The Significance of a Strong Global Network of Universities

Expanding global networks and strengthening relationships with universities and research institutions overseas is important to a university’s education and research offerings.

From the educational perspective, the significance of this network is in the promotion and quality of study abroad opportunities. Universities today are expected to nurture global talent. Studying abroad provides an effective way for students to have global experiences, like “meeting people from different countries, experiencing different cultures, broadening perspectives, and learning how to connect with the world.”

Considering the potentially large financial burden that studying outside of one’s country may present, studying abroad via an exchange program with a partner university is attractive because it does not require students to pay separate fees to their host university. Sophia University also welcomes many students from exchange partner universities, providing Sophia students the chance to encounter new people and perspectives even on campus. A strong network of exchange partner universities in countries and regions around the world is a great advantage for students’ education and for campus globalization.

In research, exchanges with foreign countries are also of great importance. Universities are expected to conduct research that can contribute to society at home and abroad. Globalization means that it is no longer sufficient to conduct limited, domestic research. It is essential to establish a global network that enables Sophia University researchers to interact with researchers across the globe.

Sophia University, with the global reach that it has developed, is expected to be a leader of global education and research in Japan. We must continue to strengthen this reach that is the foundation for global education and research.

Shifting from a Focus on Quantity to a Focus on Quality

As of June 2024, Sophia University has entered Memorandums of Understanding with 404 universities in 83 countries and regions. 342 of those universities in 63 countries are exchange partner universities. Since being selected as a Super Global University (*1), we have been working to increase the quantity and quality of the opportunities we can offer students.

To us, quality has two main meanings.

One aspect of quality is to enter into agreements with top-class universities that represent a country and/or region. While Sophia has proactively entered agreements with top-class universities in some countries or regions, there are still countries and regions where do not yet have such collaborations. We aim to strategically promote building relationships with top-class universities in those countries and regions.

The second aspect of quality is strengthening relationships with universities with which we already have agreements. While there are many overseas universities with which we have exchange agreements, we would like to increase the number of universities with which we can conduct international joint research and support faculty exchanges.

Sophia University has earned a strong reputation for being a global educator, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for our reputation in research. Sophia is not large by global standards resulting in a lack of adequate coverage of some research fields. However, by working with universities overseas in research areas, we can do more innovative research.

(※1)  The “Top Global University Project” is a project supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to strengthen the international competitiveness of Japanese higher education and to develop global talent with outstanding capabilities. Sophia University was designated as a Super Global University: Global Traction Type (a university that will lead Japan’s globalization by building on its past achievements). The project concluded in FY2023.

Strengthening Ties with Universities in ASEAN, India, and Africa, with a focus on Research

In terms of global strategy, we are looking towards India, ASEAN, and Africa as countries and regions of focus. These three countries and regions are expected to have a greater presence in the international community going forward.

Although Sophia has many partner universities in ASEAN and a subsidiary called “SophiaGED” (*2), the focus of collaboration in the region has so far been on education. In the future, it will be necessary to complement our existing efforts in educational collaboration to increase joint research and the number of degree seeking students coming from ASEAN to Sophia University for their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

In April 2024, Sophia entered into a collaboration agreement with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, which produces the world’s best AI and IT talent. We have already started working with the university on research, and we would like to collaborate with the university on education in the future.

We have worked with individual researchers and laboratories at African universities, and while we have several partner universities, we would like to strengthen our ties. In particular, we believe that research collaboration and increasing the number of international students from Africa to Sophia is important.

(※２)A Sophia funded company located in Bangkok offering study tours in ASEAN for Sophia University students and programs for high school students.

Strengthening our Global Network and Enhancing Education as One Goal

So far, I have talked about our global network, but I believe that it is equally important to improve the domestic educational environment in order to promote study abroad and international joint research.

For example, there are students from Sophia who take on the challenge of graduate school at leading universities in the U.S. through the Specials Programs for Overseas Graduate Schools (*3), yet there is no such program that invites overseas students to our graduate programs. In addition, in order to accept more foreign high school students as Sophia undergraduates, we need to improve our English teaching capacity.

Lastly, to do all this, we need to strengthen our student life support system. We must expand our education and systems so that foreign students want to study at Sophia University’s undergraduate and graduate schools.

According to a survey conducted by the university, nearly 80% of the freshmen answered that they would like to study abroad during college. Currently, however, less than 20% of students actually study abroad while in school. We must help realize the expectations and hopes of these highly motivated students. I would like to encourage students to study abroad by creating an environment that makes it easier to do so.

(※３) A system whereby students who wish to attend an overseas graduate school after graduation apply with the recommendation of Sophia University. Some universities offer advantages such as priority screening and reduced/an exemption from fees.