Nacimiento y Figuras de las Universidades Salesianas en América Latina

The Society of St. Francis de Sales was founded on December 18, 1859, by Saint John Bosco. This Congregation, established in Italy in the mid-nineteenth century, arrived in the Americas toward the end of that same century. From the outset, its works and initiatives were focused on technical education and missionary activities in each of the countries where the Salesians settled. Salesian Institutions of Higher Education (IUS) emerged globally in the early twentieth century, and specifically in Latin America beginning in the 1970s, within distinct historical and social contexts in the various regions where the Salesians had been carrying out their educational and pastoral mission for several decades. Numerous efforts have been made to document the presence of the Salesians on the continent, though fewer have focused on tracing the development of Salesian universities throughout Latin America. It is imperative to continue reflecting on and systematizing knowledge about these institutions in the countries where they are established. This endeavor seeks to deepen the understanding of the contexts in which these universities were founded, as well as their growth, development, and consolidation—ultimately aiming to explore the enduring relevance of the guiding principles of the Salesian Congregation.