The Jesuits, with the establishment of the St. Paul’s College in Goa in 1542, have a legacy of four and a half centuries of engagement and involvement in South Asia. The Jesuits under the organization of Jesuit Conference of India established in 1978 for India, and Jesuit Conference of South Asia for Asia, are part of the international organization of the Society of Jesus and has their presence in most countries across the world. The rich traditions, experience and expertise of the global presence is the basis of the work of the Jesuits in South Asia. This has given birth to various schools, colleges, management institutes of excellence and now in the recent past universities that have been promoted as per the new guidelines of the countries in South Asia.

While education has been our core strength, based on the needs of the countries Jesuits have also done pioneering work in social development, particularly in areas of ecology and environment, women’s empowerment, village development, alternate energy, highlighting the situations of various marginalized sections in the difficult to reach areas and working with the government to ensure that these situations are addressed. In each of these areas the Jesuits have done pioneering work and have gained recognition for their contribution. The USP of the Jesuits is a life time commitment to the education and social causes. It has established 18 Provinces and 2 Regions in South-Asia covering most parts of India, Nepal and Sri-Lanka.