Gender Mainstreaming to Transform the Future of Humanity: The Call for New Leadership

On June 19, Sophia University hosted a symposium in collaboration with United Nations organizations to explore the significance and practice of gender mainstreaming. As societies face increasingly complex challenges—including population decline, labor shortages, and the decline of local communities—the symposium examined how diverse perspectives and lived experiences can be better reflected in policymaking and decision-making, while exploring pathways toward a society in which everyone can participate and contribute fully.

The symposium opened with remarks by Prof. Tetsuo Kondo, Director of the Sophia Human Resources Center for International Cooperation (SHRIC), who emphasized that gender mainstreaming extends far beyond support for women. He highlighted its relevance across a wide range of fields, including peacebuilding and community development, stressing that meaningful social change is achieved by harnessing the strengths and perspectives of diverse people.

A congratulatory message from the Minister of State for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment was then delivered by Mr. Yusuke Sato, Deputy Director for Regional Policy of the Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office. The message reaffirmed that promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment is indispensable to building a sustainable society and underscored the importance of collaboration among the national government, local communities, and relevant organizations.

Challenges of JICA on Peacebuilding: Including the Collaboration with UN

On June 23, 2026, Sophia University welcomed Ms. Katsura Miyazaki, Executive Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for a seminar on peacebuilding. As Japan’s implementing agency for Official Development Assistance (ODA), JICA has long been engaged in peacebuilding initiatives that support peaceful and inclusive societies in developing countries, covering a broad spectrum of activities from conflict prevention to post-conflict recovery and reconstruction. The seminar aimed to examine the current achievements and challenges of JICA’s peacebuilding efforts while exploring future prospects together with participants.

Approximately 260 participants, both in person and online, attended the event. Organized and moderated by Prof. Daisaku Higashi, Director of Sophia Institute of International Relations, the seminar formed part of the University’s ongoing lecture series on Human Security and Peacebuilding, which has been held since 2016.

UN Weeks is held twice each year, in June and October, providing opportunities for participants to deepen their understanding of the complex challenges facing today’s international community. By learning from experts and engaging in meaningful dialogue, the program encourages participants to develop the knowledge and perspectives needed to contribute to solving global issues. Sophia University remains committed to continuing UN Weeks as a forum where students and the wider public can explore international affairs and work together toward a more sustainable and peaceful future.

During the program, two Boston College faculty-led programs, “International Environmental Policy And Law ” and “The Good Life: Success, Happiness, and Purpose in East and West” were conducted by Boston College in collaboration with Sophia University.

The program began with an orientation and campus tour, and introduction to both universities.

The student discussion session in “The Good Life: Success, Happiness, and Purpose in East and West” course was a great success. The students from both universities engaged in lively discussions, exchanging perspectives on the concept of the “good life” from philosophical, theological, and psychological viewpoints across Eastern and Western cultures. The class session provided a valuable opportunity for both university students to share their own ideas while learning from one another’s diverse perspectives.

Students from Sophia University who participated in the course shared positive reflections on their experience.

“This experience makes me realize that even if where we live or grown up is different, we value similar thing to each other for good life.”

“Through exchanging ideas and discussing what we think about, I could expand my perspectives.”

“It was very nice to interact with students from different countries. I really enjoyed hearing different perspectives during the discussion and learning how people with different cultural backgrounds can still share similar thoughts. The discussion made me feel more interested in communicating with people from other cultures.”

These comments highlight the significant impact of the program as a meaningful opportunity for international and intercultural learning.

A lunchtime session for students from both universities was held on May 25.
A total of 56 students from both universities participated in the session, where students could continue their conversations beyond the classroom and interact freely with one another. The lunchtime session provided a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of both the differences and similarities between their cultures while building new friendships.

As an activity outside the classroom, once a week or more, students were able to have lunch with their buddy student and go sightseeing in the Tokyo area, deepening exchanges between students from both universities.

This successful collaboration between both universities will serve as a model for future collaborative courses and further strengthen the partnership between Sophia University and Boston College.

Migration and asylum policy have long challenged the European Union (EU), exposing deep divisions among member states over how responsibility for asylum seekers should be shared and how the bloc’s external borders should be managed. After years of political deadlock, the EU adopted the New Pact on Migration and Asylum in 2024, a landmark agreement designed to reform the region’s migration system. However, a new study suggests that the Pact’s most important legacy may not be the policies it introduced, but the way it transformed migration governance itself.

