I am proud to be patron of the ACU and all that it stands for, as we champion those seeking a higher education and commit to making this world a better place together.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Duchess Meghan is the Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities
and Vice President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. Meghan, Duchess of
Sussex will make the role more substantive than just symbolic. As a university graduate with two degrees from the prestigious Northwestern university in the USA the former Meghan Markle believes in the power of education.
The goal here is to be able to have gender equality, to be able to support women
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
as they are working in research and higher education roles.
Message to ACU by their Patron the Duchess of Sussex:
Today, on World Access to Higher Education Day, we are able to celebrate the vital
role that colleges and universities play in society and how important it is for all
people, regardless of gender or socioeconomic background, to have the opportunity to access this higher education. The value of this cannot be understated. Because education expands mindsets, and those minds can then expand the scope of the world at large. From a micro to a macro level, it’s with education that we see great change.
Education that Empowers Communities
Earlier this year I met Simon Kiongo from Kenya, who grew up on a small family
farm, and traded vegetables as a means of covering tuition costs. It struck me as
such a prime example of how so many around the world yearn for education and do whatever they can to afford themselves that opportunity. Now, with support from the ACU, he is doing remarkable cancer research for his country, specifically looking at fertilisers in the food supply and the carcinogenic links that has on community health. Simon is higher education in action.
The Impact of Education on Commonwealth Communities
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) highlights journeys to belonging – looking at how universities can support access to higher education for those who are most vulnerable – be it refugees or those displaced. Additionally, the ACU continues to create opportunities for those within the university structure – the faculty and staff who require grants to maximise the impact of their research studies, by enabling students to exceed even their own expectations of what they can achieve.
In 2018, during the Royal Tour, Duchess Meghan already started to make an impact
on education in the Commonwealth. While on tour, their Royal Highness’s, the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave two new grants to Fiji National University and
the University of the South Pacific, to run workshops which empower their female
staff.
Increase the number of female faculty members
This means that female faculty members are able to encourage others to follow in
their footsteps by entering higher-education. Resulting, in more women becoming
part of the decision-making process in academic institutions. Grants like this ensure that women are provided with the training and skills to operate effectively in their roles, and those with leadership potential are given the opportunity to be heard and recognised at the most senior level.
When a women is empowered it changes absolutely everything in the
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan nee Meghan Markle
community.
Education in Action
This is what members of the Commonwealth are hoping that Duchess Meghan the former Meghan Markle will do for them to better the quality of their education.
