1-4-1　Progress in the Top Global University Project

In 2014 Sophia University was selected as a Top Global University (Type B) by MEXT.
With the vision of “Creating a Global Campus with Multi-layered Hub Functions and Establishing Supportive Governance,” the University aimed to lead the globalization of Japanese universities and, ultimately, Japanese society.
This was to be achieved through the development of new educational programs, the promotion of student exchanges, the advancement internationalization at home, and pioneering governance reforms, all based on our past achievements.

Many aspects of this initiative align with the specific action plans for globalization and governance reform outlined in our university’s long-term plan, the “Grand Layout.”
As a result, many of the efforts initiated under this project will continue even after its conclusion.

The project’s performance indicators included both common metrics shared by all selected universities and unique metrics set by each institution.
Common indicators encompassed figures related to the globalization of faculty and staff, the number of inbound and outbound students, and the number of courses offered in foreign languages.
Indicators set by Sophia included the number of double degree agreements, special admission programs for overseas graduate schools, and partnerships with high schools abroad (designated overseas schools).

Number of foreign faculty members and faculty members with a foreign degree or overseas research/education experience

In line with the long-term plan “Grand Layout,” faculties and graduate schools have been actively recruiting faculty members who are either foreign nationals, have obtained degrees from foreign universities, or have overseas educational and research experience. This recruitment strategy is based on a mid-term personnel plan and reflects a university-wide consensus on the importance of considering international achievements and evaluations in research and education. Since the 2020 academic year, the actual proportion of such faculty members has already surpassed the final target of 312(57%), and this trend continued smoothly until the end of the project.

Courses taught in a foreign language (number of courses & percentage, full-year)

With the introduction of the new English course (SPSF), the proportion of foreign language courses, excluding those at the graduate level, has steadily exceeded the final target of 21.2% at undergraduate programs since the AY2021. The university-wide general education courses (liberal arts courses) offered as part of the global education program, which are available to all students now number around 100 courses annually. The concept of nurturing individuals who can think and express themselves in foreign languages has become widely accepted within the university, and the number of students actively enrolling in these courses has increased.

Percentage of Japanese students with study abroad experience (full-year)

The number of Japanese students with study abroad experience has steadily increased, as a result of various measure to enhance study abroad, such as the study abroad counselling program, the steady growth in the number of partner institutions, and expansion of variety of overseas short-term programs and internship courses. In AY2019, the number of outbound students reached 1,000 students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all study abroad programs were suspended in the 2020 academic year, resulting in a significant decrease. From the latter half of the AY2021, the University partially resumed, and in AY2022, the number of semester outbound exchange students recovered, and short-term programs have also gradually resumed with travel. Despite challenges such as changes in global conditions and the rising costs of studying abroad due to the depreciation of the yen, which posed new barriers to studying abroad, the final figure for the AY2023 recovered to 889 students (7.1% of all students), although it did not reach the target value.

*This figure represents the number of full-time students with Japanese nationality who have experienced study abroad programs that include credit acquisition, regardless of the duration of the study abroad period.

Percentage of international students to all students (full-year)

In addition to expanding partner institutions for exchange programs, the revision of the Summer Session Program and the expansion of short-term programs primarily targeting China and the Pacific region, as well as customized programs addressing Japan’s latest trends and environmental issues, have maintained a high level of international student enrollment throughout the year. From the AY2020, the suspension of new international student entries and the limitation of exchange programs to online participants resulted in a plateau. However, with the resumption of study abroad programs in Japan from the AY2022, the number of incoming exchange students and others rapidly recovered, reaching 2,480 students (17.2% of the total student body) by the end of the AY2023.

✽The number of overseas students includes both overseas students with “study abroad” residence status as well as those of short-term programs without “study abroad” residence status.

Number of inbound and outbound students under students exchange agreements

By the end of the AY2023, the number of partner institutions for exchange programs reached 343 universities in 63 countries, more than doubling from 169 institutions in 32 countries before the project（2013）. Approximately 70% of these partner institutions are located in Europe and North America, but other regions have also seen an overall increase, promoting regional diversity in student exchanges during the project period. The number of accepted incoming students based on exchange agreements has steadily increased along with the number of partner institutions, and after a temporary decrease due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it reached 1,000 students (6.9% of all students) by the end of the AY2023, significantly exceeding the target of 726 students. On the other hand, the number of outbound students based on university exchanges agreements did not reach the target of 1,600 students (11% of all students), but it rapidly recovered from a significant decrease during the pandemic, achieving 993 students (6.9%).

1-4-2　Outbound exchange students

The figures show the number of outbound exchange students who studied at overseas partner institutions and its transition by region. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the University decided to cancel all outbound programs, including exchange programs, in AY2020. However, in AY2021,  the University resumed  the long-term exchange programs with special assessments. Some students started their study abroad from online and transferred to in-class after traveling to the country in the second semester, and some canceled their original plan to study abroad in fall, AY2020 and took online courses in spring, AY2021. In AY 2022, the number of outbound students had almost recovered to the pre-COVID-19, and many students experienced on-site study abroad. Although students could choose to study abroad online if the partner institutions allowed, due to reasons such as time differences and limited opportunities to experience different cultures, and that the infection situation had calmed down worldwide, most of the students chose to take in-class courses. In the following AY 2023, all students successfully flew out for the on-site study abroad opportunities, with approximately 330 students dispatched to various countries. Under the University’s world-wide network, students achieved their growth and development by selecting their destinations based on personal interests, goals, and their language and academic levels.

