Featured Stories
University of Dundee: New Resources to Highlight Importance of Impartial Evidence
DUNDEE, Scotland, Nov. 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of Dundee issued the following news release:
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New resources to highlight importance of impartial evidence
A pan-European project led by the University of Dundee has unveiled two new resources to improve how digital evidence is used in the criminal justice system.
3 November 2026
Experts from the Clarus Project, led by researchers and staff from Dundee's Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, and Faculty of Science Engineering and Business, have unveiled a new online course that allows members
... Show Full Article
DUNDEE, Scotland, Nov. 4 (TNSjou) -- The University of Dundee issued the following news release:
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New resources to highlight importance of impartial evidence
A pan-European project led by the University of Dundee has unveiled two new resources to improve how digital evidence is used in the criminal justice system.
3 November 2026
Experts from the Clarus Project, led by researchers and staff from Dundee's Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, and Faculty of Science Engineering and Business, have unveiled a new online course that allows membersof the public to get to grips with digital evidence and learn more about how it is utilised effectively.
The Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), named Digital Detectives, has been joined by a new comic, aimed at making the public aware of how investigators can avoid introducing bias into criminal cases through poor communication or unconscious bias.
Digital forensic evidence now underpins almost every type of criminal investigation, from cybercrime and fraud to homicide and organised crime. The Clarus Project - funded by Horizon-Europe - drew on research conducted across Scotland, Finland, Greece, Czechia and Portugal to highlight how everyday communication practices can undermine evidence.
The MOOC has been developed using the project's findings and while aimed primarily at students and legal professionals, the free course is also accessible to interested members of the public and amateur sleuths alike.
That is also the intended audience of the comic, Digital Detectives: Murder in Clarusia. Written by leading scientists and members of the judiciary, the publication is another easily accessible means of highlighting the limitations and challenges associated with applying scientific evidence in a courtroom.
In addition to these open resources the project has also created a free and open Continuing Professional Development course for specialists and a Clarity Checking tool and Digital Forensics Multi-lingual Lexicon.
Professor Megan O'Neill, Director of Research for the Clarus Project at Dundee, said, "The Clarus Project has been hugely successful, and a key part of our work is to ensure our findings are shared with and relevant to the public.
"The quality and credibility of evidence in any legal system is a cornerstone of our societies. Highlighting the challenges in maintaining these has always been a key part of our work and the creation of our MOOC and comic allow us to do this in a way that is accessible and engaging for all."
The Digital Detectives Course, comic, CPD course and tools are all available on the Clarus Project website (https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclaruseu.net%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cj.s.watson%40dundee.ac.uk%7C6f744497f81641fe36c908df3993d330%7Cae323139093a4d2a81a65d334bcd9019%7C0%7C0%7C639292979261332847%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DzJHv8D9W3x7fsT7DwDL1AkQu%2BI2Ja9vk1v5tta9si8%3D&reserved=0).
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Original text here: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/press-release/new-resources-highlight-importance-impartial-evidence
UNSW Sydney Expands XPRIZE Connect Program to India and Indonesia
SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 4 -- The University of New South Wales posted the following news:
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UNSW Sydney expands XPRIZE Connect program to India and Indonesia
Dhini Devendran
Hundreds of high school students will develop the skills and knowledge to design solutions to global challenges through an academic enrichment program.
UNSW Sydney is expanding its partnership with global non-profit XPRIZE, bringing the XPRIZE Connect academic enrichment program to high schools in India and Indonesia.
The expansion follows a successful Australian pilot in 2024, which saw 238 students from 11 high
... Show Full Article
SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 4 -- The University of New South Wales posted the following news:
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UNSW Sydney expands XPRIZE Connect program to India and Indonesia
Dhini Devendran
Hundreds of high school students will develop the skills and knowledge to design solutions to global challenges through an academic enrichment program.
UNSW Sydney is expanding its partnership with global non-profit XPRIZE, bringing the XPRIZE Connect academic enrichment program to high schools in India and Indonesia.
The expansion follows a successful Australian pilot in 2024, which saw 238 students from 11 highschools engage with the program.
XPRIZE designs and operates large-scale competitions that encourage breakthroughs addressing some of humanity's greatest challenges. XPRIZE Connect brings this approach to high school students, encouraging them to think critically about the issues they believe are most important to resolve.
