{"id":1780,"date":"2024-08-15T19:33:21","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T17:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2025-11-10T01:08:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T00:08:24","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About us<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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UCSIA, the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp, is an independent non-profit organization. We build bridges for a more just world. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The challenges of our times<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We live in challenging times. A turbulent period where everyone is seeking solid ground. The news is full of reports about climate problems, violence, poverty, conflict, energy crises, migration…. How should we understand these problems in all their complexity? How can we help to solve them? And how do we find our place in this complex world? <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sanctuary<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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UCSIA is a safe place to think about these social and spiritual issues together. We bring together people with different backgrounds and expertise to look at problems from all sides. In doing so, we particularly want to give a voice to the less fortunate members of our society. We do this during our events: from specialized academic workshops to conferences for professionals, and webinars for a broader audience. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Science and knowledge<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As a university centre science is the foundation of our work, but we also give space to real-world initiatives and personal stories. We connect academia with social organizations, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and society. At this intersection, we often find surprising insights and inspiration. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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UCSIA Summer School 2022<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Manresa Room at UCSIA \u00a9 art \u2018n decay<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our roots in religion<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Ignatius van Loyola (c) Library of the Ruusbroec Institute<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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As heir to UFSIA, the former Jesuit university in Antwerp, the Jesuit values form our DNA. We strive for social and ecological justice, and value education and scientific knowledge. We want to connect people by engaging in open dialogues, even on difficult and polarized topics. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Who are the Jesuits?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Jesuits, officially known as the members of the Society of Jesus, are a Catholic religious order founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola. They are known for their dedication to education, social justice, and spiritual development. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Education<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With schools and universities around the world, Jesuits have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge and critical thinking. In their teaching, they combine academic excellence with values such as social justice and ethical responsibility. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Service and dialogue<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Jesuits are committed to service. They dedicate themselves to the community and pay special attention to the most vulnerable people in society. They combine deep spiritual reflection with practical action, believing that real change begins with personal growth and awareness. By promoting dialogue and embracing different perspectives, the Jesuits strive for a more just and inclusive world. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Jesuits today<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today, Jesuits are giving shape to their mission in what they call the “universal apostolic preferences”: showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth towards a hope-filled future, and caring for our common home.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Topics<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Jesuit’s core values are reflected in the theme lines of our operation:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Solidarity Academy<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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All theme lines are also intertwined in the Solidarity Academy, UCSIA’s new flagship project. The Solidarity Academy starts from local social projects working against poverty, social exclusion, climate change, and other problems to which neither the government nor the private market provide adequate answers. From there, we reflect on old and new forms of solidarity. In this way, we want to look for solutions to contemporary social issues. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The origens of UCSIA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Religion in society<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 1852, the Fathers of the Society of Jesus founded an institute for business education in Antwerp. From this institute grew one of Europe’s first “business schools” to award university degrees. Gradually, the Saint-Ignatius School of Commerce expanded its activities to include a Faculty of Arts and Philosophy (including Law) and a Faculty of Political and Social Sciences. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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UFSIA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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At the end of the 1960s, the commercial college received the legal status of a university, and its name was changed to University Faculties Saint-Ignatius Antwerp (UFSIA). The new university awarded official degrees in Applied Economic Sciences, Philosophy and Arts, Law, and Political and Social Sciences. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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University of Antwerp<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From the early 1970s, UFSIA collaborated structurally with the two other universities in Antwerp: the State University Centre Antwerp (RUCA) and the University Institute Antwerp (UIA).<\/p>\n

In 2002, the three institutions decided to merge into a new university: the University of Antwerp. The University of Antwerp is the first university in Belgium with an explicitly pluralistic character, with a strong emphasis on the importance of philosophical and ethical discussions, and openness to religion and intercultural dialogue. <\/p>\n

