On January 14, 2026, a delegation of university presidents from India, led by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), visited Sophia University’s Yotsuya Campus.

Established in 1925, AIU is a national organization representing universities across India. It plays a central role in coordination and collaboration within the country’s higher education sector and promotes cooperation and exchange among more than 1,100 member institutions. This visit was coordinated by AIU and Acumen, an international education consulting firm active in the South Asia region. Over the course of one week, the delegation of more than 30 university leaders is visiting universities and related institutions across Japan.

The meeting with Sophia University representatives started with greetings by Fr. Sali Augustine, Chancellor of Sophia School Corporation, and President Miki Sugimura to the representative of the delegation. This was followed by a presentation on Sophia University by Mariko Iijima, Vice President for Global Academic Affairs. Also, three professors from the Faculty of Science and Technology, who are actively engaged in accepting Indian students and conducting joint research with Indian universities, joined the session and introduced Sophia’s initiatives and collaborations with India. The AIU delegation offered numerous ideas and suggestions regarding future collaboration opportunities, leading to a lively and productive exchange of views.

India is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world and is currently promoting significant reforms in its education sector, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). This visit provided an important opportunity to consider the development of comprehensive Japan–India collaboration in education and research, innovation, and global education, as well as ways to advance such initiatives with greater speed and effectiveness.