1-4-3　Inbound students from Overseas Partner Institutions

The figures show the number of inbound students from overseas partner institutions by region. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, from AY2020, the University continued to accept some inbound students online. In AY2022, with the relaxation of entry restrictions, inbound students were given the option of coming to Japan or enrolling online in the spring semester, and all inbound students came to Japan in the autumn semester. In the following AY2023, the University fully resumed accepting inbound students in person, reaching a record high of 617 students. Many students enjoyed cultural experiences such as Welcome Receptions and English Rakugo, as well as participation in not only classes but also club activities, interactions with exchange student supporters, and volunteer activities with high school students.

1-4-4　Student Exchange and the Number of Partner Institutions

Sophia University has made effort to increase the number of its partner institutions in order to foster student and academic exchange with universities abroad. Since AY2012, the number of partner schools increased at the remarkable rate of 20 to 30 schools a year and the number of inbound and outbound students has shown corresponding increases recently. In the last five years to AY2019, there have been positive results for over 90% of the partner institutions and exchange activities, with approximately 350 to 500 inbound and outbound students being mutually exchanged annually. Although the number of new partner institutions has declined since AY2020 due to the spread of COVID-19, in AY 2022 as overseas travel and partnership activities has resumed in earnest, in AY 2023 these activities have almost recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels.
By region, partner institutions have recently shown growth in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Europe, many new partner schools from German-speaking regions were established due to the Integrated Study Abroad Program instituted by the Department of German Studies in AY2015. Furthermore, new partner schools were actively sought out in particular regions such as East and Central Europe, providing more options for students seeking to study abroad. In AY2023, a new partner institution was established in Estonia. In addition, as part of the efforts to promote relations in Africa, new partner institutions were established in Congo and Kenya. Not only expanding the number of new partner institutions, Sophia University currently focuses on maintaining and strengthening ties with existing partner universities.

1-4-5　International students

Although there have been some years of temporary large decreases due to the suspension of study abroad due to the Great East Japan Earthquake in AY 2011 and the impact of suspension of study abroad and entry restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 from AY 2020 to AY 2021, the overall trend has been an increase.
By region of nationality, the number of students from Asia, North America, and Europe tends to be high. In addition, the number of students from Latin America and Africa has increased significantly over the past 10 years.

1-4-6　Number of Enrollees in Language Courses

In AY2012 the Center for the Teaching of Foreign Languages in General Education was reorganized as the Center for Language Education and Research, and the language curriculum has been overhauled. To the 18 languages for which courses were offered from AY2014 onward, four more languages—Swahili, Turkish, Vietnamese, and Hindi—have been added, for a total of 22.
The data given here reflects the number of students enrolled in each language course over the past five years.
In regards to enrollment in English language classes related to the compulsory Academic Communication course, the credit recognition system, which grants credit through submission of English proficiency test scores has been discontinued from the AY2023, and the Advanced III level class has been established to offer an opportunity for students with high English proficiency to further develop their English capabilities. This slightly increased the number of enrollees to English classes.
The number of students taking Japanese classes dropped to half during the immigration restriction period from AY2020 to AY2021; however, with the recovery of students from overseas beginning from the latter half of AY2022, the number of students taking Japanese classes is increasing to near pre-COVID-19 levels.
Of the beginning language classes in 20 languages, the number of students taking each class vary, probably affected by international situation; however, the total number of enrollees in language classes remains stable, excluding a temporary increase in AY2020 when classes shifted to online due to the pandemic.
(The number of students excludes short-term studies and intensive courses)

1-4-7　Participants in internship programs

Since 2015, Sophia University has offered an internship course in which a student is given credits for accepting an internship at a training firm with which the University has entered into an agreement and for taking lectures or submitting assignments before or after the internship. The purpose of the internship course is to deepen students’ learning and raise their motivation to learn through their work experience by understanding the structure and actual conditions of global society; improve their necessary competency for society; and connect their study in class with real-world experience.
Training firms include our domestic and overseas partners in various fields, such as the global business field (e.g. global companies), the international cooperation field (e.g. international organizations and international cooperation institutions), the global media field (e.g. news media), and the global politics field (e.g. embassies in Japan and research institutes), providing various training opportunities. In AY2023, the trainings were conducted face-to-face or online depending on the situation at the training firms.

1-4-8　Participants in Short-term Overseas Programs

The figure below shows trends in the number of students participating in programs held during summer and spring recess by region of destination. In AY2019, establishment of new programs mainly increased the number of students who went for study to Europe and Southeast Asia, and the largest number of students ever participated in short-term overseas programs.
In AY2023, all Short-term Overseas Language Programs, Short-term Study Abroad Programs and Social Engagement Programs, were conducted travel-based, and a total of 535 students participated.

✽Total number of participants in Short-term Overseas Language Programs, Short-term Study Abroad Programs and Social Engagement Programs
✽Figures for AY2016 and beyond include participants of the Cambodia Exposure Tour (changed name to the “Cambodia Service Learning Program.”
✽The AY2017 Universities of Global Leadership Program for the Five Jesuit Universities of East Asia program (GLP) was hosted by Sophia University in Japan and six Sophia students participated, but they are not included in the above.
✽The AY2018 AJCU-AP Service Learning Program (SLP) was hosted by Sophia University in Japan and nine Sophia students participated, but they are not included in the above.

1-4-9　Participants in inbound Sophia Short-term Programs

Sophia University has offered a short-term international program called Summer Session in Asian Studies for the past 50 years, attracting large numbers of international students. In AY2018, the form of the program was altered, and the University provided it as the Summer Session in East Asian Studies and Japanese language twice in June and July until AY2019. Also, since AY2013, another program called January Session for Japanese Studies has been offered mainly to students from Oceanian countries in January.
In AY2023, Summer Session in East Asian Studies and January Session in Japanese Studies was held in-person, in July and in January, after the recess and offering in virtual format during COVID-19 period.