Through a self-paced learning experience, students build skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving and communication while exploring issues that matter to them and their communities. Students develop their ideas through the program before having the opportunity to put their learning into practice through a final pitch.
UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education Student Experience, Sarah Maddison, said the Australian pilot demonstrated the power of this approach to learning.
"Bringing XPRIZE Connect to India and Indonesia gives us an opportunity to share success, connecting with hundreds more students and giving them the tools, confidence and curiosity to turn their ideas into meaningful solutions.
"The program reflects what Progress for All is about - equipping people with the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference. By expanding XPRIZE Connect internationally, we're giving more young people the opportunity to think boldly, tackle real-world challenges and see themselves as part of a movement creating a better future."
The Australian pilot generated strong engagement. Students from 90% of participating schools developed and submitted 39 final pitches, proposing solutions to real-world challenges.
UNSW Executive Director of Marketing & Digital Experience, Sofia Lloyd-Jones, said the program created an opportunity to engage students through an experience that reflects UNSW's approach to learning and innovation.
"The success of our Australian pilot showed us the potential of XPRIZE Connect to engage young people well before they begin thinking about their university journey, through an experience that reflects the way we approach learning and innovation at UNSW," Ms. Lloyd-Jones said.
"Expanding the program into Indonesia and India allows us to build meaningful, long-term relationships with schools and their students, while giving more young people the opportunity to develop the skills, curiosity and confidence to tackle complex challenges and create positive change."
Building on this foundation, UNSW is extending XPRIZE Connect to high schools in Indonesia and India, creating new opportunities for young people to engage with learning, innovation and positive societal impact.
Interest in the international program has been strong, with 55 schools and more than 840 students registered across the two countries. In Indonesia, 28 schools and 615 students have registered to participate.
The program was officially launched at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September, bringing together 127 attendees representing schools from across Indonesia.
UNSW Country Director for Indonesia Nur Fatmah Syarbini said the response demonstrated strong interest from Indonesian schools and students in globally relevant learning experiences.
"The response from schools across Indonesia has been incredibly encouraging, with more than 600 students registering from schools across the country," Ms Syarbini said.
"Bringing the program to Indonesia for the first time reflects UNSW's commitment to expanding access to high-quality, globally relevant learning opportunities and creating progress for students and communities."
In India, 27 schools and 238 students registered to participate at the program's official launch on 18 September.
Building a global community of young changemakers
The expansion creates an opportunity for UNSW to build deeper relationships with high schools and students in India and Indonesia.
By engaging students while they are still at school, XPRIZE Connect gives young people an early insight into UNSW's commitment to progress for all, for society and the planet.
The program also builds on UNSW and XPRIZE's shared ambition to equip young people with the skills, mindset and confidence to create positive change.
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Original text here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/11/unsw-sydney-expands-xprize-connect-program-to-india-and-indonesia
UCO Joins Forces With Coventry University to Tackle Complex National Security Threats
EDMOND, Oklahoma, Nov. 4 -- The University of Central Oklahoma posted the following news:
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UCO Joins Forces with Coventry University to Tackle Complex National Security Threats
Nov. 3, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma and Coventry University in the United Kingdom are expanding their international research partnership through the establishment of the Center for Counterterrorism and Forensics to advance collaborative research, educational opportunities and innovative approaches to national security and public safety.
The center builds on an existing partnership between the institutions,
... Show Full Article
EDMOND, Oklahoma, Nov. 4 -- The University of Central Oklahoma posted the following news:
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UCO Joins Forces with Coventry University to Tackle Complex National Security Threats
Nov. 3, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma and Coventry University in the United Kingdom are expanding their international research partnership through the establishment of the Center for Counterterrorism and Forensics to advance collaborative research, educational opportunities and innovative approaches to national security and public safety.
The center builds on an existing partnership between the institutions,previously announced in 2024, and will unite UCO's W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute and Coventry University's Protective Security Lab.
"At the University of Central Oklahoma, we recognize that addressing today's complex national security threats requires collaboration that extends beyond borders," said UCO President Todd G. Lamb.
"This partnership with Coventry University brings together world-class expertise in forensic science, national security and research to develop innovative solutions to security challenges facing our communities and nations."
Through the center, faculty, researchers and students from both universities will have opportunities to collaborate on research and educational initiatives addressing emerging national security threats. Areas of focus include insider threats, personal safety and security, critical infrastructure protection and forensic science applications in response to security incidents.
