Dear students, professors, faculty and employees,

In the second year following the integration of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute into the Pontifical Gregorian University, major steps have been taken toward the realization of a single University.

Specifically, as it does every year, the Quality Assurance Committee oversaw the training and professional development of the faculty at the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year. The topics covered included:

"Practical Cases of Ignatian Pedagogy";

"Innovation in University Teaching";

"Developments in Artificial Intelligence and the Role of the Church";

"Integrating AI into University Research: Possibilities for Our Students and Courses";

"Presentation of the Compilatio-Magister Software for Plagiarism Prevention".

Additionally, the past year saw the launch of the faculty training course "Training and Innovation in University Teaching," born from a joint initiative between the Pontifical Gregorian University and the "Auxilium" Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences, and funded by the Moriarty Charitable Trust. A total of 34 faculty members participated (14 from Auxilium and 20 from the Pontifical Gregorian University). Designed to enhance the pedagogical and digital competencies of university instructors, this year-long program was delivered through a blended learning methodology featuring 5 synchronous online sessions (approx. 2 hours each) and 3 full-day in-person sessions (7 hours each).

Under the leadership of Professors Cristiano Corsini, Francisco Ramírez Fueyo, Susanna Sancassani, Anna Serbati, and Roberto Trinchero, the course explored key areas such as Smart Learning Design, constructive alignment, and the use of artificial intelligence. This allowed participants to develop practical skills in designing innovative learning environments and monitoring the quality of educational processes.

During the second semester of 2025–2026, 3 training modules for doctoral students were also offered, drawing a total of 145 participants across the three Academic Units. The topics addressed were:

"Innovative, Inclusive, and Digital Teaching Methodologies" (Prof. Umberto Zona – Roma Tre University);

"Doctoral Research: Methodology, Internationalization, and Academic Competencies" (Dr. Maureen Kiprono);

"Fostering Well-being During Doctoral Studies" (Prof. Katharina A. Fuchs).

At the same time, the Quality Assurance Committee focused its efforts on the following strategic areas:

- Revision of the 2023–2028 Strategic Plan (SP): Drafted shortly before the integration, this document was updated to reflect new needs and perspectives by integrating the Strategic Plans of the Pontifical Oriental Institute and the Pontifical Biblical Institute into a unified University Plan, to be presented during the upcoming AVEPRO visit.

-Faculty promotion criteria: Proposals were formulated to refine the provisions of the current Statutes regarding promotion to tenured professor (professore stabile), aiming to establish a uniform criterion at the university level.

-Artificial Intelligence Guidelines: The Committee drafted the Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence at our University. After incorporating feedback gathered from deans, presidents, directors, and department heads, the document was approved by the Rector’s Council on April 30, 2026, and is now available on the institutional website.

I encourage each of you to play an active role in these initiatives, which are

essential to the growth and development of our University.

Thank you for your valuable collaboration.

Cordially,

 

P. Mark A. Lewis, SJ