Villanova’s Strategic Planning
Published: 28 August 2014
Villanova College seeks to educate young men as they pursue learning within the context of the Catholic faith in a community comprising parents, staff and students past and present, who strive to be “of one mind and heart on the way towards God.” (St Augustine)
Our Story
Villanova College is an independent Catholic school for boys in Years 5 – 12, under the care of the Augustinian Order. Established at Whinstanes (Hamilton) on the north side of Brisbane in 1948 by six lrish Augustinians, the College moved in 1954 to its present site at Coorparoo.
The campus is home to the original house in the area, Langlands, built by Reuben Nicklin in 1880s. The College’s sporting fields are situated on Manly Road, Tingalpa, approximately twenty minutes by car from the Coorparoo campus. Annually the College provides Catholic education in the Augustinian tradition to about 1,230 male day students.
Goold Hall at Villanova filled for a College Mass.
Our Heritage
Like the Order that traces its origins back to the life of St Augustine of Hippo (356 – 430 AD), the College promotes St Augustine’s ideal of community in which the members strive to be ‘of one mind and heart on the way towards God’. The community includes present and past students, staff and parents.
The fundamental work of the College is one of education within community. Augustinian education is characterised by a search for knowledge and understanding that is integrated with personal experience, the truth of which is tested by the ‘inner teacher’ or presence of God within each person.
An integration of knowledge is essential in building a firm foundation for personal and spiritual life, as well as a basis for professional and work life. As an Augustinian school, Villanova is part of an international network of Augustinian schools, universities, parishes and provinces. The College enjoys an enriching cultural exchange of ideas and friendships amongst staff and students in Augustinian communities located in many different countries.
Our Values
Education in the Augustinian tradition values the search for knowledge and understanding so that one’s life is based on truth. Such searching is best accomplished through the development of a love of learning. In the words bf St Augustine, “The love of knowledge and truth should invite us to continue learning.”
At Villanova, love of learning is founded on the Augustinian values of:
lnteriority – the inner process by which the truth of what is taught is tested by the ‘teacher within’; the presence of God within each person.
Search for Truth – the quest not merely to discover the truth of what is taught, but also a commitment to live out the truth of what is learned.
Community – the context within which teaching and learning takes place and the beneficiary of the teaching and learning that occurs.
At Villanova these are known as ‘gateway values’ because they present points of entry or portals into a rich field of attributes which are the hallmarks of Augustinian education – friendship, hospitality, humility, solidarity with the poor, participation and shared responsibility.
Our Context
The Catholic education landscape in Australia is undergoing significant evolution and change at the present time. While church attendance and affiliation remains at low levels nationally, the demand for enrolments at Villanova is increasing annually. The placement of Year 7 within secondary schooling in Queensland in 2015 will see the College’s enrolments increase from 1,200 to 1,260 students approximately. The introduction of an Australian-wide Curriculum across all years of schooling is of particular significance. Rapid developments in digital learning environments challenge teachers to maintain continual pedagogical renewal.
The recent completion of a major building project has realised the development and establishment of three distinct yet inter-related school precincts within the college.
Our Strategic Planning
The Strategic Planning process is integral to achieving the College’s vision and mission. For an update on the progress of finalising the 2014-2018 Strategic Plan, click here.