The partnership will also create opportunities for international academic and research exchanges, allowing Coventry University faculty and students to work alongside UCO researchers in the United States and UCO faculty and students to collaborate with their counterparts in the United Kingdom.
Potential research initiatives include examining security considerations for major public events, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, as well as establishing a U.S.-U.K. advisory board to address shared national and international security challenges.
"This partnership builds on more than 10 years of collaboration with the University of Central Oklahoma on security-related research, which has resulted in societal impact in both the U.K. and the United States," said David McIlhatton, Ph.D., associate pro-vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at Coventry University.
"We will draw on both institutions' specializations to create a unique transatlantic partnership where collaboration and societal impact will be at the center of our activities."
The memorandum of understanding was signed during a ceremony at Coventry University's campus in Coventry, England. UCO representatives included President Lamb; Charlotte K. Simmons, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs; and Sarah Gordon, Ph.D., dean of the Jackson College of Graduate Studies.
Coventry University representatives included Ian Dunn, provost; Richard Dashwood, deputy vice-chancellor for research; and McIlhatton.
The UCO FSI is ranked among the nation's top institutions for forensic science and is the largest and most comprehensive forensic science education program. The institute has seen significant growth from its inception--from fewer than 100 students in 2009 to more than 1,000 forensic science majors.
With enrollment on the rise, the UCO FSI is planning to complete a new wing at the facility, including expanded chemistry teaching and research labs. The Oklahoma State Legislature allocated $10 million to support the expansion, with additional funds secured through the federal Community Project Funding program.
The FSI offers four Bachelor of Science degrees, four Master of Science degrees in Forensic Science and a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Forensic Science. All graduate degrees are accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).
For more information about UCO's W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute, visit uco.edu/fsi.
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Original text here: https://news.uco.edu/uco-joins-forces-with-coventry-university-to-tackle-complex-national-security-threats
Franklin & Marshall: Finding His Calling in Global Leadership: A.J. Koikoi '16
LANCASTER, Pennsylvania, Nov. 4 -- Franklin and Marshall College issued the following news:
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Finding His Calling in Global Leadership: A.J. Koikoi '16
November 03, 2026
By Chris Karlesky '01
Selected as an Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader, A.J. Koikoi '16 reflects on an unexpected journey shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to helping others.
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When AJ Koikoi '16 arrived at Franklin & Marshall in fall 2012, he never imagined his education would lead him halfway around the world, much less to a career advancing international development, education, and global citizenship.
A
... Show Full Article
LANCASTER, Pennsylvania, Nov. 4 -- Franklin and Marshall College issued the following news:
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Finding His Calling in Global Leadership: A.J. Koikoi '16
November 03, 2026
By Chris Karlesky '01
Selected as an Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader, A.J. Koikoi '16 reflects on an unexpected journey shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to helping others.
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When AJ Koikoi '16 arrived at Franklin & Marshall in fall 2012, he never imagined his education would lead him halfway around the world, much less to a career advancing international development, education, and global citizenship.
Adecade later, Koikoi has been selected for the prestigious Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific program, an eight-month leadership experience that helps emerging leaders develop the skills and values to advance inclusive, lasting change in their communities and around the world.
For Koikoi, the journey began with an unexpected invitation. Growing up in Baltimore, the son of Liberian immigrants attended St. Paul's School for Boys, where a visit from then-F&M President Daniel Porterfield encouraged him to explore a college that hadn't been on his radar.
"During my first visit, I remember seeing the arch on campus with F&M's motto, Lux et Lex [light and law]," Koikoi says from his home in Hiroshima. "It reminded me of St. Paul's motto, Veritas et Virtus [truth and virtue]. Those are values I try to live by. I always try to be the best person I can be."
At F&M, Koikoi combined his interests in psychology, culture, and Japanese through a special studies major in culture and cognition. He also played football, an experience that would eventually help shape his international work.
He received a Princeton in Asia (PIA) fellowship to teach in Japan following graduation. It might not have happened without encouragement from Professor Monica Cable, then-director of postgraduate fellowships at the College, who saw leadership ability in Koikoi.
"Professor Cable always kept pushing me. I don't know what she saw in me," Koikoi says with a laugh. "I applied to three programs -- Fulbright, Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, and Princeton in Asia -- and chose PIA because it gave me more freedom. It was definitely a turning point. I'm now on its board of trustees."
