JHEASA Annual Conference at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata

Two-day Annual Conference of Jesuit Higher Education Association, South Asia (JHEASA) was held at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata on 27-28 January 2024. The annual conference was focused o the theme `the impact of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 on minority institutions.’ The annual conference was focused on collaboration and networking as the key to face challenges and respond to opportunities.

Fr. Joe Arun, S.J., JHEASA secretary said, “We will deliberate on the impact of NEP on minority institutions and discuss how we will prepare ourselves. We will take the opportunities that the NEP has given and restructure and reorganize ourselves. Jesuit’s response will be scientific and strategic.”

Fr. Dominic Savio, S.J., Principal, St Xavier’s College Kolkata highlighted several challenges that higher education institutions face ranging from issues related to NEP, repositioning of history, prioritizing of socio-political issues and hindrance to pluralism in democracy. “Our concern is how to look at them from the Jesuit perspective so that our education system is not affected,” Fr. Savio said.

During this fortunate gathering, Fr. Felix Raj, S.J., Vice-Chancellor, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata was given the MagisMedal for his commitment, dedication and hard work in advancing the mission of Jesuit Higher Education in South Asia. The Magis Medalist Fr. Felix Raj expressed his view on collaboration and networking saying that `without networking and collaboration, an institution stands alone and there is no impact.’

Fr. Stanislaus D’Souza, President, Jesuit Conference of South Asia said `We need to reimagine and reinvent ourselves so that we can make our institutions academically, structurally and culturally future-ready.’

Special thanks to Fr. Joe Arun, S.J., the secretary of JHEASA and Fr. Dominic Savio, S.J., Principle, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata for organizing this successful JHEASA Annual Conference.