Michal Vojtáš – “Salesian criteria and proposals for higher education” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”

The educational experience of Don Bosco inspires Salesian Higher Education in different ways. The first modality is present in the inspirations of the Salesian charism that accompanied the moment of the birth of Salesian Higher Education. Beyond history, we are dealing with subsequent ways of considering the Salesian educational style from a point of view of criteria, direction and applications. Salesian anthropology is summarized around the following criteria: Christianity and culturally stimulating citizenship; a pedagogy differentiated on between the basics and excellence leadership; the welcoming environment and, finally, the ideal of the educator as a formator – animator – teacher – companion. Starting from the criteria we will propose some possible processes applicable in the field of learning-teaching, accompaniment, planning and positioning within the Salesian Province.

L’esperienza educativa di Don Bosco ispira l‘istruzione superiore salesiana  in diversi modi. Il primo è nelle ispirazioni del carisma salesiano che ha accompagnato il momento in cui l‘istruzione superiore salesiana è nata. Al di là della storia, si tratta di soprattutto con successive modalità di considerare lo stile educativo salesiano dal punto di vista criteriologico, applicativo e futuro. L’antropologia salesiana si riassume intorno ai seguenti criteri: Cristianesimo e cittadinanza culturalmente stimolante; differenziazione tra “onestà di base” e “leadership eccellente”; ambiente accogliente e, infine, l’ideale dell’educatore come formatore – animatore – insegnante – accompagnatore. Sulla base di questi criteri proporremo alcune idee e potenziali processi applicabili nel campo della didattica, dell’accompagnamento, della progettazione e posizionamento all’interno dell’Ispettoria Salesiana.

Contents:

• 1. Ideal inspirations concerning the birth of Salesian higher education
  • 1.1. Higher education of young adults becomes part of the Salesian mission
  • 1.2. The formation of Salesians that inspires and requires higher education
• 2. Salesian anthropology as a criterion for Salesian Higher Education
  • 2.1. A culturally stimulating Christianity and Citizenship
  • 2.2. A differentiated and realistic pedagogy combining “honesty” and “excellent leadership”
  • 2.3. A welcoming and profound environment for a mission in the world
  • 2.4. The ideal of the educator as formator-animator-teacher of groups
• 3. Ideas and Applied Processes
  • 3.1. The model of Salesian rationality as a didactic criterion
  • 3.2. Multi-level isomorphic accompaniment
  • 3.3. The innovative concept of the IUS as “a whole”.
  • 3.4. To conclude: the strategic position of the IUS in the Salesian Province
• Bibliography

Reference time period: 1997 – 2021

Reference institution:
Institute of Salesian Studies