"When I first met A.J., I was struck by his quiet strength, thoughtfulness, and genuine commitment to doing what was right for his community," Cable says. "I knew then that he would represent Franklin & Marshall and the best of American leadership abroad with integrity, humility, and a deep respect for others. From building community through sports in Japan to his work in international development, A.J. has consistently demonstrated that true leadership is not about personal achievement, but about creating opportunities and making life better for others."
Koikoi initially taught English through music and jazz. He later pursued sports development initiatives across Asia, where encounters with displaced populations inspired a deeper interest in peacebuilding, education, and economic opportunity.
He eventually earned a master's degree from Hiroshima University, where he also coached American football, helping his team achieve its first national playoff berth.
During the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, Koikoi co-organized a peace march in Hiroshima. There, he met a woman who later interviewed him for an internship with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
That encounter helped launch a career in international development.
At UNITAR, Koikoi led more than 20 programs reaching over 10,000 participants in 23 countries. He also helped develop the organization's 2026-2029 Youth Strategy, advancing youth inclusion across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Today, Koikoi is senior program director for global education strategy at Eukarya Inc., where he develops international partnerships and educational programs with United Nations agencies and national governments across five countries.
His selection for the Obama Foundation program represents another milestone in an unexpected journey shaped by curiosity, mentorship and a commitment to helping others.
"I never imagined living this life," Koikoi said.
And while navigating an uncertain world can be intimidating, he believes leadership means facing those uncertainties together -- and encouraging others to become leaders. He has generously mentored other F&M graduates pursuing opportunities in Japan through Princeton in Asia, most recently Chilamo Taylor '24.
"I don't know where our world is going in the next five to 10 years. But I do know that being scared alone doesn't mean as much as being scared together. I guess that's what hope is."
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Original text here: https://www.fandm.edu/stories/aj-koikoi-obama-foundation.html
EPFL: 'I'm an Accidental Computer Scientist!'
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Nov. 4 -- EPFL (Eecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne or Federal School of Technology in Lausanne), a public research university, issued the following news:
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"I'm an accidental computer scientist!"
04.11.26
Margo Seltzer is the winner of the 2026 Erna Hamburger Award. She is a Canadian computer scientist, specialized in building software systems that introduce entirely new ways of doing things. Among them, the Berkeley DB database software. Seltzer will give a talk at EPFL's Lausanne campus on 11 November.
"I was especially honored to be selected for this award
... Show Full Article
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Nov. 4 -- EPFL (Eecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne or Federal School of Technology in Lausanne), a public research university, issued the following news:
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"I'm an accidental computer scientist!"
04.11.26
Margo Seltzer is the winner of the 2026 Erna Hamburger Award. She is a Canadian computer scientist, specialized in building software systems that introduce entirely new ways of doing things. Among them, the Berkeley DB database software. Seltzer will give a talk at EPFL's Lausanne campus on 11 November.
"I was especially honored to be selected for this awardafter I saw the list of previous winners - that was very humbling," says Margo Seltzer. "I consider many of those women to be leading figures in their fields."
Seltzer, a Canada 150 Research Chair and Cheriton Family Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia in Canada, has been named the winner of the 2026 Erna Hamburger Award. The award was created by the EPFL-WISH (Women In Science and Humanities) Foundation in 2006 and is handed out every year to an inspiring, influential female scientist or engineer who is transforming her field and serving as a model for future generations. Seltzer will receive the award - and deliver a talk - at a ceremony at EPFL's Lausanne campus at 6:30pm on 11 November 2026.
A widely respected computer scientist, originally from the US, Seltzer built her research around systems in the broadest sense: tools for collecting and using data provenance, databases and file systems, transaction processing systems, systems for storing and analyzing graph-structured data, and efficient algorithms and tools for training machine learning models.
The EPFL Wish Foundation committee selected her "for her exceptional contributions in the field of computer science, in particular the development of new storage paradigms and widely adopted software solutions, as well as her long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and mentoring, notably her support for women and young researchers in the computing community."
