​​On Wednesday, April 30, the Culture Committee of the Association of Universities Entrusted to the Society of Jesus in Latin America (AUSJAL)—part of the LINKS Network to which the Universidad del Pacífico belongs—organized a discussion entitled "Living the Ignatian Principles through our university work."

This event brought together more than 278 participants across 19 universities in the AUSJAL Network from more than 10 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. 

The discussion sought to reflect on how to practice Jesuit principles and identity in our daily activities. It corresponds to a series of initiatives to be held throughout 2025 as part of the LINKS Network AUSJAL Culture work plan. 

The 4 Cs: a comprehensive educational proposal with a human meaning 

At first, Father Luis Ugalde, SJ—former provincial superior of the Society of Jesus in Venezuela (1979–1985), rector of the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (1990–2010), and president of the AUSJAL (1998–2008)—shared the inspiring recollection that a university's mission is to educate by way of the 4 Cs. 

Educating with the 4 Cs means forming whole people who are capable of transforming the world by drawing from a deep human and spiritual consciousness. Inspired by the Ignatian tradition, this approach proposes the development of four fundamental dimensions that, taken together, give meaning to quality education: 

Consciousness, of oneself, of others, of the social reality, and of the presence of God. 

Competence, with solid capacity and knowledge to perform effectively and ethically at the service of others. 

Compassion, with the ability to respond with solidarity and love to the suffering of another. 

Commitment to justice, equity, and the transformation of social structures. These dimensions comprise an educational proposal aimed at forming people "for others and with others" who are capable of serving, loving, and building humanity. 

Professional vocation as a path to the common good 

Subsequently, Soledad Maldonado, director of identity and mission at the Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya (Lima, Peru), shared how, from an Ignatian perspective, university education goes beyond the transmission of knowledge: It should aspire to form men and women committed to the common good. 

This implies integrating a professional vocation with an authentic vocation of service, based on an understanding of career and work as means of transforming society and responding to its most urgent needs. 

This approach aligns with the Ignatian commitment to the service of faith and the promotion of justice, currently expressed in the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs): Showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth, and caring for our common home. 

Thus understood, university education becomes a process of support for young people but also an opportunity to awaken their social awareness, their sense of solidarity, and their active commitment to a more just and sustainable world. 

Supporting the educational journey is also, at the same time, a way of walking with the excluded and caring for the world we inhabit by forming people committed to a more just, humane, and sustainable society.