About LACE

Every year, UWA's Equity and Diversity Office awards grants to areas making significant contributions in the areas of equity, diversity and inclusivity. In 2004 and 2005, the Learning, Language and Research Skills (LL&RS) team was awarded two of these prestigious grants for LACE.

LACE is an initiative of Siri Barrett-Lennard that fosters intercultural friendship and understanding between international and domestic (Australian-born and migrant) postgraduates and staff from across the campus. LACE builds global learning communities on campus by coordinating regular events where participants meet for purposeful social exchange. Events have included barbeques, campus tours, quiz nights, film evenings, cultural exchange activities, walking quizzes and interactive discussion games.

LACE currently attracts over 80 regular participants, with an even balance of overseas students and local students and staff. Over 40 languages and more than 35 countries are represented, with as many women as men turning out to events.

LACE has been shown to:

• Help new postgraduate students settle into, become familiar with, and feel welcome at the university;
• Ease the transition and improve the participation and engagement of international postgraduate students;
• Assist postgraduate students and staff to form friendship networks both within and beyond their own discipline areas;
• Improve cross-cultural awareness and sensitivities amongst both overseas and local participant groups; and
• Provide participants with a greater sense of belonging and commitment to the university.