Update on the International Committee on Jesuit Higher Education (ICJHE)

Nature of ICJHE
During the meeting of all Jesuit University/Rectors/Presidents/Principals held in Toulouse in 1991, it was agreed to set up a small Committee to help the Society's Education Secretary to plan the agenda and other arrangements for the next meeting. One person from each continent was named to form part of this Committee.
At the Georgetown Meeting (July 1994), the group approved the proposal of establishing a small working group, advisory to the Secretary of Education of the Society. Fr. General approved this proposal and ICJHE was established.

Purposes of the ICJHE (Letter to ICJHE members, Oct. 10, 1994)

1. Assistance in setting up the agenda and in conducting the triennial meetings of the Jesuit University Rectors/Presidents/Principals.
2. Development of strategies and concrete means judged helpful to our Universities in advancing their Jesuit identity.
3. Encouraging collaborative relationships, programs and research projects among Jesuit Universities.
4. Facilitating useful communications among our University personnel.

Or, as said in the proposal made to Fr. General (Sept. 9, 1994)

1. Development of common projects, further technological linkages (e mail, Internet, libraries, etc.);
2. Development of a more cohesive and efficient Jesuit identity (as has resulted from ICAJE at the level of elementary and secondary education).

Meetings
The Committee meets once between the triennial meetings of Jesuit University Rectors/Presidents/Principals, and during the triennial meeting. For the sake of continuity, membership will not change until the next triennial meeting even if a member changes his position.

Membership
The members of the Committee are appointed by the Secretary for Education, with the recognition and approval of the respective Conferences of Provincials, after submission to Fr. General. There is no question of jurisdiction of ICJHE upon Jesuit Educational Associations, Provinces, works or persons, or of becoming a part of their leadership.

Where there are Regional or Assistancy Associations for Jesuit Higher Education, their representatives are the obvious selection for membership. Where there is not such an organization covering the entire region or Assistancy, the representatives are appointed in agreement with the Rectors/Presidents/Principals of the area.
The present Committee is formed by:

Africa: Isangu Mwana Mfumu, S.J., Director, Institut Supérieur Agro-Vétérinaire, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
East Asia and Oceania: Joel E. Tabora, S.J., Chair, AJCU-EAO (Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities-East Asia and Oceania); President, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Philippines.
Europe and Lebanon: José Ramón Busto, S.J., President of ASJEL (Association of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions of Europe and Lebanon); Rector, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Madrid, Spain.
Latin America: Luis Ugalde, S.J., President of AUSJAL (Asociación de Universidades Confiadas a la Compañía de Jesús en América Latina); Rector, Universidad Andrés Bello, Caracas, Venezuela.
North America: (To be named).
South Asia: Vincent Braganza, S.J., Joint Secretary for Higher Education, Jesuit Educational Association; Vice-Principal of Saint Xavier's College, Ahmedabad, India.
Secretariat for Education: Paul L. Locatelli, S.J., Secretary for Higher Education; President, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.