A delegation from The Beijing Center recently participated in the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) International Education Conference hosted by Sophia University in Japan, joining representatives from 46 universities across 22 countries and regions. This meeting provided a platform for educators and university leaders to share innovative strategies and best practices to promote the development of higher education worldwide.
With the theme Global Horizons: Challenges and Opportunities for the Internationalization of Jesuit Higher Education, the conference addressed the evolving mission of Jesuit universities on how to promote the globalization of higher education in the post-pandemic era. Participants exchanged innovative strategies and best practices on internationalization, exploring how Jesuit institutions can expand access to global education, especially in contexts with limited resources and mobility. The topics discussed also included the importance of online education tools and virtual exchange programs, which are vital in accessing international education for communities at risk. Representatives agreed that fostering intercultural understanding and a global perspective among students remains crucial for nurturing global citizens. In addition, the conference featured remarks by Kuniaki Sato from Japan’s Ministry of Education. He highlighted ongoing initiatives and challenges in cultivating globally competitive individuals with an international outlook.
Additionally, during the conference, attendees discussed the impact of strategic development programs such as the Magis Exchange Program. This innovative program encourages students worldwide to strive for academic excellence and seek meaningful ways to contribute to society. Maddie, a current Magis scholar from Loyola University New Orleans and an exchange student at The Beijing Center, exemplifies this spirit. Her experience at TBC represents the transformative potential of international exchange, both in academic excellence and cultural understanding. Students like Maddie are examples of how programs like Magis nurture globally aware, socially conscious individuals who are prepared to face today’s complex challenges.
Participating in the IAJU International Education Conference offered a unique opportunity to learn from other Jesuit academic communities and reflect on the broader mission of Jesuit higher education. As TBC Executive Director Simon noted, “Participating in the IAJU International Education Conference at Sophia University gave me a deep insight into the richness and diversity of the global Jesuit higher education network. Fr. Christie reminded us that the Jesuit mission of education is not limited to helping Catholics deepen their own faith but also includes assisting people of other faiths to become more religious and helping the non-religious explore the deeper meaning of spirituality and life.”
As an active member of the IAJU network, The Beijing Center remains committed to facilitating meaningful East-West dialogues, working hand in hand with the IAJU Consortium Schools to meet future education challenges and opportunities. In doing so, we can prepare students to become agents of change.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Another one of the more irreplaceable experiences we have in China as students is the amount of cultural exchange we get to participate in. While The Beijing Center organizes plenty of culture-based events, from tourist activities to arts workshops, there’s something about engaging with other people our own age in cultural exchange that’s really special.
Over this past weekend, some of our students enrolled at Minzu University of China took their annual Spring Outing – this year, to Gubei Water Town. Situated about a 2-hour drive northeast of Beijing, the April weather made it absolutely perfect to explore for a spring outing. It surrounds various canals and offshoots of Yuanyang lake.
If you ever want to get a taste of Old Beijing, by far one of the best ways is to visit the hutongs. They’ve conceptually been around all the way since the 1200s, and in their most modern forms exist as protected alleyways and streets surrounded by old traditional houses and neighborhoods in the heart of Beijing and are recognized in China to be an important part of cultural heritage in the city.