On 1st August 2024, the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa (JHIA) had the privilege of hosting Alessandro Corsi from the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies for a productive virtual meeting. This meeting marked a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration and share resources between our two esteemed institutions.
Exploring Digital Initiatives
The discussion centered around the potential for collaboration on digital projects that could greatly benefit both organizations. Alessandro provided valuable insights into the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies’ Digital Projects portal, highlighting their ongoing initiatives and the technology stack supporting their work. His overview of the portal’s features offered a glimpse into how digital platforms can be leveraged to preserve and disseminate scholarly resources on Jesuit history and spirituality.
At JHIA, we shared our progress on several key digital projects, including:
- JHIA Digital Sources: A collection of important sources and scholarship related to the Society.
- Thesis Bank: Our growing collection of academic theses and dissertations focused on theology and religious studies.
These projects have already made significant strides in making valuable academic resources accessible to a global audience, and the potential for integrating these efforts with the work being done by the Institute of Jesuit Sources was a key topic of conversation.
Addressing Technical Challenges
A portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the technical aspects of our digital platforms. We explored ways to improve the user experience, enhance data security, and ensure that our systems are scalable to meet the growing demands of our users. Alessandro’s expertise provided fresh perspectives on how to address these challenges, particularly in areas where our platforms might be integrated or supported by the technologies employed at the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies.
Future Collaboration
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing a strong interest in pursuing future collaboration. Immediate opportunities were identified, and we look forward to exploring these in more detail in the coming weeks. The possibility of joint projects, shared resources, and mutual support between JHIA and the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies holds great promise for advancing our shared mission.
Denis Munyua
ICT and Digital Archives, JHIA
