To: AAUN Board, University Members, Knowledge Partners and Friends

From: Prof John Hearn, AAUN Executive Co-Chair; A/Prof Grace Liu, AAUN General Manager

             WISHING YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND SUCCESS IN 2022

Dear Colleagues and Friends,                                                                             

We start the New Year with confidence and enhanced resilience from the past two years of Covid-19. For AAUN, we have kept on track with our strategic plan, research programs and some mobility (zoom). We have developed new operational capacities on-line and extended our scope and reach globally. Consequently, our partnerships, programs, and new initiatives through the PRDF have advanced.

We have also faced challenges, as have others, in keeping our scheduling with workshops and forums. The AAUN Forum and AGM 2022 is postponed to October 27-28 in Canberra. The program remains similar. The Forum program is strong and attracting attention. We thank participants for their endurance. Our priority is the quality of the Forum, and the practical outcomes that will extend the impact of AAUN.

The AAUN Strategic Plan is on track, with a revised Strategic Action Plan 2022-25 (see website). We will develop two new, 5 university member groups to extend AAUN partnerships and engagement. These are the AAUN Indo-Pacific Group and the AAUN Global Group. AAUN has links to the new partners. We have completed an AAUN Impact Review 2013-20 and are reviewing and adapting our research plans.

The AAUN Program 2022 includes workshops from leading PRDF groups, and a general workshop (28 Oct). We will participate in Africa Day in Canberra on 22 May; and Africa Down Under/Africa Week, Perth 1 Sept. The AAUN Africa Secretariat plans a Forum in Pretoria in November, linked to the Global Food Summit. In addition, we will have a selected Membership drive and a Resource Development drive.

We thank all AAUN colleagues and participants for their continued engagement and support.

Yours sincerely,

Professor John Hearn                                       A/Prof Grace Liu

AAUN Executive Co-Chair                                AAUN General Manager