What is inche?

A global network that is committed to advancing Christian higher education

We are a worldwide network that advances Christian higher education through professional development, scholarship, capacity building, and communication. The network seeks to reflect both the shared view that Christ is central to our efforts and the local realities where we serve. INCHE members are on 6 continents. Current INCHE colleges, universities, and related organizations are located around the world.

Our Mission

We are dedicated to serving Jesus Christ as Lord through the promotion of integral Christian higher education worldwide with distinctive programs, global reach, and decentralized governance.

Our history

The network began in 1975 at a South African conference hosted by then-named Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education. In subsequent years, faculty and administrative leaders from member institutions met for global gatherings in Hungary, Korea, Nicaragua, North America, and Zambia. Between such world-wide conferences, events also occurred in each of the five network regions. These occasions were the catalysts for multiple book and periodical publications by invested academic leaders.

The network operated under three distinct names during its first seventeen years. Subsequently, from 1992 through 2018 it was identified as the International Association for the Promotion of Christian Higher Education (IAPCHE). After several years of consideration, the board of directors decided that effective on January 1, 2019, the updated name would be the International Network for Christian Higher Education (INCHE). The name has changed. Yet the world-wide mission, fostering integral Christian higher education, continues as the foundation for all network efforts.

Our Core Values

Distinction

We shape efforts distinctly with Christian faith and practices. God is the creator, savior, and spirit already at work in every corner of the world. Our goal is to discern what God is doing and be partners in advancing kingdom work through education.

Integration

We teach our professional peers and our students to engage intentionally as Christians in all areas of culture, including foci such as agriculture, arts, business, education, health care, ministry, politics and sports.

Collaboration

We collaborate with each other to shape emerging leaders from many countries for effective participation in families, congregations, eco-zones, neighborhoods, and nations as we span a shared world.

Attention 

We strive to listen well to members as they describe the needs, issues, and aspirations that they must address.

What We Do

Leadership Training

Through conferences, webinars, and grant-funded programs, we equip senior and mid-level institutional leaders with ideas and tools that identify and meet their needs in areas such as strategic and effective resourcing, institutional evaluation, and organizational change - all anchored in Christian faith.

Faculty Enrichment Programs

We provide periodic faculty development initiatives and published resources that enable participants to stay abreast with developments specific to their fields of study as well as effective pedagogical practices.

Curriculum Development

We engage teacher-scholars from member institutions and regions in developing general education curricula as well as discipline-specific tools for integrating Christian faith and learning. The content and its pedagogical delivery must be informed and responsive to local contexts and realities.

Regional/International Events

We create forums for the exchange of ideas and practices through regional conferences, webinars, symposia, and workshops.

Online Resources 

We share online news as well as scholarly, curricular, and pedagogical resources for the professional development of INCHE members.