"One of the things I'm most proud of"
As the author of several widely used software programs, she is best known for co-founding Sleepycat Software in 1996. That name may not mean much to the general public, but industry experts are well aware of it. The company developed Berkeley DB - an embedded database software library that marked a major breakthrough in terms of speed and efficiency when it was launched. Berkeley DB was the database that enabled first-generation web sites and services such as Amazon.com's personalized home page, Valve Software's Steam Engine Billing System, and Google's account management. Creating and managing Sleepycat Software with her husband, Keith Bostic - also a computer scientist - "is one of the things I'm most proud of," she says. Sleepycat was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2006.
Seltzer was born in upstate New York. She holds an A.B. degree in applied mathematics from Harvard/Radcliffe College and a PhD in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. "I consider myself to be an accidental computer scientist!" she says. "When I started college, all I knew was that I was pretty good in math and science. I ended up in applied mathematics. Then, when I had to choose a specialization, I picked computer science because that's what my older brother did - I figured if he could do it, then I could too!"
The same pioneering spirit
Seltzer has had a distinguished career in academia. Before joining the University of British Columbia, where she now co-heads the computer science department, she was a professor at Harvard University. She started out as an assistant professor of computer science in 1993, was promoted to associate professor in 1997, was named full professor in 2000, served as associate dean from 2002 to 2006, and retired in 2018.
She has also been honored with numerous awards, including the 2023 ACM Athena Lecturer Award, the ACM Software Systems Award, the USENIX Lifetime Achievement Award, and several distinctions recognizing her skills as a teacher and mentor. Her peers also readily highlight her commitment and efforts toward greater inclusivity of women and minorities within the "systems specialists" community.
Winning the Erna Hamburger Award gave Seltzer an opportunity to learn more about the outstanding career of the Swiss engineer the award was named for. Hamburger was a full professor at EPFL from 1967 to 1979 and the first woman to hold such a position at a Swiss institute of technology. "I was really inspired by her story, which resonates with me - I've also often been the 'first woman to do this or that,'" says Seltzer. "I was deeply moved by her experience, and I can only imagine the obstacles she had to overcome to achieve everything she did."
A feeling of accomplishment
Today, alongside her family, her beloved three children, and her passions for women's soccer and baking impressive cakes, one of the main things that Seltzer finds both motivating and rewarding is passing her knowledge on to students. "One of them summarized my philosophy better than I could've done myself: what matters to me aren't the research articles I publish or the awards I win, but my students," she says. "These people are what give me joy and a genuine feeling of accomplishment."
References
The awards ceremony will include a talk given by Seltzer titled "The Case for Collaboration and a New Paradigm for Machine Learning."
From 6:30pm to 9pm on 11 November 2026, in room SG 1138. Click here to register.
Author: Sarah Perrin
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Original text here: https://actu.epfl.ch/news/i-m-an-accidental-computer-scientist/
Before AI Changed the Conversation, FIU Was Already Rethinking How Students Write
MIAMI, Florida, Nov. 4 -- Florida International University, a component of the public university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Before AI changed the conversation, FIU was already rethinking how students write
By Angely Escalona Guerrero
November 3, 2026
What does writing have in common with engineering, medicine, business and the arts?
More than you might think.
At FIU, writing isn't confined to English classrooms. It's woven into how students investigate problems, make discoveries and communicate within their chosen fields. That university-wide approach has now earned
... Show Full Article
MIAMI, Florida, Nov. 4 -- Florida International University, a component of the public university system in Florida, issued the following news:
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Before AI changed the conversation, FIU was already rethinking how students write
By Angely Escalona Guerrero
November 3, 2026
What does writing have in common with engineering, medicine, business and the arts?
More than you might think.
At FIU, writing isn't confined to English classrooms. It's woven into how students investigate problems, make discoveries and communicate within their chosen fields. That university-wide approach has now earnednational recognition.
FIU's Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program received the 2026 Exemplary Enduring WAC Program Award from the Association for Writing Across the Curriculum and the WAC Clearinghouse, an honor recognizing sustained excellence in writing instruction and institutional commitment to its development.
The award marks a milestone for a program that has spent more than a decade changing where, when and how writing is taught at FIU.
A university-wide effort
The program began in 2012 following findings that FIU students were writing and revising less frequently than their peers at comparable institutions. With support from the Office of the Provost, FIU set out to make writing a more meaningful part of the learning experience across disciplines.
Today, WAC collaborates with all 11 FIU colleges, 45 academic programs and six major university units. Approximately 300 faculty members participate in its workshops, consultations and graduate Writing Fellows initiatives each year.
