways by which a Christian Higher Education Provider pursues its calling. In 2019 ACT took further steps to invest in research. In November 2019 eight Senior Research Fellows were announced. These are some of ACT’s top scholars and the appointments recognized their outstanding records of research and publication. In December, I was pleased to call for applications for two Winifred Merritt Fellowships to recognize the research of our leading women scholars. The first holders will be announced early in 2020. As part of its strategic plan, the Board of 4 Directors is considering further research initiatives, partnering with the colleges and faculty to enable and encourage new work. More details about the research culture at ACT may be found later in the Annual Report. A full listing of faculty publications will be provided in the 2019 Research Report which will be made available on the College website. CURRICULUM REVIEW The major internal project for 2018 and 2019 has been the thorough revision of ACT’s curriculum to better align it with the structure and expectations of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This has been complex task and at times contested, but nevertheless necessary.
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