In a study published online in the JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies on May 17, 2026, Professor Midori Okabe from Sophia University, Japan, examined how negotiations surrounding the Pact reshaped decision-making within the EU. Rather than relying primarily on expert-led coordination among national officials and EU institutions, migration governance increasingly came to be driven by political bargaining among national leaders.

Reflecting on the motivation behind the research, Prof. Okabe says, “I was interested in why and how the EU was able to reach an agreement on migration and asylum after years of political deadlock. The negotiation process suggested that migration governance was shaped not only by technocratic coordination, but increasingly by political bargaining among member states.”

For decades, migration and asylum policies were largely coordinated through networks of Justice and Home Affairs officials. These officials worked through technical negotiations and administrative cooperation to develop common approaches across the EU. While political leaders occasionally intervened during crises, day-to-day policymaking generally remained in the hands of specialists and government officials.

The 2024 Pact, however, emerged under very different circumstances. The migration crisis of 2015 exposed weaknesses in the EU’s asylum system and intensified disagreements between member states. Efforts to reform the existing rules repeatedly stalled, particularly over the question of whether asylum seekers should be redistributed across countries. According to the study, traditional mechanisms of coordination were no longer sufficient to overcome these political divisions. To understand how the deadlock was eventually broken, Prof. Okabe analyzed the negotiations that led to the adoption of the Pact. The study examined policy documents, institutional developments, existing scholarship, and evidence from the negotiation process to trace how decision-making evolved during the reform.

Rather than viewing the Pact simply as a reform of migration and asylum rules, the study argues that it marked a deeper institutional shift in how decisions are negotiated, justified, and implemented within the EU. The analysis revealed a significant change in the center of decision-making, which moved away from networks of officials and toward high-level political forums involving heads of state and government.

The study also found that negotiations increasingly relied on political trade-offs and package deals that linked migration policies to broader issues, including border management and cooperation with non-EU countries. This reflected what the study describes as a shift toward “transactional diplomacy,” a form of negotiation in which political compromises are exchanged across multiple policy areas to secure agreement among member states.

As a result, migration governance evolved from a primarily technocratic process into a central arena of intra-EU diplomacy. Political leaders played a much greater role in shaping outcomes, while negotiations became increasingly focused on securing agreements that could accommodate diverse national interests. “This study examines the structural transformation through which EU migration governance has become a central agenda of intra-EU diplomacy, shifting from technocratic coordination led by Justice and Home Affairs officials to high-level political bargaining among member states,” explains Prof. Okabe.

The findings also point to broader implications for the future of European integration. As migration continues to be a politically sensitive issue across the continent, decision-making may increasingly depend on negotiations among national leaders rather than on technical coordination among policy experts. This could reshape how the EU responds to future migration challenges and how solidarity among member states is defined in practice.

The study suggests that the 2024 Pact did more than resolve a legislative deadlock. It redefined who shapes migration policy within the EU and how political consensus is built. As future migration challenges emerge, the Pact may be remembered not only for the policies it introduced but also for the new model of governance it established.

Midori Okabe earned a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Japan. She currently serves as Professor in the Department of International Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, Sophia University, Tokyo, and as Professional Research Associate at SOAS University of London.

With more than 20 years of experience in research and higher education, her work focuses on migration governance, international relations, European Union studies, regional integration, and global governance.

Professor Okabe has published 16 scholarly articles and book chapters on these topics and has held visiting appointments at the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and Johns Hopkins University. Her research examines the political and institutional dynamics that shape migration governance and international cooperation on migration in Europe and beyond.

Funding Information

This research was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science under the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI; grant number: 23K25489).

Media Contact

Office of Public Relations, Sophia University

sophiapr-co@sophia.ac.jp

DGTech is a new undergraduate program designed to cultivate future leaders who can drive Green Transformation (GX) through data science-based engineering and contribute to building a sustainable society. As global challenges such as climate change and resource constraints become increasingly urgent, society requires both the advancement of GX toward carbon neutrality and the development of the digital technologies that support it.

To prepare students from diverse backgrounds to address global challenges, DGTech will offer all courses in English. Through cutting-edge engineering education grounded in data science and digital technologies, the program aims to nurture the next generation of innovators capable of creating solutions for a sustainable future.

1. Interdisciplinary Learning Grounded in Data Science and Digital Technologies

The curriculum places data science and digital technologies at its core while integrating traditional science and engineering disciplines, including applied chemistry, life sciences, mechanical engineering, and electrical and electronic engineering. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of engineering in society and learn to create new value by combining data science with knowledge from multiple fields.

