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An overview of Jesuit Commons initiative providing free higher education to marginalized populations. Learn about offered programs, partnerships, and impactful community service tracks.
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Dr. Neil Sparnon, Chief Academic Officer, JC:HEMwww.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org
Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org Who are we? What do we do? How do we do it? Points for Discussion
Who are we? www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org An initiative of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits); Open to all! An independent organisation, with less than 10 staff globally.
What do we do? www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org • Offer high quality higher education, free at the point of delivery, to those at the margins; • (those who have limited access to, or under-served by, higher education); • Two awards: • Diploma in Liberal Studies • Community Service Learning Tracks
What do we do? www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org • Seven current sites: • Kakuma, Dzaleka, Amman, Taunggyi, Mae Hon Song, Chad, Herat; • 1,085 students since 2010; • 715 completed, 199 active, 171 withdrawn; • 28% women; • Students are from more than 20 different countries.
How do we do it? www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org • Facilitate a Partnership: • Institutions – e.g. Regis: accreditation, courses, faculty; • Site-based partners – e.g. Jesuit Refugee Service: on-site support and infrastructure and facilities; • Donating organisations – e.g. Wiley Publishing: networks, technology, infrastructure, textbooks, funding etc. • Individual Faculty – to teach and design courses.
The Diploma in Liberal studies www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org • 15 courses, delivered on-line over 3 years; • Awarded and accredited by Regis University; • Courses from: • Existing courses adapted for cultural context
Curriculum Structure www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org
Community Service Learning Tracks www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org Community Health Provider (French & English); Train the Trainer (ESL); Special Needs; Business and Entrepreneurship (French and English (2x)); Community Development and Organization (English(3x), French, and women only); Performing Arts; Community Counseling; Child Protection and Participation; Psychosocial Case Management (2x); English as a Foreign Language (different levels); Community Communications.
Community Service Learning Tracks www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org • 16 weeks long; • Class sizes between 15-25; • Subjects address areas of particular need in the community; • Delivered locally (face to face) but the curriculum is developed in collaboration with on-line international faculty; • Excellent orientation to learning – many subsequently apply successfully to the Diploma; • Genuine impact in the community; • A key component in terms of scalability.
Points for Discussion www.jc-hem.org @JCHEMUpdates neil.sparnon@jc-hem.org It’s about partnership – you can’t do everything; It’s not rocket surgery - The technology and networks to do this are available; The main issues are academic – faculty, course donation relevance etc; On-site support is critical to success; Innovation needs a business plan.