The Ledesma-Kolvenbach model and Jesuit Business Schools: From the idealistic to the realistic.

Proposal - The aim of this study is to examine the level of coherence between the Jesuit university mission as outlined explicitly in the Ledesma-Kolvenbach Paradigm and its implementation within the institutional Jesuit business school (hereafter, JBS) context. Specifically, the objective is to determine the relationship and influence between what is declared and understood and what is actually carried out by executives in charge of Jesuit universities. Educating people to instill certain characteristics is central to the mission of Jesuit universities and JBS as evidenced in the Ledesma-Kolvenbach missionary reference model (through the ideas of utilitas, humanitas, iustitia and fides). Therefore, we “operationalize” this mission through JBS graduate profiles. This implies knowing how two management levels of JBS in Spain (UNIJES), the focus of our study, conceptualize and value these traits in practice. We thus identify two levels of analysis: L1, that is, institutional authorities (presidents and CEOs), and L2, academic managers (academic deans and directors). Methodology - We use concept maps and surveys to gather our empirical data. The advantage of using concept maps for L1 is transforming the ideas and opinions of a group of experts (primary data from a focus group, in this case, presidents and CEOs) into data that can be weighted, grouped and represented. Moreover, surveys provide information on the opinions of a larger number of people with experience and knowledge in the field of study (academic managers, L2) regarding the results of the concept mapping phase. Results - We will compile the results of the concept maps and surveys in an article comparing the graduate profiles that institutional authorities (L1) and academic managers (L2) aspire to achieve in addition to establishing a comparative analysis of these results through the Ledesma-Kolvenvach Paradigm. Value and originality - The methodology used is new to the field of higher education and to business schools. Data obtained using concept mapping can be considered an original and innovative contribution to analyze the mission and strategy of academic authorities. Given the mission-driven goals of JBS, understanding and evaluating these graduate profiles is a significant contribution and a starting point for further studies in this area.