Following their Annual meeting, usually held after the diaconate ordinations, this year being in February, the Board of Trustees of Hekima University College (HUC) released a comprehensive roadmap for the institution’s next phase of growth. Characterized by a deep sense of gratitude for current achievements, the Board’s resolutions and recommendations signal a major shift toward academic restructuring, technological advancement, and a focus on “ministerial frontiers.”
The Board’s message was clear: Hekima is growing, the progress is “visible and tangible,” and the institution is now preparing for a more complex, professionalized future.
The Board opened its communications with a rare “all-inclusive” commendation, praising the leadership, financial departments, and faculty for their professionalism. However, the Trustees paired this praise with a vital reminder about the staff’s health and well-being.
“The Trustees explicitly urged us to continue striving for excellence while also being attentive to our health and well-being,” HUC Principal, Rev. Dr Marcel Uwineza, SJ, stated. “Our mission is demanding; sustainability in service is essential.”
Among those singled out for praise were the Principal and Deputies for their visionary leadership, the Financial Departments for stewardship, and the Hekima Review for its scholarly contributions.
Six Strategic Recommendations for Growth
The Board outlined six key recommendations that will fundamentally change the student experience and the college’s administrative landscape:
- Academic Expansion: The Deputy Principal Academic Affairs (DPAA) will expand the credit system to formally include the Leadership and Management Course and student apostolates, recognizing practical service as an integral part of formation.
- Structural Reorganization: The College will undergo a significant restructure, including the creation of a new post: Dean of Arts and Sciences.
- New Academic Programs: The four-year MTh/STL Programme is set to be implemented ad experimentum (as an experiment), marking a significant evolution in Hekima’s theological offerings.
- Ministerial Frontiers: In a nod to the modern world, the Board recommended that Jesuits be specifically trained in AI, as well as ministry among refugees and displaced persons.
- Investment & Archiving: Leadership is tasked with studying new investment possibilities within Kenya and properly archiving the site plans for HUC and the Fadhili Centre.
To support these recommendations, the Board passed several resolutions focused on “future-proofing” the institution. These include:
- The “Digital Leap”: HUC will urgently acquire the ABNO-UNISOL Cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system using financial reserves. This move is expected to digitize and streamline all university operations, from finance to student records.
- Administrative Relief: Recognizing the heavy workloads mentioned by the staff, the Board will study the possibility of hiring Personal Assistants for major offices, with budgets to be proposed in the next fiscal year.
- The Path to Autonomy: HUC will continue its joint pursuit of a University Charter with the Proposed Hekima University (PHU), a critical step toward becoming a fully independent university.
- Safeguarding & Governance: The Board will review the MOU with the Jesuit Centre for Safeguarding in Africa (JCSA) to redefine its mission and will soon renew the HUC Council in accordance with the statutes.
Strategic Roadmap: The 2026 Board Directives
| Focus Area | Action Item |
| Technology | Acquisition of ABNO-UNISOL Cloud ERP system. |
| Personnel | Proposal for Personal Assistants for high-workload offices. |
| Academic | Launch of MTh/STL Program; New Dean of Arts and Sciences. |
| Formation | Training in AI and Refugee Ministry. |
| Legal | Joint pursuit of the University Charter with PHU. |
As the Hekima community digests these directives, the mood remains one of “encouragement and affirmation.” By prioritizing both technological infrastructure and the well-being of its staff, the Board of Trustees has set the stage for Hekima not only to dream big but also to build the systems necessary to sustain those dreams.
