Innovation and renewal in education and evangelisation
The first meeting of the Ad Hoc taskforce for launching the project of setting up an International Network of Marist Schools concluded on 10th May at the General House in Rome.
The participants included : Br. Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, Vicar General of the Institute; Br. Carlos Rojas, Director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelisation, with his Secretary, Mr. Diugar E. Madera Buscarini; Br. Ador Santiago, Provincial of East Asia; Mr. Frank Malloy, National Director Nacional Of Marist Schools Australia; Br. Henry Uzor, member of the Marist Schools Commission of the Province of Nigeria; Mr. Llorenç Claramunt, Director of the Champagnat Foundation of the Hermitage Province; Dr. Montserrat Giménez, Managing Director of the Cardenal Cisneros University School in Alcalá de Henares in the Province of Ibérica; Br. Nicéforo Garrán, Province Education in the Province of Central America; Br. Natalino de Souza, Executive Director of UMBRASIL, and Ms. Ana Von Frankenberg Berger, Specialist in Creativity and Innovation and leader at the Crialab of TecnoPUC in the Province of Brazil Sul-Amazônia.
The main aim of the meeting was around defining a common vision for how such a group might carry out its responsibility for launching a pilot project towards a network of Marist schools across the world. Additionally, they established parameters framing their work such as how to share successful practices in areas of common interest. The second step in this process will be setting up an ‘Innovation Laboratory’ due to be in place by the end of this year 2019. The date set is between 2nd and 6th December in a place still to be decided and announced in the coming weeks.
By way of preparing for this innovation laboratory, the group decided to launch an “international consultation” across different sites around the globe in order to set up a data base supported by a computer software program still to be determined. Using this methodology, the possibility exists to hold video conferences led by members of the Ad Hoc group in which regional and Province groups can discuss project topics and later send in their responses using the software.
This Project is an example of the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the General Administration (2017-2025) and is in line with the call of the XXII General Chapter to set up mission networks at all levels that promote innovation and renewal in our education and evangelisation practices.