Sophie chan, Sophia’s popular character featuring our future researchers
In 2009 Sophia’s Project to Support Women Researchers in a Global Society was selected to participate in the MEXT program Supporting Activities for Women Researchers. Since then we have been making a great deal of progress in realizing the full participation of women in the filed of science and technology. In January 2013 our project has been recognized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for its solid contribution to the promotion of equal gender. The total evaluation of our project in the MEXT rankings was the highest S. We have surpassed our initial goal to improve women’s access to the Faculty of Science and Technology and such achievements have led us to the highest score.
Our project was aimed at improving the working environment for women researchers in the Faculty of Science and Technology to serve as a model for other faculties. The initial goal of this project was to nurture women researchers and assist them to make full use of their skills and knowledge.
We have also established a unique mentoring system based on our internationality. This "Global Mentor System" was successful in recruiting women researchers from outside Japan as mentors. Our mentor system obtained the Award of Excellence in the category of good “infrastructure” in the 3rd Mentor Award 2011. Our effort to increase the ration of women on the Faculty of Science and Technology as well as female students in the doctoral program was highly evaluated.
Professor Angela Yiu, Vice President of Academic Exchange, who holds the position of Director of both the Office for Promotion of Gender Equality and the Project team made the following comments about our high evaluation:
"This Project which we have been working for the past 3 years has triggered further promotion of equal gender in our school. We hope to implement greater gender equality to the university as a whole and create an environment in which men’s and women’s access to academic and research activities will be well balanced. The Office for Promotion of Gender Equality is based on the ideals of our educational principles Men and Women for Others, with Others. We will ensure an effective environment for equal opportunities for students, faculty and staff members so that we can get the best out of their capacities."
In 2011 we have enacted Proclamation for Promoting Gender Equality and appealed the importance of everyone's participation in the project and thereby emphasized the urgent need to advance on gender equality. In 2012 we have established the Office for Promotion of Gender Equality and through this office we will design several projects to increase university-wide interests in equal gender among students, faculty and staff members.
Click here to view the details on evaluation criteria.(Japanese version only)
Links(Japanese version only):
Click here
to learn more about Project to Support Women Researchers (Official Website of Japan Science and Technology Agency)
Click here
to view our Official Website of Office for Promotion of Gender Equality
