IAJU Virtual Board Meeting

IAJU’s Virtual Board Meeting. In this time of global uncertainty, the IAJU Board was able to meet virtually thanks to technology. Although the Corona Virus pandemic postponed the in-person annual IAJU Board meeting, the 13 members of the board (The Secretary of Higher Education, Chair, and two representatives from every Regional Association)[1] were able to meet to discuss the advances of the International Association and to look towards the future together.

The Global Toll of the Corona Virus: The meeting started, as usual, with a report from each regional association. A check-in where every representative presented what he or she believes are the main challenges and opportunities that the Jesuit universities are facing in the region. It was clear from the testimony of the different regions that although COVID-19 pandemic is in different stages in every country. The virus is challenging our universities in various ways and forcing them to reinvent themselves, especially through online teaching. Certainly, this pandemic is showing us what citing Fr General himself stated, namely “that we are one humanity, every human being… is part of this one varied rich and interdependent humanity”[2].

A Variety of Working Groups. Overall, however, it was the sense of the board that the IAJU is flourishing, that it is developing successfully through its many different activities and workgroups. The Secretary for Higher Education reported on the effort of the eight different IAJU working groups[3] that continue to develop their collaboration, formation, advocacy, service and research projects aligned with the Universal Apostolic Preferences. The Chair of the Board’s Committee on Ignatian Identity and Mission reported on the ways in which the group will be going forward and talked about the “Discerning Leadership” program[4], for the formation of Church leaders, that the IAJU will be taking over.

Latin America. Nicaragua and Venezuela and our sister institutions in these two countries were also very present during the meeting as the board thought of ways in which Jesuit universities can continue to show their solidarity and draw international attention to the situation these institutions and societies are living. This topic will receive further attention at the next meeting of the Board in May.

Safeguarding: The IAJU is committed to the promotion of a consistent culture of protection in our universities. The board discussed the different alternatives in which the Association, in collaboration with John Guiney’s SJ team, appointed by Fr General for this matter, could support and guide Jesuit universities to have a safe environment on their campuses. It was agreed that a template and a checklist that institutions can follow in developing and implementing clear policies and procedures for safeguarding is needed. This template of policies and guidelines is being readied for approval later this year. It will then be presented to the membership in August of 2021.

Anniversary Campaign: The Ignatian year 2021-2021 is coming soon, the 500th anniversary of the conversion of Ignatius commencing in Pamplona. How can Jesuit universities take advantage of this anniversary to bring closer to our students the idea of a life of deep meaning and vocation? The IAJU board reviewed a brief paper from the Chair that proposed the theme of vocation, a theme that emerges from a reflection of. The events of Pamplona, 500 years ago, when Ignatius was wounded in battle. The event in Ignatius’s life marked the beginning of his own conversion process. “From Career to Vocation” is the proposed theme. It will be further refined and will be part of a campaign to foster reflection in our young people on their larger, deeper vocation as global citizens.

IAJU Map. The meeting celebrated the launching of the IAJU printable map and agreed that we should continue promoting the use and display of it as an important instrument of the identity of the Jesuit higher education institutions. They encouraged the communication team to continue sharing collaboration stories happening inside our network that can inspire the creativity of others to continue finding paths of collaboration.

Assembly of 2021. Towards the end of the meeting, the board looked into the first steps to plan the next IAJU Assembly at Boston College, which is scheduled to take place in August 2021. A representative from each region will be invited to join the Planning Committee of the Assembly.

The thirteen members of the IAJU board will meet soon again in the month of May.