Representatives from six of the eight universities comprising the new Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities attended a signing ceremony hosted by Catholic University of Portugal on October 12. From left: Pauline Nugent, provost of Australian Catholic University; Josep M. Garrell, rector of Ramon Llull University, Spain; Isabel Capeloa Gil, rector of Catholic University of Portugal; Pier Sandro Cocconcelli, vice rector for internationalization projects of Sacro Cuore University, Italy; Josefá Carlos de Siqueira, S.J., rector of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Alberto Godenzi, vice provost for global engagement at Boston College.
Boston College this month signed a new strategic alliance with seven other Catholic universities from across the world, with the goal of jointly engaging in collaborative research projects and jointly promoting scholarship.
The signing took place at the Catholic University of Portugal, in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of its foundation. In addition to Boston College and the host university, signatories of the alliance include the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy, Sophia University in Japan, Ramon Llull University in Spain, the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and Australian Catholic University.
The new Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities, or SACRU, hopes to increase the impact of Catholic research universities in addressing global challenges and to enhance collaboration across various dimensions of global engagement, said Vice Provost for Global Engagement Alberto Godenzi, who with Vice President for Development Beth McDermott represented Boston College at the ceremony.
Proposed areas of focus for the partnership include strengthening the link between faith and reason in the digital era; improving research for the common good; promoting global education; developing digital transformation; accelerating interdisciplinarity in education and research; and contributing to knowledge and technology transfer, Godenzi said.
The alliance is one outgrowth of the University's recent activity in new and ongoing international consortia for Jesuit and Catholic education; others include the confirmation of Boston College as host for a major international conference for Catholic universities in 2021.
The developments reflect the ongoing expansion of the BC's global approach, a commitment outlined in its 10-year strategic plan, "Ever to Excel," which was announced last year.
University Communications | October 2018