The network of Jesuit universities comes together to show the values of Ignatian education in EAIE 2017.

Seville hosted, from 12 to 15 September, the annual conference of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), the largest European meeting of the sector, which brought together more than 6,000 professionals from different educational institutions from more than 95 countries to reflect on the future of higher education in the era of internationalization.

In this context, for the first time, Jesuit universities joined forces and participated together under the umbrella of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) to show the universality of values of justice, dialogue and work at the service of others that inspire Ignatian education around the world.

In this sense, 35 universities in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia were grouped in a stand in which the Loyola University Andalucía acted as host for its "sister" universities.

Working meeting

Loyola Andalucía organized a series of activities and parallel events for these institutions and for its international partners in order to enrich their participation in this congress.

First, the representatives of the participating Jesuit universities attended the opening ceremony to inaugurate the new academic year of Loyola University Andalucía, after which they held a working meeting with Michael J. Garanzini, Secretary of Higher Education of the Society of Jesus.

In said meeting, Garanzini presented the strategic plan of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) and reminded attendees that the universities should focus their activity towards the fulfillment of the mission, to make the world a better place in the issues that the Company considers of priority interest such as social justice, reconciliation or sustainability.

Activities and closure

As part of the parallel activities, one of the most outstanding was the open day 'Loyola Campus Day'. In this activity, more than 150 representatives of universities around the world were able to visit the facilities of the Seville Campus, as well as discover firsthand all the services that are offered to the students.

The different faculties and services of the University participated in the format of a small fair. The reception that Loyola University Andalucía celebrated in the Campus of Seville was also very special, in which the attendees could enjoy musical and stage shows in a playful and festive atmosphere.

The EAIE conference culminated in the closing ceremony, in which the rector of the University Loyola Andalucía, Gabriel Pérez Alcalá, addressed those present. In his speech, Pérez Alcalá pledged to continue the partnership with EAIE "while our mission and values are aligned and we both understand that education is the answer to the global challenges we face today."