Australian Catholic University will expand its Rome Campus into a year-round base for research, executive education and international partnerships, giving the university a stronger presence in Europe.
This marks the next chapter of ACU's decade-long presence in Rome, and will open new pathways between Europe, Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
ACU Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Julie Cogin said the expansion reflected ACU's unique approach to international education.
"For a long time, international education has been about bringing students to Australia. This is also about taking ACU to the world," Professor Cogin said.
"We have been in Rome for ten years, and we're building on strong foundations to create a truly multi-purpose campus that brings together education, research and engagement."
The expanded campus will support closer work with Catholic, Pontifical and European universities, Church institutions and other international partners.
It will also grow executive and professional education in areas linked to ACU's mission, including artificial intelligence and human flourishing, safeguarding, education, health and social cohesion.
The ACU Rome Research Exchange will bring scholars together, support visiting researchers, strengthen doctoral links and help develop joint research projects across Europe, Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
ACU Rome Academic Director Professor Darius von Güttner said the university's presence in Europe would expand opportunities for academic collaboration.
"We want to make ACU Rome a practical point of connection for scholars and institutions," Professor von Güttner said.
"That means making it easier for researchers to find one another, spend time together, develop ideas and build projects across institutional and national boundaries."
Research in Rome will draw on ACU's strengths across human flourishing, technology, education, health, business, law, philosophy and theology.
ACU Rome Director Claudio Betti said the expanded model would build on the relationships established during the university's first decade in the city.
"Over the past ten years, we have built relationships across Rome with universities, Church institutions and many other partners, while welcoming students and academics from around the world," Mr Betti said.
"The next chapter gives us an opportunity to build on those relationships while opening ACU Rome to a much wider range of people, ideas and activities."
ACU Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global) Richard Dobek said Rome was an important part of ACU's international strategy.
"Rome gives ACU a practical way to build deeper partnerships in Europe while giving our students and academics a clearer path into the region," Mr Dobek said.
"It also gives our European partners a stronger connection to Australia and the Indo-Pacific. That flow of people, ideas and opportunities is what makes ACU Rome so valuable."
ACU opened its Rome Campus in partnership with The Catholic University of America in 2015. The university will continue to offer students a range of global learning opportunities, including ACU's popular Semester in Rome program.
