With the aim to effectively promote the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) initiatives and priorities, the IAJU Board recently constituted the IAJU Communication Advisory Committee (IAJU-CAC), in order to make the IAJU communications more effective, global, and rooted in the universal mission of the Association.
As an official IAJU committee, each regional association [1] selected a member who will represent their region. There is also a representation of the Jesuit secondary and primary education apostolate (Educate Magis), and the IAJU communications team. This group diversity allows the IAJU-CAC to have a wider vision in the discussion of topics and generation of strategies, so that it can respond more effectively to the communication needs of each region and to the IAJU, in a global fashion.
Since its constitution, the members have had a very synodal participation and open dialogue that continues to result in the creation of strong bonds among them, and the regions represented. In general, the committee has been discussing the IAJU communication strategy, its messages, the channels used and it has found new venues for global and interregional collaboration. The IAJU-CAC has turned out to be an important opportunity to continue wiring our network, strengthening and deepening the sharing and collaboration between the IAJU, the higher education regional associations, and primary and secondary apostolate.
The IAJU Board has entrusted the new “Best Practices in Jesuit Higher Education project” to the committee. This Global Project aims to promote academic collaboration through the systematization, exchange, and discussion of best practices and know-how in strategic themes for the identity, mission, and management of our Jesuit higher education institutions. Also, it seeks to identify lead faculty members and colleagues in strategic themes. This common project combines the publication of an Online Newsletter and the organization of webinars featuring the authors of the articles.
With the continued purpose of responding to the mission of the Society of Jesus and maintaining a strong relationship with the different Jesuit Apostolates, in one of its last meetings, the IAJU-CAC met with Fr. John Dardis S.J., General Counsellor for Discernment and Apostolic Planning and Director of Communications Office at the Jesuit General Curia. The group explored collaboration in the field of communication between the Jesuit higher education associations and the General Curia Office. Fr. Dardis also presented the different initiatives for the Ignatian Year (20th of May 2020 – 31st July 2021) and invited the group to reflect on ways to make the most out of this anniversary to promote a spirit of conversion among Jesuit universities and their communities.
As part of the communication strategy and following the suggestions of the Communication Advising Committee, the IAJU has recently launched its activity on Twitter. (@IAJUnews)
[1] Regional Associations: 1. Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU-NA), 2. Asociación de Universidades Confiadas a la Compañía de Jesús (AUSJAL), 3. Jesuit Higher Education Association South Asia (JHEASA) 4. Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities – Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP), 5. Kircher Network, the Jesuit Higher Education in Europe and the Near East, 6. Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities – Africa and Madagascar (ACJU-AM)
[2] Members: Ana Karen Barragán, IAJU Communication Team, Susana Di Trolio, Executive Secretary, Kircher Network, Ignacio Garrido, IAJU Communication Team, Margarita Moreno, AUSJAL, Jacques Randrianary, SJ, AJCU-AM, Richard Rego SJ, JHEASA, Ouda Teda Ena, AJCU-AP, Karina Zapata, Marketing Director, Educate Magis. * Enrique López-Viguria, UNIJES, permanent guess.