Triennium General Report 2012-2015

Summary

IALU Board permanently reflected upon the challenges and concerns of the current

demands, happenings and movements of Higher Education worldwide. Political changes in

the countries that permanently influence the new approaches of higher education –

academically and administratively- the role of the Lasallian Higher Education Institutions to

foster the Lasallian mission, the importance of using technologies of information and

communication to maintain the network alive, a more consolidated financial model for IALU

and a research agenda to make stronger the LaSallian identity -with shared values, concepts

and topics- became the main aspects to bear in mind to strategically think of the

Association´s agenda.

With the aforementioned, the Board always tried to share strategic points of convergence

that could help on how to overcome those new challenges arising from political, economic

and social movements in the countries. Regions permanently face problems and De La Salle

Universities are highly impacted by them. Hence, some key aspects were introduced in

order to think about IALU in a different way so that we could come up with a plan to

contribute to close the gap within members and to create a portfolio of opportunities for

its members. Some of these aspects are briefly presented here, knowing that we -the Board-

could achieve some but certainly knowing that there are some pending actions for future

IALU leaders.

Bro. Carlos G. Gómez-Restrepo, fsc IALU President

Life of the Association

The Board met regularly every year. Some of the most important aspects developed during

three years are the following:

Proposal of new Statutes and Bylaws approved in Manila (the Philippines)

Official registration of the Association in France (Bank account in Paris).

Updating of the General Directory of La Salle HEIs representatives.

Unique logo of IALU to be used internationally as a common brand.

Encuentro X in collaboration with La Salle Universities in the Philippines with

important academic inputs from Jamil Salmi (Coordinator for Tertiary Education at

the World Bank), a round of alliances, among others.

New memberships in the triennium: La Salle (Perú), La Salle Open University

(Andorra), Universitas Katolik De La Salle Manado (Indonesia) and Instituto Tecnico

Central (Colombia).

Meetings of the Board to discuss action plans of the Association in Miami, Mexico,

and Beauvais.

Communication strategy: Still pending to be fully developed. Website (Registered

URL www.lasalle-ialu.org). Members of IALU have access to disseminate programs

and/or initiatives.

IALU Collaborative Research Themes: Food, Nutrition and Health; Sustainability and

the Environment; Education and Learning Innovations.

Encuentro XI in collaboration with La Salle University – Colombia under the theme

“Building bridges for a better world” with the participation of Eva Egron-Polak from

the IAU, Bro. Juan Antonio Ojeda and Fluyt Knowledge Brokers (Strategic planning

exercise).

A Business Education Meeting of La Salle Business Deans and Faculty De La Salle

Philippines (DLSP), De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU-M) and De La Salle-College

of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) in partnership with the International Association of

Lasallian Universities (IALU) and the Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD).

Activities developed jointly by La Salle Universities and IALU

NAFSA Conference - 2011 held in the city of Vancouver. Several university

representatives from Lasallian institutions attended this year and had the chance to

share good practices and possibilities to strengthen academic ties within the

Lasallian family. It was possible thanks to La Salle-Beauvais, La Salle-Bogotá, La Salle-

Barcelona and others.

Leadership Course in Rome: More than 250 people have already taken the course.

Special thanks to Br. Claude Reinhart, Roxanne Eubank and Joan Landeros for their

enthusiasm and coordination of activities.

IALU’s Leaders research workshop collocated within the Research Symposium

organized by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Special thanks to Bro. William

Mann and his team and to Arnulfo Azcarraga for his devoted time to make this

activity possible.

Lasallian leadership and global understanding program for students held at La Salle-

Beauvais, La Salle University (Philadelphia) and La Salle (Barcelona). Special thanks

to Philippe Choquet, Carlos Coelho, Giovanni Anzola, Bro. Michael McGinnis, Yusuf

Ugras, Robert Vogel, Juan Carlos Rivera, Joaquin Sanchez-Rex, Joan Landeros and

other institutional representatives from the above mentioned institutions.

1st Forum on faculty training and identity within the Lasallian context. Cuernavaca

gatherings. With the support of La Salle-Mexico (DF) and the academic coordination

of Bro. Paulo Fossatti and José Alberto Antunes de Miranda. Special thanks to Bro.

Enrique González and Joan Landeros and the Executive Secretariat of IALU.

2nd Forum on University Competences in the context of Lasallian Universities

(virtual). With the support of Bro. Paulo Fossatti, Alberto Antunes and Lluís Vicent

and the Executive Secretariat of IALU.

La Salle Universities gathering in the framework of the EAIE Conference in Istanbul,

with the support of Yusuf Ugras and representatives from St. Joseph High School.

Inter-University Program between La Salle Universities. International graduate

program in financial management, 3 months, learning by doing, online, where

students from 8 universities work together as a team and receive a diploma (20

ECTS), from 8 universities from 7 countries and. Participant institutions: La Salle

Open University (Andorra). La Salle Campus Barcelona (España), Universidad La Salle

Cuernavaca (Mexico), Universidad La Salle Pachuca (Mexico), Universidad

Tecnológica La Salle (Nicaragua), Universidad La Salle de Arequipa (Perú),

Universidad La Salle de La Paz (Bolivia), Universidad de Canoas (Brasil).

