The International Association of Jesuit Engineering Schools (IAJES) plays a vital

role in embedding a humanistic, value-based approach into technical education.

Gathering 55 global educators and administrators is no small feat. Having a host

like Ateneo de Manila University—renowned not only for its academic excellence

but also for its deeply ingrained spirit of hospitality (magis in action)—made this

collaborative endeavor incredibly seamless.

From July 8 to 10, 2026, Fr. Felix Raj and Prof. Tuhin Paul represented St.

Xavier’s University, Kolkata, at this prestigious global summit. The Indian

delegation comprised nine participants representing five Jesuit engineering

institutions:

• Fr. Felix Raj & Prof. Tuhin Paul (SXUK)

• Fr. John Rose (Mumbai)

• Fr. Casimir & Dr. Arpita Jena (XIMUB)

• Fr. Justin Yasappan (Loyola, Chennai)

• Fr. Kiran Cotha & Prof. Ruben Raj (St. Aloysius, Mangalore)

• Prof. Castellino Roshan (SJU, Bangalore)

Theme: “Down from the Hill”

The central theme, “Down from the Hill,” highlighted a collective call to action

for Jesuit engineering institutions to step beyond traditional academic boundaries.

Discussions focused heavily on translating academic excellence, ethical

leadership, and human-centered innovation into tangible, field-tested impacts for

marginalized communities.

Integral Ecology and Global Mission

Aligned with the broader mission of the International Association of Jesuit

Universities (IAJU), the summit heavily integrated discussions around Laudato Si’

and integral ecology. Academic tracks sought to align advanced technologicaldevelopments—such as AI infrastructure, healthcare engineering, and clean

energy—with environmental justice and sustainability.

Regional Growth and Governance

As a major convening for the IAJES-Asia Pacific region, the summit provided an

essential space to review regional benchmarks and expand the network of

participating universities. The delegates also addressed key governance

transitions, laying the groundwork for the next two-year action plan and

subsequent institutional leadership structures.

Significance of the Summit

This summit stands as a cornerstone for global engineering education under the

Ignatian tradition. It firmly emphasizes that modern engineering must prioritize

human dignity, social justice, and ecological balance over technological

advancement alone.

Conclusion

The event was marked by the exceptional hospitality and outstanding organization

of the host team at Ateneo de Manila University. More importantly, it served as an

invaluable forum for global educators to align their visions, share ongoing

initiatives, and lay the robust groundwork for meaningful international partnerships and collaborations in engineering education.

Mario Martin Louis
SXUX