The Society of Jesus, whose members are known as Jesuits, is an early religious order of the Roman Catholic Church founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. Ignatius went on to become one of the tallest figures of the Catholic Reformation. He practiced a form of prayer that was later published as the Spiritual Exercises, a work comparable to that of the greatest mystics. Under the leadership of Ignatius, the Society of Jesus found its niche in education and Ignatius has been placed amongst figures from Socrates to Dewey as one of the greatest innovators of education the world has ever seen. Ignatius held that education was not an end in itself, but rather a means to lead the student to care about other human beings.

Today, the Jesuits are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, with 16000 members worldwide, and are engaged in education and many other apostolic ministries in the Church and society. Jesuits aspire to live and work as men of God and men for others. Their ideals of love and service, faith and justice are lived concretely in their dedication to impart quality education over the past 450 years.

The Jesuits’ mission of academic excellence and preparing men and women for others is closely linked with their identity. Enriched by their rewarding tradition and experience in the field of education, Jesuits offer a holistic formation emphasizing the development of the whole person, head and heart, as an individual and as a member of society.

SJIM is a Jesuit business school and we strive to continue in the tradition of our founder.