Gathering of University presidents Mexico – USA to foster academic collaboration

with the support of Bro. James Gaffney and Bro. Miguel Ángel Valdez.

Final remarks

The Board was always aware of a dynamic world which moves fast with a new generation

of young people moving along with it. La Salle Universities have to be receptive to a new

demanding youth, with more relevant and updated ways of teaching and learning as well

as the way to access to information. It is our role to observe these phenomena and prepare

ourselves for remarkable changes in our way of acting. Hence, the following aspects were

raised as concerns for the future of IALU. It is our hope that we encourage institutions to

have an active role to fulfill these expectations.

Educational reforms in the countries that affect the current structure of institutions and

the possible reducing in the enrollment of freshmen at the professional level is an issue.

How to survive, how to take advantage of the worldwide network of Lasallian

institutions and the importance of having a unique strategy to sustain institutions in

the long term.

Permanent reflections on trends in higher education where teaching and researching

become –to a certain extend- into main concerns for relevant education; especially in

those regions where De La Salle universities are more teaching institutions rather than

researching ones.

The respect for the autonomy of the institutions vs. the integration of joint initiatives

that may contribute to strengthening De La Salle mission in higher education through

IALU internationally.

Pertinent research at the local level while thinking globally.

The processes of internationalization to establish a common agenda in order to

contribute to the incorporation of joint ventures and sharing of best practices.

Education is becoming more global on a daily basis.

The emergence of “new competitors” that use marketing strategies to attract students

under the name of La Salle or the academic offer beyond national boundaries by

different types of institutions. Branding as a world strategy under the name of La Salle

at the higher education level would have to be considered for global integration due to

the appearance of an increased competition and the importance of differentiating the

brand of La Salle.

Mobility of faculty, researchers, administrators and students within the umbrella of

IALU members is an aspect to be fostered in the long run to promote collaboration as

well as the creation of common projects, joint publications, etc.

The leading role of some Lasallian universities in accompanying projects –along with

governments- in order to help in national agendas for the formation of faculty; the case

of Brazil and Colombia for instance where they have certain closeness to education

decision makers in a national agenda for teaching training programs; it is an asset that

can be used as a good practice to be replicated.

Correspondingly with previous point, it is also evident that, no matter the country,

financial support -from the private sector point of view at the educational level- is a

main concern. How to sustain with less government support becomes as the main

challenge.

The term “quality” tied to accreditation processes within the countries is more

frequently heard. Reflecting upon its implications –depending on each region- is an

aspect that could contribute to other Lasallian institutions that are struggling or walking

the path towards its implementation or not.

How to take advantage of a yearly budgetary allocation of the Association to benefit

strategic projects that can promote a unique concept to gather De La Salle HEIs? IALU

needs to be financially stronger, better known in the world, in its organization with

other funding sources.

Maintaining communications with Rome. There are several activities used as a gate to

promote IALU with other stakeholders jointly with the mother house. The Leadership

Program in Rome and other academic activities / courses have been used as the perfect

scenario to reflect upon the future of higher education whereas integration is implicitly

encouraged.

Information and Communication Technologies towards creating a culture for

permanent communication with other Lasallian institutions, especially those that

contribute permanently with membership dues on a yearly basis. A clear

communication strategy was always a concern.

Special acknowledgements

IALU Board would like express its gratitude in this triennium to institutional representatives

who helped in the construction of a common agenda for collaboration. They are:

Bro. Ray Suplido, Br. Gus Boquer and the Organizing Committee of Encuentro X for

helping in the logistics and other aspects necessary for the success of the event.

Bro. Michael McGinnis who served as Regional Director of North America,

Bethlehem, and English-speaking Africa.

Bro. Jose Antonio Diez who served as Regional Director of Center and South

America.

Bro. Andrés Govela who served as Regional Director of Mexico and Edel Espino from

La Salle-Bajio for the permanent support with the website of the Association.

Bro. Miquel Angel Barrabeig who served as Regional Director of Europe & French-

speaking Africa.

Br. Claude Reinhardt who served as member at large of IALU representing Casa

Generalizia in Rome.

And to the Board:

Vice President of IALU Mr. Philippe Choquet

Region 1 – (Europe & French-speaking Africa) Dr. Lluís Vicent Region 2 – (North America, Bethlehem, and English-speaking Africa) Bro. William Mann, fsc Region 3 – (Asia & Pacific Islands) Bro. Victor Franco, fsc Region 4 – (South America & Central America) Bro. Paulo Fossatti, fsc Region 5 – (Mexico) Bro. Miguel Angel Valdez, fsc IALU Executive Secretary Giovanni Anzola

Members at large

Dr. Arnulfo Azcarraga, (former) Vice Chancellor for Research, De La Salle University, Manila-Philippines.

Joan Landeros, Director of the Center for International Education, La Salle University-Mexico.