Under the leadership of director Kimberly Harrison and associate directors Ming Fang and Christine Martorana, the program helps faculty develop assignments that reflect how knowledge is created and communicated within their fields.
For an engineering student, that might mean explaining a technical solution. For a future healthcare professional, it could involve communicating complex information with clarity and precision.
"My long-standing involvement with Writing Across the Curriculum has profoundly influenced my approach to teaching," said Mike Hampton, a professor in the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. "WAC's professional development opportunities and evidence-based strategies have provided me with practical tools to help students become more effective writers, thinkers, and professionals."
"Earning the 'Writing in the Disciplines' badge in my hospitality marketing class helped me understand how to use writing more effectively to convey my thoughts and ideas," said Lindsey Morell, a junior and one of Hampton's students. "There's tremendous value to learning how to adapt writing in a range of contexts and genres, particularly as it relates to professional communication."
Teaching writing when AI can do the writing
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence has introduced a new challenge: When technology can produce an essay in seconds, what should students be learning from the process of writing one?
Since 2023, FIU's WAC team has worked with faculty to explore that question, helping educators rethink assignments, assessment and the role of AI in academic work.
Its efforts include four specialized micro-credentials supported by the Office of the Provost. Among them are Teaching with Writing in the Disciplines, which helps faculty incorporate writing into their courses, and Principles of Writing with AI, which introduces students to the opportunities and responsibilities associated with emerging technology.
"Generative AI has permanently changed higher education," Harrison said. "In Writing Across the Curriculum, we recognize the challenges it presents while focusing on the opportunities it creates for faculty to rethink how and why we assign writing in every discipline. Our goal is to help faculty design innovative learning experiences in which students use AI tools intentionally and ethically while developing their own expertise, judgment, and ability to write and communicate in their fields."
"The Teaching in the Age of AI Micro-credential was one of the most practical professional development experiences I have had at FIU," said Pouyan Esmaeil Zadeh, associate professor of information systems and business analytics. "WAC's approach helped me rethink my writing assignments so that AI supports students' reasoning and reflection rather than replacing it. ... I especially valued that the program treated AI as an opportunity to strengthen how students write and think in their disciplines, not as a threat to it."
A national distinction
The inaugural Exemplary WAC Program Awards recognize institutions that have built and sustained exceptional writing programs. FIU was selected in the Exemplary Enduring WAC Program category, honoring programs with more than 11 years of established work.
In its recognition, the selection committee highlighted FIU's broad institutional engagement, its contributions to the field and its continued development of approaches that respond to changing educational needs.
The honor also reflects the work of faculty across the university who have partnered with WAC to incorporate writing into their teaching.
"My long-standing work with the Writing Across the Curriculum program at FIU has consistently helped my approach to pedagogy," said Alok Deoraj, teaching professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. "Integrating both faculty and student micro-credentials into my curriculum has equipped students to critically engage with emerging AI tools while articulating complex public health concepts. ... WAC empowers educators to adapt to evolving technological landscapes and ensures our teaching at FIU remains dynamic, rigorous, and relevant."
What began as a targeted effort to improve writing experiences has become an enduring part of FIU's academic community.
And as classrooms continue to evolve, one principle remains at the heart of the program: Learning to write is also learning to think within a discipline.
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Original text here: https://news.fiu.edu/2026/before-ai-changed-the-conversation-fiu-was-already-rethinking-how-students-write
ACU Recognises Alumni Making an Impact
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 4 -- The Australian Catholic University issued the following news:
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ACU recognises alumni making an impact
04 November 2026
After a three-year hiatus, ACU has relaunched the annual Alumni Awards to celebrate the achievements of six exceptional ACU alumni across diverse fields.
Key points:
* The ACU Alumni Awards recognise excellence across mission, global connections, early career achievements, innovation and industry, and contribution to First Nations communities.
* This year's recipients have contributed to human flourishing across education, health advocacy,
... Show Full Article
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 4 -- The Australian Catholic University issued the following news:
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ACU recognises alumni making an impact
04 November 2026
After a three-year hiatus, ACU has relaunched the annual Alumni Awards to celebrate the achievements of six exceptional ACU alumni across diverse fields.
Key points:
* The ACU Alumni Awards recognise excellence across mission, global connections, early career achievements, innovation and industry, and contribution to First Nations communities.
