Since St. Ignatius Loyola himself knew "the wide cultural impact of universities and chose to send Jesuits there," Jesuits have carried on a tradition in these "places where a more universal good might be achieved." The importance of universities cannot be underestimated. They "remain crucial institutional settings in society." GC 34 encourages Jesuits in this apostolate and asks that they consider two new challenges.
Jesuit higher education has developed in size while the number of Jesuits in this apostolate has declined. "Jesuits must continue to work hard, with imagination and faith and often under very difficult circumstances, to maintain and even to strengthen the specific character of each of our institutions both as Jesuit and as a university." Jesuit universities remain committed to university autonomy, integrity and honesty while preserving, renewing and communicating knowledge and human values.
Jesuit universities must "act in harmony with the demands of the service of faith and promotion of justice." This has been applied "in the lives of students" as well as in the "teaching, research and publication aims of the university." New structures of government and control by the Society of Jesus may be called for to preserve Jesuit identity while allowing the university to relate effectively to the academic world and society at large. The promotion of interdisciplinary work implies a spirit of cooperation and dialogue among specialists within the university and with other universities. Jesuit universities must be outstanding in its human, social, spiritual and moral formation as well as for its pastoral attention to students and those who work in it. It is also important that the whole church continue to have dedicated Jesuits engaged in university work.