Abidjan, Côte d’IvoireA New Level of Africa Relations3Africa, a continent with 54 countries and a growing population of over a billion, is experiencing a wave of globalization. What is Sophia University’s expectation in working together with Africa?Sophia University views Africa as a region “strategic for the de-velopment of globalization.” Sophia President Yoshiaki Terumichi defines “globalization” as the process of confronting the disorder of so-called “global society” with an understanding of its struc-ture in the interest of optimal solutions. Terumichi notes, as his personal opinion, that current contradictions, including numer-ous conflicts and heightened environmental destruction, are evi-dence that globalization is yet to be fully accomplished, and not a result of globalization. Sophia University is committed to making a contribution to glo-balization in this sense through education and research. But why does Sophia University consider Africa an important base for globalization?Africa is now undergoing dramatic change in every aspect. It is clear that Africa in the near future will be instrumental in the transformation of the structure of global society. A focus on Africa will inevitably highlight China’s advancements in the re-gion, as well as the efforts of Western countries to compete with China. Students currently at Sophia University will have a cen-tral role in this near-future world. Given that, it is crucial for stu-dents to understand the overall structure of global society in order to be aware of Africa’s current conditions and the processes of its future change. Information about Africa in Japan is still sparse compared to what is available on other world regions. For students to comprehend the full scale of global society, it is essential that they learn about Africa – its natural environment and its people’s culture and life-styles, which differ greatly from those of Japan. Moreover, Africa is of great significance for research activities at universities worldwide, Sophia University being no exception. African countries are urgently facing many of the most pressing global issues and Sophia is eager to address these and foster social LOOKING AHEAD TO AFRICA AS A BEACON OF CHANGE
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