On Saturday, August 17, on behalf of the President of the Jesuits Conference of Africa and Madagascar—JCAM, Rev. Fr. Jose Lukoli Minaku, SJ, the JCAM Socius (Deputy President), Rev. Fr. John the Baptist Anyeh-Zamcho, SJ, launched the New Hekima Strategic Plan 2024-2025.
A strategic Plan is a working document that guides an organization or institution toward accomplishing its goals and mission. The New Hekima Strategic Plan 2024-2030 has been developed by experts, including the institution's Board of Directors, the Council, the Management, and the various stakeholders who care about Hekima’s interests.
The meticulously done document begins with a review of the previous strategic plan for 2018-2023, looking at what was achieved, challenges encountered, and critical lessons learned; this self-assessment reveals Hekima’s notable progress in implementing its four key result areas, which formed the foundation of the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan.
The review indicated the resilience of Hekima, showcasing the continued effective fulfillment of its mandate. The predominant challenge during the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2018-2023 was the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global educational landscape, particularly for institutions with international students and staff, experienced profound disruptions. Like many others, the College had to adapt swiftly to online and virtual modes of learning. This shift has catalyzed the College to develop and
enhance its blended teaching and learning capabilities. The new Strategic Plan 2024-2030 aims to capitalize on this valuable experience.
Having reviewed the previous strategic plan, the New Strategic Plan 2024-2030 provided a thorough analysis of the current situation, looking at it from three different angles, the first being external environmental factors such as global trends, the continent of Africa, the demand for peace and conflict expertise, the church in Africa today, the Society of Jesus in Africa, Kenya's higher education sector, as well as the competition in the higher education sector. This angle also explored possible partners and success factors in the higher education sector.
The second angle was the Internal Situation, which thoroughly examined the HUC organizational context while analyzing Hekima’s foundation and governance, the faculty, the facilities, students, and programs. It also examined financial resource management and Hekima’s corporate image.
Finally, the third angle focused on a SWOT Analysis, exploring Hekima’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and possible threats toits success
Based on these analyses, Hekima premises its strategic thrust on eight planning principles that will underpin decisions made in the five key result areas on which the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan is built; these include teaching and learning, research and publication, community outreach services, partnership and linkages and finally institutional capacity. Four of the five key result areas are core to
the College’s Mandate, and one is to focus on its capability.
While launching the new strategic plan 2024-2030, Fr. John the Baptist reiterated the questions raised by JCAM President Fr. Jose Minaku in his introductory message in the strategic plan, which included: What is our analysis of our local and universal context? What is our reading of the forty years of grace during which God showed us his love? What is our rereading of our identity and mission today? What is our attitude and our reflection on the signs of the times? What is the Lord calling us to do today? What
is our concrete and appropriate response? What mechanisms are in place to evaluate our progress?
While admitting that he had no answers to these questions and was unsure if he would be the right person to answer them, he expressed confidence that everyone at Hekima has a stake in how these questions ought to be answered and how they shape the world of tomorrow.
“I am convinced that during this Academic Year 2024-2025, much progress will be made in harnessing the immense capacity that can be generated in collective and collaborative work. As a member of the Hekima, you must know that wisdom can be elusive, and only veteran fighters can engage in the quest,” Fr. John the Baptist said, adding that Africa desperately needs institutions such as Hekima to survive.
“Hekima, therefore, is a beacon of hope for genuine wisdom, and I pray that you will seize the opportunity.” Fr. John the Baptist emphasized the introductory message of Hekima Principal Fr. Marcel Uwineza SJ, in which he compels the institution’s stakeholders to change their shells like the lobster and courageously embrace their destiny.
By Pamela Adinda, HUC Communications Coordinator