HEKIMA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LAUNCHES NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES TARGETING GLOBAL AND SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
Hekima University College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, has launched a series of new academic programmes aimed at equipping students with skills to address pressing global, social, and economic challenges.
The announcement of this milestone was made during the institution’s closing ceremony of the academic year 2025-2026, which also marked the release of the 2025–2026 yearbook detailing the newly introduced courses.
Speaking at the event, Principal of this college, Fr. Marcel Uwineza said the programmes respond directly to emerging world realities such as conflict, migration, unemployment, and the growing search for meaning in society. He emphasized that higher education must move beyond theory and prepare students to engage in real-world problems.
“We are forming men and women who can respond to the challenges of our time,” he said, noting that the university’s approach integrates intellectual, moral, and character formation.
Among the programmes launched is a Bachelor of Arts in Migration, Security and Diplomacy (MSD), a four-year course designed to address complex global issues including humanitarian crises, international security, and peacebuilding. The programme targets careers in institutions such as the United Nations, African Union, and diplomatic service.
A second undergraduate programme, a Bachelor of Science in Business Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (BISE), seeks to tackle unemployment by equipping young people with skills to create jobs and develop socially impactful enterprises.
“We need graduates who do not just wait for jobs, but create them,” Fr. Uwineza said, stressing the urgency of innovation-driven education.
At the postgraduate level, the institution introduced a Master of Theology, a two-year programme awarded in collaboration with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, aimed at deepening theological studies in areas such as Scripture, pastoral ministry, and moral theology.
Also launched is a Master of Arts in Spirituality, a programme focused on leadership formation, discernment, and spiritual direction, targeting the clergy, religious, and lay leaders involved in formation and pastoral work.
These programmes will be offered through flexible learning models, with plans to expand online delivery to reach students beyond Kenya.
The event concluded with celebration of Mass led by Emeritus Bishop, His Lordship, Rodrigo Mejia, SJ. In the homily, he underscored the growing importance of theological and academic institutions in shaping both the Church and society. He pointed to the historical lack of such opportunities in Africa and described the expansion of programmes at Hekima as a significant step forward.
“This is a moment to give thanks,” he said, noting that institutions like Hekima now play a critical role in influencing societal change and strengthening the Church’s mission.
He further challenged theological institutions to take a leading role in addressing contemporary issues within the Church, including formation, leadership, and synodality.
The launch of these programmes signals a strategic shift by Hekima University College to position itself as a centre for academic excellence that responds directly to Africa’s evolving needs, with a strong emphasis on practical impact, ethical leadership, and service to society.
Applications for the new programmes are set to open ahead of the August intake, with the university urging prospective students and professionals to enroll.
