Catholic universities in Indonesia put “Magnifica Humanitas” into practice in the age of AI

By Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD, and Paskalia, S.I.Kom., M.Si.

Five Catholic universities in Indonesia are preparing future communicators to navigate artificial intelligence in ways that uphold human dignity, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s vision of Magnifica Humanitas.

From 6 to 11 October, twenty-two communication students gathered at the Carolus Borromeus Formation House (RPCB) Syantikara in Yogyakarta for an AI Bootcamp and National Competition under the theme “Magnifica Humanitas.” The programme combined technical training, ethical reflection, and practical projects addressing real-world social and communication challenges.

The participants represented five member institutions of the Association of Catholic Higher Education Institutions (APTIK): Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang, Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya, and Widya Mandira Catholic University in Kupang.

The theme placed human dignity at the heart of technological innovation. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, Magnifica Humanitas offers a framework for asking a fundamental question: how can technological progress contribute to human flourishing without reducing people to data, automated decisions, or the capabilities of machines?

Keeping human dignity at the heart of AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming communication by accelerating information processing, generating content, and expanding creative possibilities. At the same time, its rapid development raises concerns about dependence on automated systems, declining critical thinking, and the displacement of human skills and creativity.

For the organizers, preparing students for this changing landscape meant going beyond technical proficiency. Future communicators need to understand AI’s capabilities and limitations while retaining the independent judgment, creativity, and professional responsibility that technology cannot replace.

This approach resonates with Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis in Magnifica Humanitas: recognizing and promoting the dignity and vocation of the human person amid profound technological change. Applied to communication, this vision calls for AI to remain at the service of people, relationships, truth, and the common good.

Researchers from the five universities developed 14 learning modules examining AI applications in communication. The research team comprised of Mario Antonius Birowo, PhD, and Pupung Arifin of Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta; Dr. Finsensius Yuli Purnama of Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya; Dr. Lukas, Drl. Lisa Esti Puji Hartanti, and Paskalia, S.I.Kom., M.Si., of Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia; Inosensia E. I. Ndiki Satu of Widya Mandira Catholic University; and Elizabeth Florence Warikar of Soegijapranata Catholic University.

The modules addressed both the practical use of AI and the critical reflection needed to apply it responsibly in fields such as marketing, public relations, and journalism. Students were encouraged to see these tools not as substitutes for human intelligence and responsibility, but as resources that must be guided by ethical judgment and professional values.

Listening to communities, developing solutions

The programme translated these principles into practice by challenging students to develop AI-based prototypes in response to real social or communication needs.

Before designing their solutions, participants visited the Tugu area of Yogyakarta, where they interviewed and observed street vendors, tourists, artists, and other members of the local community. This fieldwork enabled them to identify everyday challenges and explore how technology might contribute to meaningful and sustainable responses.

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Beginning with people’s lived experiences rather than with technological possibilities alone reflected the programme’s central vision: innovation should respond to human needs, not simply demonstrate what machines can accomplish.

The programme combined technical training, ethical reflection, and practical projects addressing real-world social and communication challenges.

Mario Antonius Birowo, who led the research team, observed a significant change in the students’ engagement as the programme progressed.

“On the first day we saw the students still feeling their way, wondering what they would actually gain,” he said. “But from the following days you could see them develop. The modules were built systematically, so the connections between them came together right up to today’s high point, when the students presented their prototypes and put AI tools relevant to communication into practice.”

He described the bootcamp as “a laboratory where students experiment,” adding that more time would allow them to develop their ideas further.

Through this process, students were invited to consider not only whether an AI application worked, but also whether it addressed a genuine need, respected the people affected, and offered a responsible response to the challenges they had identified.

Forming communicators for the common good

The AI Bootcamp and National Competition sought to equip students with practical competencies while fostering a deeper awareness of their responsibility as future communication professionals.

For Catholic higher education, this formation is part of a broader mission. Preparing students for the digital age involves not only teaching them to use emerging technologies but also helping them discern how those technologies affect human relationships, social participation, and the dignity of every person.

Seen through the lens of Magnifica Humanitas, the experience in Yogyakarta points towards a distinctly human-centred approach to digital innovation. AI can expand creativity and open new possibilities for communication, but its value ultimately depends on how it serves people and communities.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply to develop more capable users of AI but to form communicators who can place technological power at the service of humanity, truth, and the common good.