1. Dr. Neil Sparnon, Chief Academic Officer, JC:HEM www. jc-hem
Dr. Neil Sparnon, Chief Academic Officer, JC:HEM

2. Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins
Who are we?
What do we do?
How do we do it?
Points for Discussion

3. Who are we? An initiative of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits);
Open to all!
An independent organisation, with less than 10 staff globally.

4. What do we do?
Offer high quality higher education, free at the point of delivery, to those at the margins;
(those who have limited access to, or under-served by, higher education);
Two awards:
Diploma in Liberal Studies
Community Service Learning Tracks

5. What do we do? Seven current sites: 1,085 students since 2010;
Kakuma, Dzaleka, Amman, Taunggyi, Mae Hon Song, Chad, Herat;
1,085 students since 2010;
715 completed, 199 active, 171 withdrawn;
28% women;
Students are from more than 20 different countries.

6. How do we do it? Facilitate a Partnership:
Institutions – e.g. Regis: accreditation, courses, faculty;
Site-based partners – e.g. Jesuit Refugee Service: on-site support and infrastructure and facilities;
Donating organisations – e.g. Wiley Publishing: networks, technology, infrastructure, textbooks, funding etc.
Individual Faculty – to teach and design courses.

7. The Diploma in Liberal studies
15 courses, delivered on-line over 3 years;
Awarded and accredited by Regis University;
Courses from:
Existing courses adapted for cultural context

8. Curriculum Structure Core Courses Bridge to Learning (zero credit) 1
Bridge to Learning (zero credit) 1
Adult Learning 2
Interpersonal Communication 3
Logic and Critical Thinking 4
General Psychology 5
Leadership Theory 6
Person and Conduct 7
Intercultural Communication 8
Political Science 9
World Religions 10
Introduction to Business

9. Perspectives in Education 12 Project Management Educational Psychology
Concentrations
Business
Education 11
Global Business
Perspectives in Education 12
Project Management
Educational Psychology 13
Micro-Finance
Cultural Competence in Education 14
Marketing
Introduction to Special Education 15
Entrepreneurship
Teaching EFL

10. Community Service Learning Tracks
Community Health Provider (French & English);
Train the Trainer (ESL);
Special Needs;
Business and Entrepreneurship (French and English (2x));
Community Development and Organization (English(3x), French, and women only);
Performing Arts;
Community Counseling;
Child Protection and Participation;
Psychosocial Case Management (2x);
English as a Foreign Language (different levels);
Community Communications.

11. Community Service Learning Tracks
16 weeks long;
Class sizes between 15-25;
Subjects address areas of particular need in the community;
Delivered locally (face to face) but the curriculum is developed in collaboration with on-line international faculty;
Excellent orientation to learning – many subsequently apply successfully to the Diploma;
Genuine impact in the community;
A key component in terms of scalability.

12. Points for Discussion
It’s about partnership – you can’t do everything;
It’s not rocket surgery - The technology and networks to do this are available;
The main issues are academic – faculty, course donation relevance etc;
On-site support is critical to success;
Innovation needs a business plan.