2. A Fully English-Taught Curriculum

All classes, examinations, reports, research supervision, and thesis writing will be conducted in English. As GX is a global challenge, English-language education provides students with the practical skills needed to thrive in international environments.

Since 2012, the Faculty of Science and Technology has offered English-taught degree programs. Drawing on the experience and expertise gained through these programs, DGTech will further advance Sophia University’s world-class science and engineering education in English

3. Practical Learning for Real-World Problem Solving

Through project-based learning and internships in collaboration with companies and local governments, students will gain hands-on experience throughout the problem-solving process, from identifying challenges to developing and applying solutions. The program emphasizes practical skills that enable students to address complex issues in real-world settings.

Courses in entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and international standardization will further strengthen students’ ability to translate technological innovations into solutions that create value for society.

4．An Intensive Learning Environment with Small Class Sizes

With 10 faculty members for an annual intake of 50 students, DGTech offers a highly supportive learning environment that balances advanced specialization with individualized academic guidance. This close-knit setting enables students to deepen their expertise while benefiting from meaningful interaction with faculty members.

The DGTech curriculum is built around three pillars:

• Applied Chemistry and Life Sciences, which provide knowledge and technologies related to materials and biosciences
• Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Physics, which focus on systems-related knowledge and technologies
• Data Science and Informatics, which serve as the foundation of DX and support both of the above fields

The curriculum is structured to guide students from foundational studies to advanced study.

During the first and second years, students build a strong grounding in mathematics, data science, and the natural sciences, establishing the fundamentals of science and engineering. Early exposure to programming and data analysis equips students with the essential skills needed for advanced study in their chosen fields.

From the third year onward, students deepen their knowledge and technical expertise in their selected area of specialization while taking advanced GX-related courses supported by DX technologies. In the fourth year, students undertake a graduation research project, where they define a research challenge, conduct analysis and validation, and develop solutions.

Through this process, students integrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the four-year program and strengthen their ability to apply them to real-world challenges.

Join our online information sessions to learn more about the department, curriculum, and admissions process. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions directly to faculty members and Admissions Office staff. Sessions will be held in July and October. For details and registration, please visit the admissions website via the button below.

A video introducing the background behind the establishment of DGTech and the department’s key features is available on Sophia University’s official YouTube channel.

Department Inquiries

Planning Office for the DGTech (dgtech-co@sophia.ac.jp)

Admissions Inquiries

Admissions Office (admission-u-co@sophia.ac.jp)

Press Inquiries

Office of Public Relations (sophiapr-co@sophia.ac.jp)

O.P. Jindal Global University, founded in 2009, is one of India’s leading private universities. In 2020, it was conferred the status of “Institute of Eminence” by the Government of India, a status that grants a high degree of academic, administrative, and financial autonomy to institutions recognized for their potential to enhance international competitiveness and cultivate highly skilled human resources. O.P. Jindal has a strong reputation both within India and internationally.

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2024, Sophia University and O.P. Jindal have deepened institutional ties through a series of mutual visits and discussions involving university executives, faculty members, and staff. Building on these efforts, the two institutions have now entered into a Student Exchange Agreement to further strengthen their partnership.

The signing ceremony was attended by nine representatives from O.P. Jindal, including Founding Vice Chancellor Dr. C. Raj Kumar and Member of Parliament Dr. Shashi Tharoor, as well as ten representatives from Sophia University, including Chancellor Sali Augustine and President Miki Sugimura. In addition to signing the Student Exchange Agreement, the participants exchanged views on future directions for collaboration and the implementation of student exchanges, making the occasion an important opportunity to deepen relations between the two institutions.

India, which is experiencing rapid economic growth, is one of the countries that is becoming more and more present in global society. To strengthen its engagement with the region, Sophia University currently has partnership agreements with 15 universities and colleges in India.

In collaboration with its partner institutions in India, Sophia University also offers the Social Engagement Programs for students during academic breaks. These include “Socio-economic and Human Development Study of India: Case Study of Kerala Model” in the summer, and “Fieldwork in Karnataka to Learn about Modern Indian Society, Culture and History” in the spring.

Through pre-departure lectures and on-site learning, students gain opportunities to examine issues such as economic development, labor issues, and environmental challenges, while also deepening their understanding of India and Japan–India relations.

Sophia University will continue to strengthen partnerships with universities around the world as it seeks to nurture individuals who can practice “For Others, With Others” and work together with others toward a better world.