Global Learning Without Borders
At De Smet Jesuit, we believe education should reach beyond the classroom and across borders. Our Global Education Program offers students life-changing opportunities to explore diverse cultures, serve international communities, and develop a deeper understanding of our shared humanity—all through the lens of Ignatian spirituality and leadership.
What is global education & why DOES it matter?
Our Global Education Program immerses students in cross-cultural experiences that strengthen empathy, expand worldviews, and deepen faith. Through service trips, cultural exchanges, and partnerships with Jesuit schools worldwide, students engage in meaningful learning that reflects our mission to form “men for and with others.”
Global education develops globally competent leaders who are spiritually grounded, socially aware, and academically enriched. These programs challenge students to grow intellectually and personally by stepping outside their comfort zones and encountering the world with open hearts and minds.
St. Louis Mosaic Project Ambassador school
De Smet Jesuit is a St. Louis mosaic Project Ambassador School, committed to investing in global citizenship education and partnering with the International Institute and other community groups so that together we can continue to recognize, celebrate, and embrace diversity within our school and in the broader international community of St. Louis.
With our Vatican visit I came to understand that religion was a course for change in societal values
John Higgins '18Cultural Engagement - ItalyMy father's ancestors immigrated from Ireland to the US, and his side of the family loves their Irish heritage. Paul and his life stories from Letterkenny, Ireland allowed me to deeper understand my father, and deeply appreciate my own view of home as a I represented it while Paul was here.
Sean Dolan '18Exchange Program Participant
Ignatian GLobal Scholars
The Ignatian Global Scholars Certificate Program invites De Smet Jesuit students to engage more intentionally with global issues through a combination of coursework, service, cultural immersion, and personal reflection. Rooted in Jesuit values, the program helps students explore their role in an interconnected world while developing leadership, empathy, and a commitment to justice.
Students who complete the program earn a distinction recognized by the Jesuit Schools Network. Along the way, they deepen their understanding of global citizenship and put their learning into action—both at home and abroad.
![De Smet students in Belize smiling with kids from Belize school.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1754849157/desmet/zl2y5ro1vljehqmq58kt/FS-MSN-Students-Belize-Hawkey-7925.jpg","width":1623}])
Service
In partnership with other Jesuit schools, students spend daytime hours working at service sites, then in fellowship and reflection during evening activities. Service opportunities may include Habitat for Humanity, natural disasters relief/support, service for and with others, and community involvement.
![A group of De Smet Jesuit Spartans taking a cooking class in Italy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1753816728/desmet/suodnypyljstjccc5nky/EXP-GE-Cultural-Trip-Italy-2025-72925.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1753816728/desmet/suodnypyljstjccc5nky/EXP-GE-Cultural-Trip-Italy-2025-72925.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1753816728/desmet/suodnypyljstjccc5nky/EXP-GE-Cultural-Trip-Italy-2025-72925.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1753816728/desmet/suodnypyljstjccc5nky/EXP-GE-Cultural-Trip-Italy-2025-72925.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1753816728/desmet/suodnypyljstjccc5nky/EXP-GE-Cultural-Trip-Italy-2025-72925.jpg","width":1440}])
Cultural Engagement
Students visits key cities around the world, see firsthand what they have been learning in the classroom, and build long-lasting experiences through travel and intentional exploration. These trips often serve as a pilgrimage to important Ignatian sites that highlight our origins as Jesuit community.