The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) in collaboration with St John Vianney Seminary, St Joseph’s Theological Institute, and St Augustine College of South Africa are investigating various models and structures to maximize the synergy between the entities.

From April 25-29, a committee set up by the SACBC to explore the possibilities of establishing a Catholic institution of higher education in the SACBC region met with rectors and administrators of Catholic institutions of higher education in Kenya, East Africa.

During the four-day visit, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town Archdiocese together with Bishop Masilo John Selemela of Pretoria Archdiocese, Bishop Neill Frank of Mariannhill Diocese, and Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa of Kokstad Diocese visited the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) as well as Tangaza University College (TUC) to study and understand their model.

The “committee was set up by the SACBC to consider the possibilities of Catholic Higher Education in the SACBC region, not only to make ecclesiastical education more available to lay people but also to consolidate efforts for broader education in a Catholic context,” says SACBC spokesperson Archbishop Brislin.

In Kenya, the delegation “visited the Catholic University of East Africa and held discussions on the governance and structure of the University, as well as being led through the timeline of its development,” says Archbishop Brislin.

He adds, “We also met with members of Tangaza University College to similarly understand its structure and relationship with the Catholic University of East Africa.”

According to Bishop Frank, the SACBC is “proposing the amalgamation” of St John Vianney Seminary, St Joseph’s Theological Institute, and St Augustine College of South Africa to “have more faculties or departments.”

Whilst in Kenya, the SACBC delegation was also hosted by the Archbishop of Nairobi Archbishop Philip Anyolo.