Integrating a Global Perspective with Sophia University’s Unique Identity

When I assumed office as President in 2017, “globalization” was a major challenge among Japanese universities. Various universities were undertaking different efforts to make progress. At the same time, our university was working hard to realize its plan and achieve the goals of the “Top Global University Project” administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which Sophia was selected for in 2014.

Under the project, the percentage of foreign students dispatched and accepted, and the percentage of foreign faculty members were set as common performance indicators for all universities, and the percentage of classes taught in English and the introduction of September admission were also discussed as symbols of globalization at universities and high schools.

Of course, we have also been working to stimulate the flow of people to and from overseas, expand our 60+ year old English-language degree program, and further develop our September enrollment system. However, it is also true that I have wondered whether these efforts truly embody “globalization.” In my own experience, as well as in the long history of Sophia University’s international exchange, academia around the world has not recognized us simply based on an increase in the number of English-language courses the University offers.

It was during this period of my presidency that I had to establish a complex strategy that would allow us to achieve certain results in line with national policies, while at the same time considering initiatives that could be trusted and distinctive in the world.

Since that time, we have started using the phrase the “world stage.” Our goal is not globalization from a Japanese perspective, but to be a university that can hold its own when its quality is questioned by other universities around the world, and can build relationships and even compete with those same universities, at the same level. We believe that promoting globalization from this perspective will be a distinctive feature of Sophia University.

For students, this means incorporating into their education the opportunity to learn about the global standards for globalization.

For example, when UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Japan in 2019, we sent a letter requesting him to visit Sophia University. Not only did we arrange for him to lecture, we also created the opportunity for about 30 students to discuss with him. We wanted students to experience speaking directly with a global leader tasked with the mission of shaping the world and learn what he occupies his mind.

The same is true of our special admission programs for graduate schools abroad, which are world-class institutions with world-class achievements in their respective fields. This is one of the challenging programs offered to students who have entered Sophia University with high expectations for its international exposure.

To understand the world, it is essential to have an on-the-ground perspective as well as a bird’s-eye view. To provide students with the opportunity to understand the challenges facing developing regions, we have expanded our study programs to Southeast Asia and Africa. In 2019, we established Sophia Global Education and Discovery Co., Ltd. in Thailand (Sophia GED) to provide study abroad and online training in Southeast Asia. This provides more chances for students to participate in initiatives that foster global and local interactive perspectives.

Fulfilling Research Responsibilities through an International Network

In research, we emphasize our presence on the “world stage,” which cannot be measured merely by numbers. As a Catholic university, Sophia is particularly expected to play a role as part of an international network in research activities aimed at addressing social issues.

MIRAI, a research network between Swedish and Japanese universities established in 2017 brings together 20 universities from each country with outstanding research capabilities. As one of the network universities, Sophia jointly conducts research on topics like sustainability and aging, among others.

Sophia is also a member of The Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU), a research association of Catholic universities that focuses on human dignity, environmental issues, and more. The eight participating universities include Chile’s top-ranked Catholic University of Chile, the prestigious Boston College in the United States, and the largest private university in Europe, Sacro Cuore Catholic University in Italy, all of which are well known internationally.

This commitment to fulfilling responsibilities and establishing a presence in a world-class network remains a pillar of Sophia’s research activities today.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Sophia University Students’ Global Mindset

During my fourth year in office, working on promoting globalization in both education and research, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, shrinking cross border activities in all countries and regions. As Sophia prides itself in being a pioneer in internationalism, I was afraid that the pandemic would make it difficult for Sophia to leverage its strengths, and expectations of Sophia University would decline.

During this time, not only were there domestic students saying they “entered Sophia University with the intention of studying abroad,” but there was even a petition drive by students from all over the world who had been planning to study at Sophia University asking for its opening. I still vividly remember it being a very difficult time for us as a university because travel rules were set at the national level, and there was very little a single university could do.

However, it was a relief, in a way, to hear voices of disappointment and pleading. No matter how inward-looking today’s youth may be understood as, the fact that the petition drive was successful means that there are many passionate, outward looking students enrolled at Sophia University. I have decided that if we are to be a university that stands on the world stage, we must do our utmost to ensure that our students do not lose their passion, and at the same time, focus on the mobility opportunities of our students and faculty members post-pandemic.

In 2020, when international travel was disrupted in this way, it was also a year of accelerated campus diversity for Sophia University. (continued)