Principles of Jesuit leadership in leadership formation: investigations from the history of the Administration - management for innovation and leadership degree.

Abstract

This study discusses the principles of Jesuit leadership (self-consciousness, inventiveness, love and heroism) applied in the Administration - management for innovation and leadership degree (GIL), of University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS). Data were collected through in-depth interviews, in August 2014, with three students, each graduated from one of the years in which the course was held (2003, 2004 and 2005). The interviews focused on the professional trajectory after the course. Data were analyzed through Content Analysis (Richardson, 2011), in relation to the principles of Jesuit leadership. The analysis suggests the alignment between the formation of GIL graduates and the leadership principles Jesuit leadership. The results have raised some challenges to overcome, particularly: (i) to train graduates of relevant professional and social impact; (ii) to qualify the course with competent teachers and managers in Jesuit leadership.