The Appointment Announcement that Arrived 10,000 Kilometers Away from Yotsuya

I received the news of my appointment as university president while in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where I was working on a research project. Although I knew I was a candidate, I didn’t expect to be selected, and I was truly surprised by the announcement.

My areas of expertise include international education and comparative education. This field encompasses topics such as international exchange, global understanding, and educational development aimed at improving education in developing countries. It also addresses multicultural education, which seeks to create equitable and fair learning environments regardless of differences in race, gender, language, or religion, ultimately promoting multicultural coexistence. While often perceived as the study of foreign education systems, this field is also highly relevant to education within Japan, where many individuals have foreign roots.

As a culmination of this research, an international project directly linked to Sophia University’s mission—“Education for Human Dignity, Peace, and Sustainability”—is being carried out. In 2023, it was selected as a UNESCO Chair, collaborating with UNESCO to tackle global challenges. My visit to Ethiopia was actually for a UNESCO Chair meeting.

As my specialty is international education, I have been working with Sophia University on its international initiatives. Notably, from 2014 to 2021, as Vice President for Global Academic Affairs, kicking off our participation in the Top Global University Project. Thanks to the dedication of faculty and staff, we made progress in expanding partnerships with overseas institutions and establishing various educational and research networks.

During this process, new educational frameworks were introduced, including the establishment of the Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures (SPSF), which allows students to study sustainability and related topics entirely in English over four years, as well as the implementation of the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative, enabling students to engage in joint learning with universities in Japan and abroad through online platforms.

A President Committed to Connecting People

One of the things I love most about Sophia University is the closeness between people. This is evident in our small-group classes and in the way faculty and students can often be seen engaged in deep conversations around campus. Alumni frequently visit my office, and it is not uncommon to encounter graduates making an impact around the world, whether in Mexico, Uganda, or beyond.

As President, what I will strive for most is to meet and talk with people. I believe my greatest strength lies in my communication skills. Rather than staying confined to the President’s office, I want to be out on campus and remain close to everyone. My first priority is to listen to the voices of faculty, staff, and students, then translate our shared aspirations into concrete initiatives. I also aim to foster cross-organizational interactions, serving as a bridge to connect different groups.

The five Vice Presidents who will navigate this journey with me—overseeing academic affairs, community engagement, academic research affairs, student and general affairs, and global academic affairs—are those that I personally invited to take on these roles. To ensure seamless cross-functional coordination, I carefully assembled a diverse team with backgrounds from various faculties and administrative areas. While each Vice President is a leader in their respective field, we will adopt a flexible approach to role distribution, enabling them to collaborate across domains based on the nature of each project.

Shaping the Future of our University Together

There are many different perspectives and people in the world. As a member of the Catholic Church and the Society of Jesus, Sophia University is a place that embraces diversity and extends a helping hand to those facing difficult situations. It is a university that is open to everyone.

Students from all over Japan and the world who gather on our campus symbolize the diversity of our university, and they are also partners in shaping education. My predecessor, Professor Yoshiaki Terumichi, established the wonderful system of “Liberal Education and Learning (Kiban Kyouiku),” which allows students to design their own learning paths.

Additionally, our university has a system where students actively participate in university management through student staff positions, creating a fertile ground for collaboration between students and faculty in developing education. I am excited to engage with both current students and prospective students, sharing ideas on what will be required in the next 10 to 20 years, when they will play pivotal roles in society, and what kind of education and research will best equip them for success.

I also want to learn from elementary, middle, and high school teachers. The evolution of learning methods, such as active learning and inquiry-based learning, up to the high school level, is something that universities should greatly consider. To further develop the knowledge that students have built through their education preceding university, I hope to engage in discussions with teachers on student growth and how we can support their continued development at Sophia University.

Although I am the President, there’s only so much one person can do. The future of Sophia University is something we will build together. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with all of you to conceive new initiatives aimed at creating a better world.