Hekima University College
 | |
| Type | School of theology |
|---|---|
| Established | 1984 |
Religious affiliation | Jesuit, Catholic |
Academic affiliation | The Catholic University of Eastern Africa |
| Rector | Dr. John Ghansah, SJ |
| Principal | Dr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, SJ[1] |
| Dean | Dr. Emmanuel Foro, SJ |
| Location |
Kangethe Rd. & Ngong Rd. Nairobi City, Kenya |
| Website |
hekima.ac.ke hipsir.hekima.ac.ke |
Hekima University College is a Jesuit school of theology in Nairobi, Kenya, affiliated with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. It opened in 1984 mainly as a theologate for Jesuits studying to be priests,[2] and has greatly expanded since then. In 2004 the Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSIR) was opened by Hekima College.[3]
Overview
By 2015 the undergraduate theology programme served a large spectrum of students, including lay women and men and fourteen other religious congregations. The College's HIPSIR initiative was accredited by the Commission for University Education since 2007 and continues to extend its outreach.[4][5]
Hekima's library in its extensive stacks contains 25 books written by lecturers at the College.[6] In collaboration with eight other Christian institutions in the Nairobi area, it makes available 700 periodical titles.[7]
Hekima College publishes Hekima Review, a journal of African Christian theology and peace studies, with its own website where all issues can be freely viewed.[8] Annually the College convenes a theological week, a peace forum, and a forum for expounding the relevance of faith to economics and politics.[9] Hekima is also a favored venue for pan-African theological conferences,[10] drawing international attention.[11] The cultural mix of Catholic traditions is celebrated at Masses which bring together the various religious communities at Hekima.[12]
Hekima also hosts the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA), organized in 2010 and dedicated in part to preserving the record of Jesuit missionary involvement in Africa.[13]
Mission
Hekima College began as the English-speaking Jesuit theologate in Sub-Saharan Africa for Jesuits studying for the priesthood, offering the same courses and programs to lay women and men. With the opening of its Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations in 2004 and with its African peacebuilding efforts, its scholarly exchanges have greatly increased, especially with the USA.[14][15] Hekima's approach is ecumenical and inter-religious[16][17] and in continuity with the Jesuit tradition of pedagogy.
Programmes
The Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree is a three-year programme satisfying the requirements of the Catholic church, and of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa Bachelor of Arts in theology, and is equivalent to the pontifical Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB).
Those receiving the BTh from Hekima can in an additional year earn the Post-Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Theology awarded by Hekima, with the possibility of the studies being completed elsewhere.[18]
Certificate Courses:
- Programme of the Theological Formation of the Laity, aimed at deepened Christian life and leadership
- Ignatian Directed Retreat trains those who have made a thirty-day Ignatian directed retreat to direct others in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
- Directed Retreat prepares priests and religious to give Directed Retreats
- Certificates in Management, in Catholic Social Thought & Peacebuilding, in Postconflict Transformation Leadership & Management,[19] through HIPSIR.
HIPSIR
In 2004 Hekima inaugurated Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations.[3] It offers a Master of Arts degree (MA) in conflict resolution and transitional justice in post-colonial Africa, as well as certificate courses in related topics.[16] It also sponsors conferences and forums bringing together experts from across the continent and from abroad.[20]
References
- ↑ Boston College Marquette Tablet anniversary
- ↑ SoftKenya
- 1 2 HIPSIR
- ↑ World Church
- ↑ Fulbright scholar
- ↑ Library
- ↑ Journals
- ↑ Hekima Review
- ↑ Forums
- ↑ Third conference
- ↑ NatCathRep
- ↑ JESAM
- ↑ JIHA
- ↑ Creighton, et passim.
- ↑ DePaul U.
- 1 2 Gradschools.com
- ↑ Laurenti Magesa, "Christianity & African Religion," in Routledge Companion to Christianity in Africa, ed. Elias Kifon Bongmba (New York: Routledge, 2016), 252-268.
- ↑ Pastoral diploma
- ↑ Certificate courses
- ↑ James Stormes, et al. Transitional Justice in Post-Conflict Societies in Africa. Nairobi: Paulines Africa, 2016. ISBN 9966-08-981-0.
Coordinates: 1°18′4.34″S 36°46′27.5″E / 1.3012056°S 36.774306°E