Mission and identity

Rooted in its Christian tradition, the University of Deusto believes that faith in God not only gives life meaning but also inspires and encourages a deeper, more critical understanding of all cultural processes. It also recognises that culture, science, and technology provide valuable tools to renew the understanding of the Christian message. Thus, our University becomes a place of encounter and dialogue between faith and knowledge, between transcendent hope and the pursuit of a more humane future. This is the challenge of being a University of the Church.

Since its foundation, the University of Deusto has been connected to the mission of the Society of Jesus, forming part of a global university network and upholding an educational tradition centred on the person as the highest value. It also shares a commitment to promoting justice, respect for life, human rights, the fair distribution of resources, peace, and the protection of nature as our common home.

With a universal vocation and a broad commitment to humanity, Deusto feels a special closeness to Basque society, which it seeks to serve as a university institution in its cultural, social, technical, and economic needs.

The University of Deusto views university life as a community of women and men striving to foster a model of coexistence where respectful dialogue promotes collaboration and friendship.

The mission of a Jesuit university also requires that its core objectives—faith, justice, and culture—be pursued within a climate and dynamic of dialogue with religious, cultural, and social actors. Cooperation with these groups is essential to uphold fundamental values such as peace, justice, harmony, human rights, and respect—values shared and embraced by both believers and non-believers alike. 

Our aim, both as individuals and as an institution, is to contribute to building a fairer, more supportive, and more humane world. To achieve this, we rely on:

• A vision that sets our future direction and is brought to life over the years through successivestrategic plans. 
• A mission that guides us in our pursuit of a better world, as set out in the Deusto University Project.
• A Deusto Educational Framework that leads us towards educational innovation and represents the University of Deusto’s distinctive response to today’s environment.
• Staying alert and keeping our eyes open to a constantly changing world—one that demands new ideas and actions—has led to initiatives such as the Deusto Declaration on Human Rights in Digital Environments: a set of fundamental rights aimed at setting boundaries and safeguarding individuals’ privacy and dignity in the digital age.

The Society of Jesus, as the founding institution, is the legal holder of the University of Deusto. It holds overall responsibility for the University's general oversight and for ensuring the fulfilment of its mission, as well as its alignment with the broader mission of the Society of Jesus in service to the Church and society.

The Society of Jesus exercises these oversight responsibilities through its own authorities, in accordance with its Constitutions and regulations, entrusting the immediate governance and management of the University to the bodies established by these Statutes, in line with their respective competencies.

Individuals and institutions that share the principles and values of the University’s Mission and wish to contribute to its development and consolidation may be associated with its ownership. The rights and responsibilities of each associated member shall be defined and regulated, where applicable, by specific agreements.