Networking & Cooperation

in SJ Higher Ed IAJU Collaboration Workshop

IBERO, 12 October 2020.
Dani Villanueva, SJ
jesuit.network | @jesuitnetwork
Global Covid Emergency . Jesuit Social Sector
Not focused either temporally or geographically.

340 out of 446

organizations
worldwide
covid.xavier.network
Global Covid Emergency . Jesuit Social Sector
Global Covid Emergency . Jesuit Social Sector
Jesuit Networking: A Call Since 1995
Recommendation of Cooperation among Provinces The Society has made a
global and regional and Regions to realize the concerted and generous effort
networking. apostolic mission of the Society to increase interprovincial
(GC34,Decree 21) is an undeniable necessity. cooperation in a variety of ways.
(CG35, Decree 5, 17) (GC 35, Decree 3, 38)
Collaboration naturally
leads to cooperation it is important to support and encourage the growing
through networks. collaboration among Jesuits and Jesuit apostolates
(GC36, Decree 2, 8) through networks
(GC 36, Decree 1, 35) Governing bodies in the Society are
already encouraging networks.
Discernment, collaboration and networking offer Depending upon their scope and scale,
three important perspectives on our contemporary Provincials, Conferences and the
way of proceeding. [..] attention to these General Curia actively facilitate, foster,
perspectives helps to streamline governance and accompany and evaluate international
make it more flexible and apostolically effective. and intersectoral networks.
(GC 36, Decree 2,3) (CG36, Decree 2, 9)
Discernment, collaboration and networking
offer three important perspectives on our
contemporary way of proceeding.
GC 36, Decree 2,3
 GC28… 1970, 2003, 2019

Growing Sense of Recommendation of global and

Global Corporate regional networking.
Awareness Mission (GC34,Decree 21)

1) Networking is necessary to carry

out our mission.
The growing creation of
2) The universal body of the SJ has an
networks is the fruit of our
enormous untapped potential.
constant apostolic ethos and
3) The development of networking in
our first vocation to
the SJ could not easily be foreseen
universality…. And we’ve
and would inevitably proceed by
encouraged it.
trial and error.
Global Social Apost. Higher Ed Secondary Ed. Collaboration

Networking
Efforts at
Rome
Secretariats

12 years 50
Aniv.
Nov July 2018
2019 Bilbao
Classic Networks? Homologous |
Conference Level
No so classic… Cross –
Sector and Global
 25

11
10

10

18
6 5
10
14
21
10
12
4
6
 " We should not ask ourselves if our
structures are good... the question is
if they are the best ones for the mission."

Arturo Sosa, SJ
We have already some
dynamics in place

• Universal Apostolic Preferences

• Emphasis on Corporate
Discernment
• New communication Dynamics at
global/corporate level
• Sectorial global
networking dynamics
• New ways of
understanding leadership
The future of our apostolic body does not
lie in the creation of new institutions, but
in the creative combination of current
ones.

Networks are not operational structures

but opportunities to channel a new
culture of collaboration and collective
action that will allow for new apostolic
responses.
 Our Apostolic body is dual
Hierarchy & Networks

We are wiring our apostolic body

Who | How | Why | Where
• Depending on what do
we want to achieve:
• Coordination
• Resources in common
• Common Projects
• Collective action.
• We create networks for
the good of the mission.
Not just for efficiency.
Not all networks
contribute equally to the
mission.
Temas para la Colaboración
 Networking Learned Lessons
• UAPs are promoting global alignment
• Conference structures are improving
• Our Institutions are looking to network.
• We have examples and learning
opportunities: FyA, IAJU, Educate Magis,
GIAN...
• Success factors:
• Clear mandate and objectives
• Financial and human resources
• Responding to needs from grassroot
level
• We are ready to use technology.
• We have a more collaborative
culture...even if we still have lots to learn
Obstacles for We are an ecosystem of quasi
Networking & autonomous provinces with a still
Collaboration weak collaborative culture
in the SJ Lack of Collaborative Predominance of
Culture Province Structures

• Weak sense of • Lack of clarity in

universal mission objectives and
• Traditional focus on strategies
inculturation
• Institutional self- • Lack of resources
sufficiency and for supra-provincial
individualism ventures
• Concept of • Low use of ICT and
hierarchical supra-provincial
leadership and communication
obedience strategies
Jesuit.Network
 Collaboration
Stories
Network Community of
Network Leaders
And Network weavers

Jesuit.network
Collaboration
Proposals
Collaboration Challenges:
• Add value to the Jesuit mission (beyond best practices)?
• Is it a response to needs at the grassroots?
• Objectives + Resources + Mandate
• Innovation: Intersectorial & inter-Conference
• Framework:
• UAP (mission)
• Jesuit Networks (structure)
• Discernment (methodology & leadership)
Networking & Cooperation
in SJ Higher Ed IAJU Collaboration Workshop
IBERO, 12 October 2020.
Dani Villanueva, SJ
jesuit.network | @jesuitnetwork
Extra slides for discussion