Uganda and South Africa

​In July, two CFS staff members (Assoc. Prof. Jennie Bickmore Brand and Dr Stephen Codrington) travelled to Uganda and South Africa to further ACs ‘global teacher development’ program. Dr Codrington spoke at the Africa Renewal University campus in Buloba, on the Alphacrucis Educational Model and the future of Christian learning in higher institutions. The academic audience expressed their appreciation of the AC Hub model and its potential, and for the work the Centre is doing on the Critical Thinking for Humanity approach. The next day, he presented a full-day (8 hour) workshop on “The role of a board in growing a national association” to the ACSI Uganda board. The workshop comprised four components: (1) Christian Leadership, (2) Governance and Management, (3) Mission and Strategic Vision, (4) Managing Change.  Feedback from the day indicates that the workshop was extremely well appreciated and valued. ACSI is keen to support better training for the boards of Christian schools and parachurch ministries in Uganda.  Both Drs Codrington and Bickmore Brand spoke at the ACSI Leadership Summit, before numbers of leaders from all over East Africa, and some key tertiary developers based in Ghana and Nigeria.  One leader concluded by saying their discussions had been “a breakthrough for me, an answer to prayer”, and projecting a number of other activities into 2019. There were numerous expressions of appreciation for AC’s long term and clear expression of the priorities of Christian Education, the explicit statement of Christian Worldview, and the central importance of mission and vision. AC now has a significant profile among Christian Schools in East Africa and beyond.

The next week, Drs Codrington and Bickmore-Brand travelled to South Africa to speak with a number of impressive Christian schools around Polokwane and Brits, who are seeking AC assistance in teacher development. This work has been developed in connection with Samson Makhado, who has been an enthusiastic supporter of AC activity in Africa.  Dr Codrington spoke on “The Alphacrucis Approach Towards Christian Education”, and Dr Bickmore Brand on "May we be the fragrance of Jesus to those who are being saved".  The next day, at another school, our staff did a 'double act' presentation over 3 hours to staff, with the school cancelling classes at midday so staff could spend the afternoon with them.

Such international cooperation in teacher training is consistent with the global vision of Alphacrucis, which seeks to be a ‘Global Christian University, changing neighbourhoods and nations’.

“Working on ways to deliver quality, sustainable and locally authentic approaches to Christian education is part of the missio Dei”, noted the Dean, Professor Mark Hutchinson. “There is enormous opportunity for assisting others in Australia’s region and beyond, and it is particularly apposite that it should be Australia’s leading Christian liberal arts college which is seeking to do so. In a global age, our schools, teachers and students should all have the opportunity to engage more deeply with those of common faith elsewhere in the world.”

If you are interested in walking an extra mile or two with the AC Global Education Program, please contact:

Assoc. Professor Jennie Bickmore Brand ([email protected])
Co-Director, Centre for the Future of Schooling