Amid questions about the future of the university, the challenges of contemporary pedagogy, and the need to refocus education on people, the RENOVAR*TE gathering brought together diverse voices in an exercise of reflection and dialogue centered on the Ignatian educational mission.
The debate took place on May 20 at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University—Braga Campus—and provided an opportunity to explore ideas, concerns, and perspectives that help us reflect on the role of the university in a time of rapid social change.
Among the most notable ideas was the reaffirmation of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences’ identity as an institution inspired by Ignatius of Loyola, as well as the central role of discernment as an essential practice for personal, communal, and educational life.
It has become clear that renewal does not mean breaking with tradition, but rather embracing it, preserving its fundamental elements, and reinterpreting it in light of contemporary challenges. The commitment to the integral formation of the person, the promotion of justice, and the pursuit of the common good thus remain at the heart of the educational mission.
At the same time, discernment has emerged as an essential dimension, not only for understanding the inner life, but also as a tool for making more conscious, free decisions that are oriented toward what leads to the deepest good.
When academia meets humanity
Ana Paula Pinto and Susana Vilas-Boas explain that at the heart of their reflections was the challenge issued by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Arturo Sosa, who called on Jesuit universities to be living witnesses of hope: a hope rooted in spiritual identity, committed to justice, in solidarity with the excluded, critical of the pressures and trends of the times, yet always open to dialogue and deeply dedicated to the social and ecological transformation of the world.
According to the participants, it became clear during the meeting that Ignatian pedagogy continues to offer a relevant and necessary vision of education. It is a pedagogy that unhesitatingly embraces its Christian, humanistic, and holistic identity, placing the person at the center of the educational process.
Historically, this approach to education has helped refocus learning on the student, highlight the importance of the teaching profession, and develop individuals capable of thinking freely, combining competence, critical thinking, and humanity.
The Pedagogy of Hope: Humanism and Identity
José Manuel M. Lopes and Ângela Azevedo emphasize that, in an era of rapid social change—marked by the ubiquity of technology and the growing complexity of human relationships—it is becoming increasingly necessary to educate people who are mindful, competent, compassionate, and committed to transforming the world.
It is precisely in this regard that the Jesuit university distinguishes itself: through a humanistic vision that places the individual at the center of the educational process and views the student as an active, critical participant in the construction of knowledge.
Throughout the meeting, it became clear how important it is to embrace the identity of Ignatian pedagogy without fear or ambiguity. More than mere transmitters of knowledge, educators are called to be agents of human, social, and cultural transformation.
Inspired by the principles of Ignatian pedagogy, they become true “sowers of hope,” promoting an education grounded in critical thinking, creativity, collaborative work, and an ethical consciousness focused on serving the most vulnerable.
With the sense that there is still so much more to share, discuss, and explore, the coordinator of the RENOVAR*TE Group, Ângela Azevedo, affirms that education remains, above all, a path of encounter, discernment, and hope—a space where humanity takes precedence over formalities and where educating continues to mean transforming lives.
University, Hope, and Educational Mission
Catarina Nogueira, a senior in the Communication Sciences program and coordinator of the Liberdade Book Club, states that one of the central ideas that emerged from the meeting was that the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at UCP Braga continues to draw its greatest strength from the people who inhabit it and build it day by day.
The various perspectives shared highlighted an increasingly evident challenge: developing an Ignatian pedagogy for our time requires more than ready-made answers or immediate solutions. It requires the ability to listen, discernment, closeness, and the courage to imagine new forms of university presence capable of responding to the demands and changes of the contemporary world.
For the student, these discussions helped highlight the need to rethink the educational mission in light of today’s challenges, reinforcing the idea that the university remains a unique setting for shaping individuals and fostering hope.
Universal values that are easy to understand
José Vale Machado, one of the panelists, believes that reflecting on the mission of Jesuit higher education is a duty for all who recognize its value.
According to him, we are talking about universal values that are simple to understand: openness, freedom, and hope. Openness to the world, freedom of thought, and hope for the future are the foundations for building a rich, pluralistic, and inclusive society that is attentive to others, particularly those living on the margins.
It is a society enriched by discussion and open debate, pluralistic in its acceptance of different worldviews, and inclusive in its welcoming of the stranger. In a world where everything seems to point toward the reign of antipathy, Jesuit-based education stands out as a place, a space, and a reality that fosters empathy.
The event also featured presentations by Luís da Silva Pereira and Eugénio Oliveira.
