Hekima commences his 42nd academic year, merging shared aspirations and prophetic objectives
Hekima University College, a renowned institution in Kenya, has set an ambitious roadmap for its 42nd year, aiming to combine concrete projects and the radicality of dreams, academic research and spiritual depth, fidelity to tradition and the audacity of the future.
At the heart of this journey is the institution's new motto, "Dream Deep and Fly High," which encapsulates an audacious vision. This motto reflects the mission and vision of Hekima, emphasizing a transformative educational journey rooted in deep spiritual and intellectual formation.
The strategic plan for 2024-2030 positions Hekima as a reference center for theology, social sciences, and peace studies in Africa. To achieve this, the institution focuses on three key areas: academic excellence, innovation and digital transformation, and social engagement and service to the common good.
Father Marcel Uwineza, SJ, the principal of Hekima University College, emphasized that the new campus is a tangible realization of a former project. Hekima aspires to be a place where dreams become projects, projects are incarnated in mission, and mission, lived together, opens a horizon of hope for the Church and for Africa.
The institution's emphasis on academic excellence is not just about achieving high grades, but about nurturing thinkers and leaders who can respond wisely and effectively to contemporary challenges. Father Neuhaus proposed seeing the Good Samaritan as the quintessential prophetic figure, embodying the spirit of service and compassion that Hekima seeks to instill in its students.
Father Deshi Ramadani, SJ, proposed a personal meditation on prophetic imagination, reiterating the call to "not pass by" in the parable of the Good Samaritan. He warned against the temptation of turning those we help into "moral trophies," emphasizing the importance of genuine care and empathy.
Father Minaku affirmed that Hekima University College is called to become a place where solid roots and daring flight unite to form a school of freedom and consciousness. He linked the dynamic of the Good Samaritan to the Psalms of Ascent, where the experience of exile and alienation culminates in the joy of rediscovered brotherhood.
Bishop Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, SJ, emphasized that the calls to be prophets of hope and to combine dreams and projects only have strength when rooted in Christ. Hekima University College is called to form women and men who, nourished by discernment and the pursuit of truth, become in turn prophets of hope for Africa and the world.
Dreaming deeply means anchoring one's ambitions in a quest for meaning where faith, excellence, and service to humanity meet. Father David Neuhaus, SJ, gave an inaugural lecture on the theme: "We refuse to simply pass you by: Prophets of hope in an increasingly divided world." The speaker expanded his topic to the role of Jesuit universities, suggesting they become prophetic spaces capable of "seeing as God sees."
In the spirit of shared dreams and aspirations, Father Deshi challenged Christian theology, emphasizing that it should not focus on sin to the detriment of the cry of suffering. Dreaming and flying together means recognizing that the fertility of a dream comes from sharing.
Father José Minaku, SJ, proposed two images: a tree uprooted by a storm symbolizing societies weakened by violence, and a bird stuck in an oil spill representing humanity imprisoned by its own decadence. These images serve as a call to action, encouraging students to strive for social engagement and service to the common good.
In conclusion, Hekima University College's new motto, "Dream Deep and Fly High," embodies a transformative educational journey that seeks to combine ambitious dreams with concrete projects and profound social engagement. The institution aims to produce thinkers and leaders who are deeply rooted in the Ignatian tradition, enabling them to integrate spiritual depth with active, wise leadership for societal transformation.
[1] Hekima University College Strategic Plan 2024-2030 [2] Father David Neuhaus, SJ, inaugural lecture: "We refuse to simply pass you by: Prophets of hope in an increasingly divided world"
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