Strengthening Jesuit Higher Education in Africa and Madagascar Through Multilateral Collaboration
The event marked a new chapter in a series of collaborative efforts that began in 2024, with meetings in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. These gatherings have gradually shaped a shared vision for multilateral cooperation among the members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Africa and Madagascar (AJCU-AM).
The sessions in Seville provided a platform for in-depth dialogue on how to structure this emerging alliance, set collaborative priorities, and identify international funding opportunities for future projects. The atmosphere was one of optimism and shared purpose, rooted in the mission of the Society of Jesus and the global Jesuit education network.
Fr. Joseph Christie, SJ, Secretary for Higher Education of the Society of Jesus and President of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), highlighted the significance of the initiative. “Africa remains a priority for the Society of Jesus,” he said. “I am pleased to see this meeting bringing together AJCU-AM institutions and Universidad Loyola Andalucía, fostering a spirit of collaboration and shared mission. I hope this partnership will help strengthen Jesuit higher education across the African continent.”
His sentiments were echoed by Fr. José Minaku, SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM), who expressed his support for the process. “I am very happy with the meeting we had here. I am committed to supporting the universities through the African and Madagascar Conference,” he stated.
Over the course of the sessions, participants identified several priority areas for collaboration. These included faculty and staff development, joint research initiatives, particularly in healthcare, technology and entrepreneurship for economic growth, environmental sustainability, food security, and the promotion of peace and conflict resolution in contexts shaped by migration. The first concrete outcome of these discussions will be a capacity-building program focused on leadership and administrative development across the participating institutions.
Plans are also underway to establish a coordination office at Universidad Loyola Andalucía to oversee ongoing efforts and future projects. This step will be contingent on the successful acquisition of funding to support the group’s ambitions. In addition, the institutions are working toward a formal multilateral agreement that would solidify their partnership and provide a clear framework for sustained collaboration.
The Seville sessions brought together leaders from a diverse range of Jesuit institutions, including Arrupe Jesuit University (Zimbabwe), Loyola University Congo (DRC), Kosyam Jesuit University of Science (Burkina Faso), Magis University (Madagascar), Jesuit University of Abidjan (CERAP, Ivory Coast), Hekima University College and the Proposed Hekima University (Kenya), and the University Hospital Complex (CHU) Bon Samaritain in N'Djaména (Chad).
Universidad Loyola Andalucía signed bilateral collaboration agreements with several of these institutions during the event.
The sessions were also attended by prominent Jesuit figures, including Fr. Fratern Masawe, SJ, Assistant “ad providentiam” and Regional Assistant for Africa, and Fr. François Kaboré, SJ, President of AJCU-AM and Rector of Kosyam Jesuit University of Science, who joined the sessions online.
Fr. Evaristus Ekwueme, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of Arrupe Jesuit University, captured the spirit of the gathering when he remarked: “We want to set up an example for the other groups in IAJU, to show that it’s possible for the South and the North to work together as Jesuit institutions. We can bring the best of what we have in Africa and share it with Loyola, and Loyola can do the same.”
As part of the program, Universidad Loyola Andalucía showcased its academic and institutional capacities, including presentations from its School of Engineering and ETEA Foundation. The university also highlighted its success with Erasmus+ initiatives and its role in promoting international student and staff mobility. Over the past five years, more than 65 members of the Loyola community have participated in exchange programs with African institutions, contributing to a rich tapestry of shared learning, research, and development.
Reflecting on these achievements, Rector Dr. Fabio Gómez-Estern recalled the words of Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, during the 2019 inauguration of Loyola’s Dos Hermanas campus. At the time, Fr. Sosa described the university’s geographic location as a "bridge" between a young, dynamic, yet resource limited Africa and a stable but increasingly uncertain Europe. He challenged the institution to deepen its role within Jesuit networks and to help address global challenges through cooperation.
“This meeting is the fruit of that call,” Gómez-Estern concluded. “What began as mobility and mutual visits has matured into a shared commitment to work together in a more ambitious and structured way, aligned with the mission of the Society of Jesus and the goals of the IAJU.”
As the delegates parted ways, the sense was clear: a strong foundation had been laid for transformative collaboration, one that holds the promise of strengthening Jesuit higher education across Africa and Madagascar and building lasting bridges of solidarity and shared purpose.
Source: IAJU
