2019 | The Association of Commonwealth Universities

FROM THE WEBSITE: Established in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s first international university network, and remains the only accredited organisation representing higher education across the Commonwealth.

Founded to lead ‘common action in matters of common interest’, the ACU is governed by its member institutions through an elected Council. A UK-registered charity, it received a royal charter in 1963 and, in 1986, Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, became its Patron. In 2019, Her Majesty passed on the patronage to HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

Today, the ACU champions higher education as a force for good in the Commonwealth. Among its key principles is the value of higher education to society – or its role ‘as a common good’ – and the conviction that this value is enhanced by international collaboration.

The Commonwealth – with its shared language, structures, and academic traditions – offers a powerful advantage, paving the way to an ease of working together and creating valuable opportunities for collaborative research and student/staff mobility.

The ACU’s role is to champion the work of Commonwealth universities, particularly the central role they play in achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals; connect and convene our member institutions to share best practice, pool resources, and develop long-term partnerships; bridge the gap between the higher education sector and Commonwealth governments; seed change, building the capacity of universities to serve current and future generations.

To learn more about this organization, visit their official site.

INFORMATION:

— Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex took over as Patron from The Queen in January 2019.

EFFORTS:

October 24, 2018 – Royal Visit Fiji – Day 9 – Their Royal Highnesses visited the University of the South Pacific campus in Suva, where they observed a cultural performance on the effects of climate change, before meeting students studying subjects from agriculture to women’s development. The event was streamed to a number of the university’s campuses throughout the Pacific region. The Duke made short speech in his capacity as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, unveiling four new Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships – with a specific focus on climate resilience and The Duchess announced two new grants awarded to the University, which will allow them to run workshops to empower female staff and to support students during their education. Meghan gave a powerful speech about her own college experiences, and the right for young girls and women all over to further their education. You can watch Meghan’s full speech here.

December 05, 2018 – Visiting The Association of Commonwealth Universities – The Duchess of Sussex had an unannounced engagement where she visited The Association of Commonwealth Universities. The ACU posted: “University leaders, academics, and international scholarship students came together at an ACU event to explore how higher education can help build a better world. Hosted by King’s College London, the event was an opportunity to discuss the role of universities in addressing human trafficking and modern slavery, gender equality and inclusion, peace and reconciliation, and climate change and resilience.”

January 31, 2019 – The Duchess of Sussex Visits The ACU – The Duchess of Sussex in her new role as Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities made a visit to City, University of London to meet with students from the Commonwealth now studying in the UK. The ACU is the world’s first and oldest international university network, with more than 500 member institutions in over 50 countries. Her Majesty The Queen passed on the patronage to The Duchess of Sussex earlier this year after having held the role for the past 33 years. During her visit Meghan met with scholars and students alike hearing their stories and learning about the work done by the ACU.

Who Is Meghan?

The Duchess of Sussex, born Meghan Markle, married Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in May 2018. The couple’s official residence is Kensington Palace. As well as undertaking royal duties in support of The Queen, both in the UK and overseas, The Duchess devotes her time to supporting a number of charities and organisations. From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work. Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert that had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid. Her Royal Highness also volunteered at a soup kitchen in Skid Row, Los Angeles from the age of 13-17. She continued to volunteer at the soup kitchen when she would return home to Los Angeles until the age of 22….Continue Reading…

Charities & Patronages

The Royal Foundation
Since: May 2018 – June 2019
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is the Patrons’ primary charitable vehicle, and hopes to become a leading philanthropic investor, effectively using its time and resources to create lasting change in targeted areas and geographies, based on need and on the interests of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Foundation will seek to invest in, or partner with, organisations with proven impact, using its profile and leverage to create a multiplier effect in resources, outcomes and knowledge.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
National Theatre
Since: January 2019
The National Theatre’s mission is to make world-class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring. And to make it for everyone. They aim to reach the widest possible audience, to be inclusive and diverse, and as national as possible. With a broad range of productions in London and across the UK. The National puts some of the nation’s leading artists on the world stage, with productions playing on Broadway and touring across the globe.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Since: January 2019
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s first international university network, and is the only accredited organisation representing higher education across the Commonwealth. The ACU manages international scholarship schemes (including the UK government’s three major scholarship programmes and The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships), convene universities to address key policy challenges such as gender and equity, climate resilience, and peace and reconciliation, and promote the role of universities in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Smart Works
Since: January 2019
Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women in need. Women are referred to Smart Works from organisations such as job centres, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Mayhew
Since: January 2019
Funded entirely by public donations Mayhew aims to promote animal welfare by delivering a broad range of community-based veterinary, care and education services in the UK and overseas. By recognizing that animal welfare issues and social welfare issues are linked Mayhew works to protect the bond vulnerable people, the elderly, the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues have with their animals. And by taking their educational initiatives out to the community they have a better chance of helping prevent cases of neglect, abandonment and cruelty.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust
Since: March 2019
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust exists to champion, fund and connect young leaders around the world who are driving positive social change, serving their communities and providing hope, work and self-employment opportunities for others. As Vice-President of the Trust Meghan will highlight the Trust’s partnerships with young people across the Commonwealth, and in particular its work supporting women and girls.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts

Projects

‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ Cookbook
After working with the women of Hubb Community Kitchen The Duchess of Sussex suggested the idea of a charity cookbook that celebrates the power of cooking to bring people together. Supported by The Royal Foundation and published by Penguin Random House companies, ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ showcases over 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. Since the Together cookbook has been published, it has sold 130,000 copies worldwide. The resulting funds means the kitchen has been completely refurbished and is now open seven days a week

Smart Works Charity Capsule Collection
After working quietly with Smart Works for over a year The Duchess became aware of the difficulty of matching up the perfect work attire due to a range of mismatched colors and sizing. It was revealed in July 2019 that Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw, and designer Misha Nonoo would team up together to design a capsule collection of work wear clothing for the underprivileged women trying to secure employment. They will follow the “one-for-one model” model where an item from the collection purchased is an item donated to the Smart Works Charity.

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