Author: Francois Kaboré, SJ, President of AJCU-AM and Rector, Kosyam Jesuit University of Science.

The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Africa and Madagascar (AJCU-AM) continues to build momentum through new institutional collaborations and shared discernment. From July 30th to August 3rd, 2024, Jesuit university leaders gathered at Kosyam Jesuit University of Science (KoJUS) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, for the AJCU-AM Assembly. The event marked a significant moment for fostering collaboration and planning the future of Jesuit higher education in the region.

Representatives from Jesuit institutions across Africa participated, including Magis University (Madagascar), Arrupe Jesuit University (Zimbabwe), Loyola University Congo, Centre de Recherche et d'Action pour la Paix (CERAP), Jesuit Institute of Theology (ITCJ) in Côte d'Ivoire. The Assembly counted also with the participation of Universidad Loyola Andalucía (Spain), which was invited.

The assembly saw the participation of senior leadership from the Society of Jesus, including Fr. Joseph Christie SJ, Secretary for Jesuit Higher Education; Fr. José Minaku SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar; Fr. Mathieu Mdomba SJ, Provincial of West Africa; and Fr. Fratern Masawe SJ, Assistant to the Father General for Africa. Their presence underscored the importance of this gathering for the future of Jesuit higher education in the region.

A key part of the assembly’s agenda focused on South-South collaboration, with discussions on student and staff exchanges, ICT integration, internship opportunities, and other areas for cooperative growth. Collaborative fundraising and international partnerships were also highlighted, including the proposal from Universidad Loyola Andalucía to further strengthen cross-continental collaboration. Another major concern was the stability and sustainability of Jesuit institutions, particularly the challenges of securing qualified personnel and reducing high turnover in management positions, which can create instability.

Key moments of the assembly included a visit to the newly inaugurated Kosyam Jesuit University of Science, which symbolizes the commitment of Jesuit universities in Africa to excellence in science education and regional development. The assembly also featured an institutional meeting with the Minister of Education of Burkina Faso, an audience with the Emperor of the Mossi, le Moogo Naaba, who expressed his support for the mission of Jesuit education in the region, and a meeting with the President of Thomas SANKARA University, the second largest public university of the country.

The assembly not only opened up new possibilities for future collaboration but also served as an opportunity to prepare for the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) Assembly, which will take place in July 2025 in Colombia, hosted by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá.