Jesuit Worldwide Learning: Higher Education at the Margins (JWL) is a collaborative global partnership comprised of organizations, institutions, companies, and above all, people, to provide tertiary education to those who would otherwise not have access to higher learning opportunities. It draws on the rich and centuries long Jesuit tradition of higher education and through a blended on-site and on-line approach mobilizes the resources of Jesuit and other worldwide networks of educational institutions. Work accomplished from many volunteers, local and virtual partnerships, a lean executive team and the commitment from the students over the past five years continues to move JWL forward in achieving its mission: “Learning Together to Transform the World”.

JWL provides equitable high quality tertiary learning to people and communities at the margins of societies – be it through poverty, location, lack of opportunity, conflict or forced displacement – so all can contribute their knowledge and voices to the global community of learners and together foster hope to create a more peaceful and humane world.

JWL’s motto seeks to foster a community of global learners committed to “Learning Together to Transform the World”.  JWL’s cornerstones focus on four key concepts: global thinking, strategic partnerships, Ignatian experience and “best” for the “least” at moderate costs.

To achieve the greatest impact for transformational change locally and regionally, JWL works in communities such as refugee camps, rural villages and towns. JWL takes also a regional approach having in one region or country several community learning sites. This way JWL students and graduates have a critical number to make a difference one day.  The core regional areas are Middle East – Iraq, Afghanistan, West Africa, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

JWL focuses on the countries with a low human development where most of the people live at the margins in their countries and our world.  JWL is working closely with local partners to bring educational programs that meet their specific needs – enhancing our students’ ability to positively impact their community through by

• Increasing their confidence
• Enriching their critical thinking skill set
• Increasing their ability to approach community conflicts and discord in a peaceful way
• Improving their employment perspectives
• Better equipped to start and run a business