Today, the university offers a wide range of educational and training programmes in the social sciences and humanities, law, natural sciences, and medicine. The institution has more than 23,000 students. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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UCSIA<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With the merger, UFSIA and the Antwerp Jesuits sought a way to continue the Jesuit university project in Antwerp. In the summer of 2002, they founded an independent non-profit association for that purpose: the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp (UCSIA). <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Mission<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The purpose of the association was defined in the third Article of Association<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main objective of UCSIA, inspired by a Christian belief and in a spirit of openness and tolerance, sustained by the members of the Society of Jesus and of the Antwerp University, is to provide for an international and interdisciplinary platform that supports and stimulates academic research, higher education and community service regarding themes that express the Christian ideology, thus serving the faith and contributing to a more just society.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The first event<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Six months later, UCSIA became operational. In the summer of 2003, the very first UCSIA Summer School on Culture, Religion and Society took place. A project that is still a fixed value on the UCSIA calendar. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Achievements<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since then, we brought more than 2,000 national and international academics into conversation with each other and with professionals and policy makers. We organized more than 800 events from specialized academic workshops to conferences for professionals, and webinars and talks for a broad audience. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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UCSIA in the future<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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UCSIA continues to build on that capital and research network: broadening its operation through more service to society and support to higher education. Since 2018, we have been very committed to the expansion of “service-learning”, an innovative form of education that lets students actively take up social engagement and think critically about it. Another focal point is the establishment of the Solidarity Academy in 2024. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Antwerp: port city and metropolis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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UCSIA is not located in Antwerp by chance: a port city and a global city. Those who study, work, live or govern in Antwerp experience what globalization means: countless opportunities through international traffic, economic growth, material prosperity and cultural richness, but also social inequality, rapid changes from outside and challenges related to diversity in culture, religion,… through past and new migration. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The UCSIA House: a site of historic value<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Prinsstraat 14<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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UCSIA took off in 2003 in the office at Prinsstraat 14, which until then housed UFSIA’s Student Advising Service. <\/p>\n

In the early 1980s, the UFSIA commissioned architect Etienne Van Caster to renovate and merge the two historic properties at 14 and 16 Prinsstraat.<\/p>\n

The town houses the “King of the Moors” (Prinsstraat 14), also called “Saint Mathew of Amsterdam”, and “King of France” (Prinsstraat 16) are protected monuments.<\/p>\n

They were part of the first subdivision carried out in the sixteenth century by the famous building promoter and land speculator Gilbert Van Schoonbeke. The lots were sold in 1542 with an obligation to build within one year. The houses built were initially occupied by wealthy merchants. <\/p>\n

The stepped gables are typical of the sixteenth century and are a good example of the bourgeois architecture of the period.<\/p>\n

In the corner facade, a sandstone crown with “fleur de lys” refers to the name of the house.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Koningstraat 2<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 2020, UCSIA acquired the adjacent property on the Koningstraat from the University of Antwerp. The historic neoclassical-style warehouse dates from 1862. Architect Heliodore Leclef designed the building on behalf of Charles Pecher, the progenitor of one of Antwerp’s most important liberal families. <\/p>\n

Another gem by Leclef is the 1871 Our Lady College of the Jesuit Fathers on Frankrijklei.<\/p>\n

UCSIA commissioned DMT Architects to merge and renovate the existing office building and warehouse. Work began in 2022 and took just under two years to complete. In addition to the offices, the complex also features a beautiful conference hall and two state-of-the-art meeting rooms. In September 2024, the team moved into the new UCSIA House. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"UCSIA\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Meetings and events at the UCSIA house<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLooking for a venue for your meeting or event? With the Utopia Room and the Pilgrim Room, UCSIA has two rooms suitable for hybrid meetings. We also have the Manresa Hall, suitable for events from receptions, lectures to large meetings.

The rooms are managed by konventa, the department that also runs the other conference rooms on the University of Antwerp’s city campus.
T | +32 (0)3 265 56 55
E | congreszalen@uantwerpen.be<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more about pricing, facilities and capacity<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UCSIA, the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp, is an independent non-profit organization. We build bridges for a more just world. The challenges of our times We live in challenging times. A turbulent period where everyone is seeking solid ground. The news is full of reports about climate problems, violence, poverty, conflict, energy crises, migration…. How should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1780","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAbout us - UCSIA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/about-us\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"About us - UCSIA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UCSIA, the University Centre Saint-Ignatius Antwerp, is an independent non-profit organization. We build bridges for a more just world. The challenges of our times We live in challenging times. A turbulent period where everyone is seeking solid ground. 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