Ausjal discusses innovation and networking

On October 3 and 4, 2023, at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, members of the 30 universities of AUSJAL met to learn about and discuss educational innovation based on humanity, intelligence and technology.

The formal opening of the symposium was accompanied by the President of the Conference of Provincials in Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL), Fr. Rafael Garrido, SJ, and the Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Colombia and Vice Chancellor of the Pontifical Xavierian University, Fr. Vicente Durán Casas, SJ, of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali; Dr. Luis Arriaga, SJ, President of AUSJAL and Rector of the Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México and Dr. Luis Fernando Múnera, SJ, of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá, who was in charge of the inaugural presentation entitled: “Identity and Mission of the universities entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America”.

As part of the day’s activities, a second presentation was given by Dr. Shane Martin, President of Seattle University, entitled “Educational Innovation in Universities. Jesuits: learning ecosystem in a Jesuit University. Women and men for others / The best for the world.”

Work tables

To conclude the first day’s activities, the first six working groups were held, spaces dedicated to dialogue and reflection on various topics.

The tables held were:

1. Good Practices of incorporation of the socio-environmental perspective in AUSJAL, in charge of the Homologues of the Environment and Sustainability Network.
2. “Good practices in incorporating the socio-environmental perspective of AUSJAL. Healing Earth”, by Rachel Elfant.
3. “Research on environment and corruption”, by Luiz Felipe Lacerda.
4. “Research on innovative/transformative pedagogical practices in AUSJAL universities”, by counterparts from the AUSJAL Education Network.
5. “University Ignatian Leadership Program: 15 Years. Balance of the students’ experience”, by PLIUL graduates and the regional coordination of the program.
6. Other innovative experiences: integral formation, from the students’ perspective, by students from AUSJAL universities.

During the second day of activities of the AUSJAL Educational Innovation Symposium, Father Daniel Villanueva, S.J. presented the paper: “Internationalization and collaborative work with other universities and S.J. networks” and the Panel of Rectors of Jesuit Universities in Brazil, entitled “Research and Advocacy”, with the participation of the rectors: Anderson Pedroso, SJ, Sergio Mariucci, SJ, Delmar Araujo, SJ, and Gustavo Donato.

Internationalization and collaborative work with other universities and S.J. networks.

Dani Villanueva, SJ, General Coordinator of the International Federation Fe y Alegría, gave a lecture entitled Internationalization and collaborative work with other universities and S.J. networks, in which he discussed the importance of networking and how to improve collaboration.

“Networks enable collaboration, and being a collaborative body allows for corporate discernment and therefore understanding what the next calls of the spirit are.”

– Daniel Villanueva, SJ.
 

Panel of Rectors of Jesuit Universities in Brazil

The second activity of the day was the Panel of Rectors of Jesuit universities in Brazil, entitled “Research and Advocacy”, with the participation of: Dr. Anderson Pedroso, SJ, Rector of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Sergio Mariucci, SJ, Rector of UNISINOS; Dr. Delmar Araujo, SJ, Rector of the Universidade Católica de Pernambuco and Dr. Gustavo Donato, Rector of the Centro Universitário da FEI.

In this intervention, the rectors of Brazilian universities were able to share the work of their institutions in the area of innovation with the AUSJAL community.

Dialogue Tables

To conclude the activities of the symposium, in a space for collaboration and learning, the following roundtables were held:

1. Dual Master in Entrepreneurship, University of Deusto, by the program coordinators.
2. Diploma in Internationalization of Engineering: Institut catholique d’arts et métiers, by Pascal Bertholoux and Rafael Malgarejo.
3. Innovative exchange experiences at AUSJAL: AUSJAL Student Mobility Scholarship, by Claudia Castaño and Carolina Maturet.
4. Open innovation: a bridge between academia and global industry, by Diana Isabel Riveros and Juan Pablo García.
5. Social Sciences Division of the Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, by Graciela Teruel.
6. Professional application projects, by Andrea Fellner and Rebeca Aceves, from ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara.

These activities concluded the second Ausjal 2023 educational innovation symposium. However, AUSJAL’s activities continued at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Cali, during October 5 and 6. The 23rd assembly of rectors and the meeting of AUSJAL liaisons will be held, for more information on these activities stay tuned to AUSJAL’s social networks.

For more information visit the symposium website https://innovausjal2023.javerianacali.edu.co/.