The AI Frontier and the Distinctives of Global Jesuit Higher Education:
The Inaugural Symposium of the
Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU)
Ateneo de Manila University
9–12 March 2026
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU) is an international initiative aimed at fostering robust and sustainable research collaborations among Jesuit institutions of higher education across the globe. Rooted in the Jesuit commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and global engagement, GRAJU seeks to build a unified research network that enhances scholarly partnerships, interdisciplinary innovation, and mission-driven inquiry. Established on 4 August 2025, GRAJU has been initiated by six Jesuit universities, including Ateneo de Manila University (the Philippines), Fordham University (USA), Georgetown University (USA), ITESO (Mexico), Sogang University (South Korea), and the University of Deusto (Spain).
The Problem and the Opportunity
The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming human and nonhuman relationships and configurations in fundamental ways. Higher education, as a cornerstone of knowledge creation, dissemination, and collective advancement, stands at a critical juncture. Universities across the globe face both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges as they integrate AI into teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. How should Jesuit higher education respond? Do we have a unique contribution to make? This symposium aims to foster a comprehensive dialogue among Jesuit universities on the profound implications of AI for the future of global higher education.
The advent of sophisticated AI tools, from generative models to intelligent tutoring systems, compels higher education to critically re-evaluate pedagogies, research methodologies, ethical frameworks, and administrative policies and practices. But not all universities—and not all disciplines within universities—are equally positioned to engage proactively with this new frontier. The global higher education landscape indicates profound unevenness, with some advancing and others hesitating in leveraging AI for enhanced learning outcomes and innovative research and creative work. Nevertheless, a strategic and thoughtful embrace of AI can potentially produce positive outcomes in higher education, personalizing learning experiences, accelerating scientific discovery and cultural production, increasing administrative efficiency, and fostering new models of international collaboration. The key challenge lies in harnessing AI's transformative power responsibly and equitably, consistent with the core values and commitments of Jesuit academic excellence and human flourishing.
Themes and Discussion Areas
The Ateneo de Manila University invites submissions for the international symposium on “The AI Frontier and the Distinctives of Jesuit Higher Education," to be held in the Philippines from 9 to 12 March 2026. This symposium provides the opportunity to present research findings through paper or poster presentations and other formats that explore the multifaceted issues confronting Global Jesuit Higher Education and AI. Apart from the presentations, there will be one-on-one research meetings and a field trip, with an out-of-town excursion planned for 12 March.
We welcome submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following sub-themes:
- AI in Ignatian Pedagogy and Curriculum Design
- The core curriculum and AI
- AI-powered learning tools and personalized education
- Rethinking assessment in the age of generative AI
- Developing AI literacy and critical thinking skills for students
- AI in religious education and training
- AI in service learning
- Curriculum adaptation for AI-driven professions
- AI assistance in development of teaching materials
- Tools for classroom management and student monitoring
- AI for University Management and Strategic Planning
- Analytics systems for strategic decision making
- AI augmentation of university backroom processes
- Establishment or use of AI-based services for university stakeholders
- Envisioning desired outcomes for AI use and defining measures of success
- Faculty development and training for AI integration
- Administrative and technical support structures
- Infrastructure and subscription planning and budgeting
- AI in Research, Creative Work, and Innovation
- AI as a tool for enhancing research and data analysis
- AI for research project management
- Ethical considerations in AI research and intellectual property
- Fostering interdisciplinary AI research collaborations
- Creative writing and humanities scholarship with AI assistance
- AI-assisted preservation of cultural heritage
- Digital and spatial studies on religious issues
- Ethical, Equity, Legal, and Policy Implications of AI
- Addressing bias, fairness, and transparency in AI algorithms
- Ensuring equitable access to AI technologies and education globally
- Data privacy and security in AI-driven educational systems
- Developing institutional policies and best practices for AI use
- The impact of AI on academic integrity and plagiarism
- The role of higher education in AI development and governance
- Global Collaboration and Future Models
- Leveraging AI for cross-border educational partnerships
- Current GRAJU AI-related research and emerging directions
- AI’s role in addressing global challenges through higher education
- Emerging models of higher education in an AI-transformed world
- The future of work and the role of universities in lifelong learning
Symposium Objectives
- Facilitate Dialogue: Create a vibrant platform for academics and administrators in Jesuit universities to discuss AI’s impact on global higher education
- Share Current AI-Related Research and Academic Programs: Discuss each university’s current capacity to contribute to the AI body of knowledge and forming of future AI professionals.
- Share Best Practices: Showcase innovative approaches and successful case studies of AI integration in learning, teaching, research, and administration.
- Produce Publications: Disseminate the important findings shared in this symposium through journal articles in Scopus-indexed publications
- Inspire Action: Motivate participants to engage with AI responsibly and equitably within their respective contexts
- Establish a Collaborative Work Agenda: Define a shared agenda for collaborative programs and research on AI in teaching, learning, and administration that advance the Jesuit mission and amplify the GRAJU network’s impact
- Prepare grant proposals: develop joint grant proposals to domestic and international foundations
Participants and Funding
All interested scholars in Jesuit universities are welcome to attend the inaugural symposium of the Global Research Alliance of Jesuit Universities (GRAJU), regardless of membership in the alliance. Please contact your respective research offices to inquire about funding opportunities. If your university has not yet joined GRAJU, please encourage your institution to complete the application form: https://form.jotform.com/251595544652060.
The registration fees of all presenters and participants will be waived, although you will be responsible for covering transportation, accommodation, visa, airport transfer, and other incidental expenses.
Submission Guidelines
Interested paper presenters are requested to submit an abstract that does not exceed 250 words. Panel proposals are also welcome and should include a brief description of the proposed panel as well as the abstracts of the individual papers in the panel. Proposals should include a five-sentence note about each paper proponent. To the extent possible, the presenters in a panel come from more than one Jesuit university.
Please submit abstracts and panel proposals by 1 December 2025. Submissions must be in Word format and include the name, institutional affiliation, email address, and bionote of the paper proponent(s). Decisions on abstracts and panel proposals will be released on 15 December 2025.
For inquiries, email graju.research@ateneo.edu
For submissions, please proceed via the Submit a Proposal link.
