The Jesuits are pathfinders in Education. When education was the privilege of the rich and the elite in Europe, St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the Founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), founded a school in Rome and offered education gratis. Already in 1599 the Jesuits designed ratio studiorum, the Magna Carta of education, which is in vogue even today.
Jesuit education is not mere imparting information in order to grow in knowledge ripening in individual wisdom, but it is for individual holistic formation leading to social transformation. Thus, the ultimate goal of Jesuit education is the good of the entire society and those who are offered Jesuit education will be the agents of such social transformation.
The outcome is very encouraging: In the Kakuma refugee camp (Kenya), the JWL students offer adult education in the evening on their own initiatives; in the Dzaleka refugee camp (Malawi), the social farming helps the community to cultivate the land together and a student, after doing the JWL course on computer, has mastered on his own Python program and is offering programming classes for others. Such initiatives make the vision and goal of JWL, namely to learn together, a reality.
In the spirit of Ignatian pedagogy, the impact of the JWL courses and the services of the JWL students would be studied and researched in order to do more and to do better (magis). The alumni/ae would offer their feedback, which regard to what they wanted, what they received, and what they need for better service in the society. This research would give an impetus to JWL to look for new frontiers and the students would be empowered to be the social entrepreneurs. In this global process faculty members, professionals, and volunteers are extending their full support and collaboration to learn from the needs of the society and to offer better insights for the future. The research would offer pointers for JWL for future course of action.
Here are the latest research reports, which include JWL
If you are interested in participating in one of JWL’s research activities, please contact Francis Xavier, Vice President Global Academics & Research.