Partner institutions

Collaboration with Bethlehem University

The Pontifical Biblical Institute (PBI) maintains a long-standing relationship with Bethlehem University, marked by a shared commitment to academic excellence, dialogue, and service to the local Christian community.

A formal agreement between Bethlehem University and the Pontifical Gregorian University was signed last year, further strengthening the academic and institutional ties between the two universities.

This formal agreement builds upon a collaboration that has existed for many years. Jesuits from both the community of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem and the Jesuit community residing in Bethlehem have regularly contributed to the academic life of Bethlehem University through teaching and other forms of academic service. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, Jesuits from these communities have also been involved in university pastoral ministry, accompanying students and contributing to the spiritual and pastoral life of the University.

Through these various forms of collaboration, the PBI and the Jesuit communities in Jerusalem and Bethlehem continue to contribute to the academic, pastoral, and ecclesial mission of Bethlehem University, fostering a relationship rooted in the Jesuit tradition of education, dialogue, and service.

Collaboration with the Hebrew University and the global network of Jesuit universities (IAJU)

The proposals below, for academic collaboration among the Pontifical Biblical Institute (PBI) in Jerusalem, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the global network of Jesuit universities represented in the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), build upon established historical ties, strategic institutional realignments, and existing academic partnerships.

Background

• Precedent of Jesuit university and PBI collaboration. The Pontifical Biblical Institute and Jesuit colleges and universities share a long history of institutional synergy and academic exchange. Previous joint programmes, faculty visits, and study initiatives have demonstrated the significant mutual benefits of connecting Jesuit academic communities with PBI’s dedicated scholarly presence in the Holy Land.
• Integration into the Pontifical Gregorian University. Under the unified administrative and canonical framework established by the Holy See, PBI Jerusalem is formally part of the Pontifical Gregorian University (Pontificia Università Gregoriana) in Rome. This institutional integration strengthens PBI’s capacity to enter into broad international agreements under the Gregorian framework.
• Established Gregorian–Hebrew University partnership. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem already maintains an active, formal collaborative agreement with the Gregorian University in Rome. Because PBI Jerusalem is part of the Gregorian University, extending this cooperation directly within Jerusalem represents a natural, structured progression of an already existing institutional bond.

Rationale

Jerusalem offers an unmatched environment for biblical, historical, archaeological, and interreligious research. A three-way collaboration bringing together PBI Jerusalem, the Hebrew University, and the global network of Jesuit universities offers:

• Academic synergy. Combining the Hebrew University’s world-renowned expertise in Judaic studies, religions, Hebrew language, Bible, Church history and Near Eastern archaeology with PBI’s specialization in biblical exegesis—while integrating the student and scholar networks of Jesuit universities worldwide—creates an exceptional environment for cross-disciplinary research and study.
• Intercultural and interreligious dialogue. Collaborative academic endeavors in Jerusalem foster rigorous scholarly exchange at the intersection of Jewish and Christian traditions, directly reflecting the commitment of Jesuit higher education to dialogue and global engagement.

The proposals are designed to begin during the 2026–2027 academic year, from October 2026 to June 2027.

Proposal 1: One-month doctoral seminar in Jerusalem

A month-long intensive seminar for doctoral students, hosted at the PBI of Jerusalem and open to Ph.D. candidates. The seminar would combine classroom instruction, guided field visits, and sustained discussion across the fields of biblical studies, religious studies, the history of Jerusalem, and Jewish-Christian relations. Teaching would be shared by faculty members from the partner institutions, with additional guest lecturers invited where appropriate.

• Jointly taught seminars in biblical studies, the history of Jerusalem, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, and interreligious relations.
• Academic visits to relevant archives, libraries, archaeological sites, churches, synagogues, and other religious and historical institutions.
• Research workshops in which doctoral students present work in progress and receive feedback from faculty and peers.
• A concluding roundtable devoted to comparative and methodological questions arising from the seminar.

The seminar would create a sustained international cohort and allow doctoral students to encounter disciplinary approaches and source materials not readily available at their home institutions. Its location in Jerusalem would provide an unusually rich setting in which textual, historical, archaeological, liturgical, and contemporary perspectives could be studied together.

Proposal 2: Joint intensive courses on Jerusalem

A series of compact, jointly taught courses on Jerusalem for B.A. and M.A. students. Each course would run for approximately seven to ten days during the semester and would combine frontal teaching with field-based learning. Courses could be offered periodically in Jerusalem.

• Courses on the history of Jerusalem from antiquity to the present.
• Thematic modules on scripture, liturgy, archaeology, sacred space, pilgrimage, and the religious communities of the city.
• Joint teaching by faculty from the partner institutions, alongside invited specialists from additional academic and cultural institutions.
• Assessment through short research projects, reflective field reports, or comparative textual analyses.

These courses would provide a flexible format suitable for students at different stages of study, while enabling partner institutions to develop a recognizable joint teaching profile around Jerusalem.

Proposal 3: Annual faculty and graduate research workshop

A small annual workshop focused on a defined theme of shared interest.

• Pre-circulated papers by faculty members and advanced graduate students.
• Dedicated sessions for doctoral researchers.
• Participation by a limited number of invited scholars from partner institutions.

This format would require relatively limited resources while creating continuity between larger initiatives. It would also strengthen research networks among younger scholars and provide a regular forum for the exchange of ideas, scholarly discussion, and constructive peer feedback.