* This year's recipients have contributed to human flourishing across education, health advocacy,sport, international affairs, technology, business and community leadership.
From transforming lives through education and health advocacy, to making their mark in the sporting world, international affairs and business, Australian Catholic University's Alumni Awards recognise graduates whose achievements are making a difference to their professions, communities and the wider world.
After a three-year hiatus, ACU has relaunched the annual Alumni Awards to celebrate the achievements of exceptional ACU alumni across diverse fields. The six recipients have each made a profound impact, and reflect ACU's commitment to service, leadership and human flourishing.
Sarah McGoram OAM won the Mission Alumni Award for her advocacy for healthcare equity.
Diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumours during her first semester at university and given months to live, she has defied the odds to raise a family, sustain a 20-year teaching career, and advocate for others living with a rare cancer.
"Fortunately, I've been able to ride a wave of research that has evolved just in time. My work as a patient advocate with Rare Cancers Australia helps ensure that there is equity across our healthcare system."
Proud Ngemba woman Sharon Cooke received the Indigenous Alumni Award for her work as an educator, helping transform the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in regional Australia.
"I want to be the leader that inspires people to do better for our children. They can't be what they can't see," Sharon said.
"I am so honoured to accept this award on behalf of everyone who's working in this space and doing great work."
Pjay Shrestha was the recipient of the Global Connection Alumni Award. As an entrepreneur and CEO, his professional journey spans marketing, business consulting and youth engagement. He is also a leader of the Nepali community in Australia and helped coordinate relief efforts on the ground in Nepal after the devastating floods earlier this year.
"This award is recognition of all the hard work and the people that have supported me on my journey," Pjay said.
"When I arrived at university, I was very lost. But my time at ACU helped me discover where my strengths and passion lie."
Grace Corcoran won the Early Career Achievement Alumni Award. Grace studied a Bachelor of Applied Public Health and Bachelor of Global Studies at ACU, graduating in 2020. In 2017, she became the first ACU student selected for the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship. She is now making her mark as an international relations policy specialist.
"ACU absolutely changed my life because I was exposed to so many different international opportunities. I went to Rome to do one of the core subjects, and I did a semester abroad in Canada as part of my global studies degree.
"It opened my eyes to so many different perspectives, connected me with so many incredible people and really set me up for my career in international relations."
Nicholas Toscan is the recipient of the ACU Alumni Champion Award. An Exercise and Sports Science graduate, Nicholas went on to co-found the Australian International Sports Organisation (AUSISO) and is passionate about using sport to promote inclusion and community participation.
Dr Tomasz Bednarz won the Innovation and Industry Excellence Alumni Award. Dr Bednarz is Director of Lilly AI Lab at NVIDIA, where he leads teams tackling some of the world's most complex scientific challenges, harnessing the power of technology to change the world for the better.
ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis congratulated the recipients for their individual achievements and contribution they have made to society.
"Our alumni show us what is possible when talent and determination are combined with a commitment to making a difference," Professor Skrbis said.
"These awards celebrate the ways our graduates are using their knowledge and skills to address significant global challenges and improve the lives of people around the world.
"We are immensely proud to see our alumni contributing to a flourishing society - there are no better ambassadors for the value of an ACU education."
ACU Advancement Director Mr Janosh Biczok said this year's award recipients represented the best of ACU's alumni community, which has grown to more than 155,000 graduates worldwide.
"Each of our remarkable award recipients has found a way to make their mark after graduation, changing lives and inspiring others to follow," Mr Biczok said.
"The Alumni Awards offer us a moment to recognise exceptional members of our alumni community and to celebrate what they represent: the extraordinary breadth of contribution across our entire alumni community, and the many ways ACU graduates continue to pursue knowledge and contribute to the common good."
2026 ACU Alumni Award recipients
* ACU Mission Alumni Award
Sarah McGoram OAM
* Indigenous Alumni Award
Sharon Cooke
* Global Connection Alumni Award
Pjay Shrestha
* Early Career Achievement Alumni Award
Grace Corcoran
* Innovation and Industry Excellence Alumni Award
Dr Tomasz Bednarz
* 2026 ACU Alumni Champion Award
Nicholas Toscan
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Original text here: https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/news/2026/november/acu-recognises-alumni-making-an-impact?redirect=%26pagenumber%3d1
