When we see the many challenges in Europe and the Near East such as Migration, the Polarisation of Political discourse, Poverty, Ecological issues, extreme Islam we ask ourselves: “Surely the Jesuit network can play a part in addressing at least some of these?”. With this in mind, we have designed a programme that aims to mobilise the resources of Jesuit Universities and Faculties across Europe and to link them with our Social centres. It is entitled Higher Education for Social Transformation (HEST). The basic idea is that those engaged in academic research can be challenged by realities in the ground while those advocating for change on the ground can benefit from high quality research. We want to influence decision makers in politics, finance and industry with well-founded arguments and with data based on solid research.
Selected Themes
The vast majority of Jesuit Higher Education institutions got together and they chose the themes that were relevant for both their institutions and for the Society of Jesus. In this bottom-up process, the selected and relevant themes were the following:
1. Ecology and Environmental Challenges
2. Economy, Poverty and Ethics
3. Christian Muslim Relations
4. Dialogue Science and Religion
5. Ignatian Studies
6. Anthropology
7. Migrations and Refugees
Expected goals
Hest aims at the Following three goals
1. Provide meaningful and quality research and design a solid dissemination and advocacy strategy for each cluster
2. Pressure for greater multinational cooperation in reforms/activities that would understand the structural causes of poverty and inequality in the world and promote changes
3. Strengthen the Jesuit Identity of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions