A message from our Deputy Dean, International

As we celebrated our new graduates last week, I was reminded they are entering an increasingly connected world.

The breadth of ABLE’s global partnerships is built on strategic relationships founded on mutual trust and shared ambition across our seven Schools. The ABLE Faculty proudly embraces our University’s global aspirations and international outlook in research and teaching. ABLE has become a dynamic international hub with nearly 3,000 international students across Asia. These diverse perspectives enrich our course discussions, teaching approaches, research capabilities, and campus life.

Our global network has expanded to include 80 international partnership agreements with approximately 58 universities worldwide. These connections create exceptional collaborative research and teaching opportunities for our academics and students and play a key role in enhancing our global subject rankings. For example, our Elder Conservatorium students are collaborating with the OzAsia festival, performing alongside international guest artists from Asia and Conservatorium staff. The Conservatorium recently hosted impressive residencies with Ensemble Musikfabrik from Germany and a Spanish violist. At the same time, Mark Ferguson (Head of Jazz) contributed to the Australian section for UNESCO’s International Jazz Day.

ABLE’s focus on international research networks continues to yield impressive results. Some highlights include:

• Dr Tamlyn Avery received a prestigious Stuart A. Rose Library Fellowship at Emory University
• Emeritus Professor Wilf Prest won an inaugural Australian & New Zealand History Society Award
• Professor Amanda Nettelbeck has delivered talks at multiple Japanese universities
• Professor Julian Murphet and Dr Jessica Ford participated in our Bath Spa University fellowship exchange
• Associate Professor Priya Chacko conducted valuable outreach work in Sri Lanka

Our Adelaide Law School mooting team finished as runners-up in the 2025 Red Cross IHL World Championship Mooting Competition in Hong Kong, continuing our impressive 12-year tradition of excellence in this competition. Professor Fran Baum AO’s groundbreaking work on gender justice for global health equity as part of the Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health will launch in Australia at the University on 20 June 2025.

I congratulate colleagues from three schools across the Faculty who have secured Global Engagement’s International Partner Institution Grants for significant projects:

ANA Partnership Grant 2025:

• Dr Hannah Ford (Adelaide Business School) and Dr Colette Langos (Adelaide Law School)

Freiburg-Adelaide Partnership Fund 2025:

• Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray (School of Social Sciences)

Surrey-Adelaide Partnership Fund 2025:

• Professor Kannan Govindan and Associate Professor Devika Kannan (Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains, Adelaide Business School)

Additionally, congratulations to our successful 2025 Global Partnership Engagement Fund applicants, who are deepening collaboration between two flagship, three emerging flagship, and six core partners:

• Associate Professor Devika Kannan, Deputy Director, Centre for Sustainable Operations and Resilient Supply Chains (Adelaide Business School): Strengthening Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management Research Partnerships between the University of Adelaide and the Ocean University of China
• Dr Tin Kei Wong, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences: Bridging Cultures through Literary Translation
• Associate Professor Prachi Srivastava, School of Education: Partnership for a Global Epistemic Justice Network

The recent World Day for Cultural Diversity Celebration on 21 May highlighted the role of our diverse cultures within our Faculty. Thank you to Associate Professor Kayoko Enomoto for helping arrange this wonderful occasion. Next week, the University will mark National Reconciliation Week with a special event on 30 May, featuring performances by ABLE colleagues from the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music, highlighting songs from the recently launched Kaurna Song Book.

As we approach the semester’s end, I thank all ABLE staff for their tremendous support of our global research and teaching connections. I particularly thank the Faculty Associate Deans International and the Associate Heads International for your efforts to elevate our international reputation and create transformative opportunities for our students and research partners.

Professor Mathew White,
Deputy Dean, International,
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics