The Beijing Center (TBC) is proud to be part of the IAJU (International Association of Jesuit Universities) Peace and Reconciliation Task Force, a global network of Jesuit universities and higher education institutions committed to promoting reconciliation through various initiatives. As part of this effort, the IAJU has developed the Mapping and GeoVisor Initiative, an interactive platform that visually showcases the contributions of member institutions to the mission of Ignatian reconciliation.
We are excited to announce that TBC’s annual three-day Retreat for young adults is now featured on Google Maps through the IAJU Peace & Reconciliation GeoVisor. As the only institution from the Chinese Province represented on this global platform, TBC is honored to share our work in fostering reconciliation and personal growth among students.
Launched in 2021, TBC’s Retreat is uniquely tailored to the mainland China context, focusing on personal reconciliation through secular language and methods rooted in Ignatian principles. Chinese students who complete the Retreat are invited to continue their journey by training as Retreat leaders or engaging in service learning, further expanding the Retreat’s impact.
TBC’s retreat initiative was also recognized as a best practice in Jesuit education during the 2022 IAJU Worldwide Assembly at Boston College, underscoring its significance within the global Jesuit network.
We encourage other institutions and communities within the Province to share their own initiatives related to peace, reconciliation, and Ignatian formation. By collaborating and expanding this network, we can amplify our collective impact and strengthen this vital mission together.
For more information or to submit your own projects, please contact TBC Executive Director Simon Koo, a member of the IAJU Peace and Reconciliation Task Force working group, at [email protected]. You may also reach out to Alma Marie O. Salvador from Ateneo de Manila University at [email protected] for further collaboration and inquiries.
Recently, Thomas Michael, a professor at The Beijing Center (TBC), was interviewed our staff and shared with us his perspective on studying Daoist thought and living in China. Professor Michael is a researcher at the School of Philosophy at Beijing Normal University.
Five Loaves and Two Fish is a volunteer organization centered on providing support and international education opportunities to the local migrant children who comprise its student body.
Snuff bottles represent a centuries-old cultural exchange between Europeans and the Chinese, where the import of tobacco products met the craftsmanship and artistry of Manchurian Beijing in the height of the Qing Dynasty. Manchu culture relished in entertainment and creature comforts, and snuff, being a mixture of ground tobacco and dried herbs, became very popular.
It’s not every day we get to make history! This week, The Beijing Center proudly welcomed—for the first time ever—27 curious and enthusiastic students from the University of Lima, along with Internationalization Coordinator Claudia Valencia and David Barriga, our partner from AsiaB Consulting, for an unforgettable Beijing adventure.