SOPHIA UNIVERSITY VIEWBOOK

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18MissionThe European Institute, o■cially established in 2007, grew out of the former Germanic Cultural Research Institute, merging with the Institute of Spanish Studies in 2009, and has thus stretched its research scope to the society and culture of the whole European continent. Now reorganized into four study sections“, politics, economy and society”“, art and culture”“, language”and“history”, the Institute is active in promoting research projects both on its own and jointly with other organizations.Principal activities•Organizing public lectures and symposia by prominent scholars from around the globe (Recent event include: the Sophia Symposium “Aktuelle Situation von der Regierung Scholz”, and Lecture “Когда говорят пушки…Донецкая рана Украины глазами культуры”, and Lecture “Literature and Adaptation”. •Publishing“Sophia Journal of European Studies”(available online) and“Sophia European Studies Series”which feature reports of research projects and symposia organized by the Institute. •Collection and library service of books, written materials and periodicals related to European studies (The library is composed of German, Swiss, Austrian,European, Spanish and Portuguese sections). •Serving as the EU information Centre (EUi) which provides a wide range of EU o■cial periodicals and documents and participates in Japan-EU Friendship Week.MissionThis Institute is one of the leading institutes in Japan conducting research on issues related to the history, societies and cultures of the United States and Canada. The Institute conducts interdisciplinary research on the United States and Canada; it currently has 12 full members, who come from several disciplinary areas. The Institute is well-known in Japan and overseas as one of Japan’s major research institutes in this ■eld.Principal activities•The Institute organizes and sponsors symposia, lectures and meetings of research groups. •In liaison with Japanese and American associations (including the Organization of American Historians, the Japan-U.S. Educational Commission, American Studies Association, the University of Tokyo and other domestic institutions), the Institute promotes various research and academic exchange activities. •As part of its work to train younger scholars, the Institute organizes regular colloquia, hosts visiting scholars, and provides a research environment to encourage academic exchange. •The Institute maintains a library on American-Canadian studies and makes its collections available to researchers. •The Institute publishes a journal, the Journal of American and Canadian Studies .MissionIn this modern society marked by shifts toward advanced, widespread information utilization and globalization, Sophia University carries out research based on our guiding principles in the ■elds of media, culture and journalism in response to societal changes while forming research centers within the University that boast far-reaching, vigorous information communication functionality. By engaging in cooperative e■orts with on- and o■-campus researchers, media representatives, government agencies and so forth, we are cultivating venues for international exchange of information with media communication researchers and others within Japan and abroad.Planned principle activities(1) Implementation and administration of various research projects, with speci■c themes as follows: •Media and journalism ethics, freedom of expression. •The e■ects of various forms of mass media on awareness and formation of public opinion. •Characteristics of digital media’s journalistic functions. •Company targets and the present-day general public. •Potential for global spread of Japanese-style entertainment. •The general public’s utilization of media and the entertainment industry (We will develop research projects in collaboration with currently active journalists and promote international research activities with overseas researchers.).(2) Journal publication: released once per year (publication on the Internet and via digital and print media.).(3) Research conferences : we plan to host approximately three per year.(4) Symposium: Tokyo Documentary Film Festival Symposium.MissionThe Institute was established in April 1982, drawing inspiration from Sophia University’s founding principles, which aimed to promote East-West cultural exchange while upholding Christian humanism. Initially focused on regional studies pertaining to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, the Institute expanded its research areas in 2014 to include Sub-Saharan Africa,and in 2019 to encompass East Asia as well. The Institute’s primary objective is to conduct comprehensive research and analysis of socio-cultural phenomena associated with Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It aims to go beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries and national borders, exploring contemporary socio-cultural phenomena, political dynamics, and economic challenges. To achieve this, the Institute delves into the traditional cultures, histories, religions, and lifestyles of the target regions. By adopting a multidisciplinary and longitudinal approach, the Institute seeks to promote regional studies across various disciplines and historical periods, ultimately fostering mutual understanding within the global community.Principal activitiesThe Institute conducts regional studies of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, with a primary focus on four research themes. Our research outcomes are applied to enhance the educational environment within our university. Furthermore,we actively contribute to society by organizing a range of events such as symposiums, lectures, and research workshops, where we share knowledge and insights with a broader audience. •Comparative Studies on Globalization in Asia, the Middle East and Africa •Studies on Cultural Heritage •Comparative Studies on the Historical Development and Nationalism in Asia, the Middle-East, and Africa •Research on Inter-religious Dialogue and Peace BuildingMissionThe Institute for Studies of the Global Environment grew out of the Earth Environment Law Research Center that was established in the Faculty of Law in 1994. In 1999, the Institute was launched to undertake academic research into global environmental issues related to the humanities, society, and natural science ■elds. In 1999, the Institute was launched to undertake academic research in global environmental issues, including humanities and social science ■elds. Teaching personnel of faculties of economics, science and technology, and other ■elds are members of the sta■, which also includes sta■ from the Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, established in 2005.Representative activities(1) Academic research on global environmental issues(2) Educational activity conducted in collaboration with domestic and overseas institutions (collaborative lectures)(3) Enlightenment activity related to environmental issues (To co-organize various kinds of open research seminars and symposiums on global environment issues)Principal Activities•The institute collaborates with local governments and others and conducts research on Sado Island and Amami-Oshima Island on the conservation of the natural environment, energy policy, promotion of the SDGs, and balancing environmental conservation and tourism promotion. •Research on population dynamics and sustainable urban development.Challenge toward solving world water problems through trans-disciplinary studies. •The institute started a research project "Trans-disciplinary and Trans-national Research Program for Achieving Regional Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through River Basin Environment Conservation and Management" in 2016, which was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a "Private University Research Branding Project". The institute is currently implementing a successor project called " Trans-disciplinary Undertaking for Achieving SDGs -Focus on Water-Energy-Urban-Rural Nexus ".MissionThe Institute of Islamic Area Studies (SIAS) aims to promote the coordination and revitalization of Islam-related research at Sophia University, to contribute to the promotion of Islamic area studies in Japan, and to further promote the recognition and development of such studies in the world. Moreover, through the study of Islam at the Catholic University, we will explore ways that lead to the construction of a harmonious world in which the various religions coexist. Here, Islamic area studies refer to studies that address various Islamrelated phenomena that occur in various parts of the world and attempt to consider them from a broad perspective that transcends time and region,while emphasizing methods of area studies that do not neglect the individuality of each case.This endeavor began in 1997, when Sophia University became one of the hubs of the nationwide“Islamic Area Studies”project funded by a Grant-in-Aid for Scienti■c Research (KAKENHI). A succeeding project was launched in 2006, and the“Center for Islamic Studies”was established within the Institute of Asian Cultures. In 2010, the Center became an independent organization with a time-limited research division. In 2022, it was ■nally established as a permanent research institute with a new name.Principal ActivitiesWe will develop highly problem-oriented joint research projects and publish SIAS Occasional Papers and SIAS Lectures aimed at forming an academic journal in the future. Our achievements will also be shared with students and non-professionals through lectures, symposia, and other events, as well as through the publication of the SIAS Lectures. In academic year 2023, as in 2022, SIAS was awarded an academic research promotion fund by the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan for the joint research project“Research on the Dynamics of the Reconstruction of Publicness in Contemporary Islam,”which will be positioned as our core activity of this year.European InstituteInstitute of American andCanadian StudiesInstitute of Media, Culture and JournalismInstitute of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern StudiesInstitute for Studies of theGlobal EnvironmentInstitute of Islamic Area Studies