KENYA: Constituent College of CUEA on the Path to Full-fledged University
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Hekima University College affiliated with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) that was established about 39 years ago as a Jesuit School of Theology for Students preparing to be Catholic priests, is currently in the process of being a full-fledged University if approved.
The Principle of the college Fr. Marcel Uwineza a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) shared with AMECEA online the progress made so far saying, “We are currently working with the Eastern African Province of the Society of Jesus and we hope to start a full-fledged university which, if it is approved by the Commission of University of Education and the Cabinet Secretary for education, will be called Hekima University.”
Fr. Uwineza says that in their journey to being a full-fledged University, they are inspired by the words of the first female head of state in Africa Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the former President of Liberia who said, “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to exceed them.”
According to the Principle, Hekima University College strives to fulfil its mission “which is to blend integral human formation with higher learning to prepare men and women for the challenges of a faith that does justice by pursuing the truth that sets people free, with full dedication and integrity, in the best of the Jesuit tradition of education.”
Even though Hekima began as a small Jesuit School of Theology, the constituent college of CUEA has grown and currently includes a number of programs including Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations that in totality contributes to its mission, “which is to train students to be effective pastoral leaders and ministers of the Word, providing an ecumenical and inter-religious perspective to the evangelization of the people through contextualized and relevant theological inquiry rooted in the creative fidelity, Ignatian pedagogy, and the Catholic tradition.”
According to Fr Uwineza, Hekima which is Kenya-based College trains students from all walks of life representing various nationalities and from about fourteen local and international religious congregations.
Some of the programs offered by Hekima University include Bachelor of Theology which “prepares students for sound and competent pastoral leadership in fidelity to the foundational spirituality.” A three-year program on Baccalaureate in Theology, an ecclesiastical degree awarded by the Faculty of Theology of the Jesuits in Africa and Madagascar (FTJAM) erected by Pope Francis in 2017.
This program which is offered to students who have studied at least two years of philosophy, and who have permission to enroll in a civil university in their home country, or in Kenya “provides a basic introduction to Catholic theology and its scientific method,” Fr. Uwineza a Rwandese cleric shared with AMECEA Online.
Other programs include Post-graduate Diploma in Pastoral Theology, Master of Theology, Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL), Masters of Art in Peace Studies and International Relations, Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) and Center for Research Training and Publications (CRTP).
Besides Post graduate programs offered by the college, Hekima also offers certificate courses such as Certificate in Retreat Direction, Certificate in Theology for the Laity and Certificate on Safeguarding offered by the Jesuit Center of Safeguarding in Africa.
Fr. Uwineza highlights that “the rich programs that Hekima University College currently have is a sign that the institution is working not only to form formidable agents of evangelization but also to churn out knowledge that is integral to the growth and development of our contemporary society.”
