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GCP’s Philosophy
Creative Individuals and Mission Statement
In the 21st century, conventional values and existing frameworks have been changing at an ever-accelerating rate on a global scale. We asked ourselves, what kind of people should Soka University produce in such an era? University education must no longer be confined to the instruction of a particular field of specialized knowledge, as has been the convention in the past. After continuing our deep deliberation of this question on a daily basis, we came to a single conclusion. The type of person who is needed today is someone who can take on the challenge of responding to the harsh realities of the world as they change second by second and who can demonstrate the wisdom freely to solve problems, while leveraging their knowledge. We consider that kind of person to be a “creative individual.”
First proposed by Daisaku Ikeda, the founder of Soka University, at the university’s 3rd entrance ceremony in 1973, a “creative individual” is the type of person that Soka University’s students should aspire to become. In Soka University’s Mission Statement, which expresses our founding spirit in specific terms, the kind of graduates that the university strives to produce are expressed as follows:
First proposed by Daisaku Ikeda, the founder of Soka University, at the university’s 3rd entrance ceremony in 1973, a “creative individual” is the type of person that Soka University’s students should aspire to become. In Soka University’s Mission Statement, which expresses our founding spirit in specific terms, the kind of graduates that the university strives to produce are expressed as follows:
Soka University strives to provide humanistic education that will foster individuals who, exercising wisdom rooted in a rich humanity, can fulfill that requirement. Today, an integrating philosophy that embraces and brings order to the diversity of human susceptibilities, culture, reason and learning is once again imperative. Such a philosophy, firmly grounded in a recognition of our common humanity, can provide the basis for fostering global citizens, or creative individuals enriched by learning.
A global citizen can be defined essentially as an individual of wisdom, courage and compassion—courage to respect and appreciate differences such as race, culture and ethnicity, and to make such differences a source of nourishment for one’s own growth; compassion to feel empathy and a sense of identification with people in other parts of the world. Such courage and compassion are themselves a limitless font of wisdom. Soka University aims to be a cradle for the creation of a global culture based on the solidarity of global citizens—a solidarity of creative humanity.
A global citizen can be defined essentially as an individual of wisdom, courage and compassion—courage to respect and appreciate differences such as race, culture and ethnicity, and to make such differences a source of nourishment for one’s own growth; compassion to feel empathy and a sense of identification with people in other parts of the world. Such courage and compassion are themselves a limitless font of wisdom. Soka University aims to be a cradle for the creation of a global culture based on the solidarity of global citizens—a solidarity of creative humanity.
The Three “Ss” and Global Citizens
As described in Soka University’s Mission Statement, the three requirements of global citizenship are wisdom, courage and compassion. A global citizen may also be described as an individual who possesses to a high standard the three “Ss”; Spirit, Skill, and Service.
Spirit refers to a heart that focuses on the world and wishes for world peace and people’s happiness. Such a spirit requires the acquisition of various skills. Service refers to an approach of going beyond one’s own personal benefit to transform the skills that one has acquired into wisdom and demonstrate the courage, action and leadership to contribute toward world peace and people’s happiness. It is only with service that spirit and skill can be of benefit in the real world. The aim of the GCP is to produce global citizens who will fulfill these requirements. To this end, the program supports students’ growth through the five initiatives described below. Through this program, Soka University provides full support to students who have strong aspirations for their future to play an active role in the global community, such as by working for a global company or international organization, by continuing on to graduate school overseas, by becoming a national public servant, or by joining a company in Japan.
Spirit refers to a heart that focuses on the world and wishes for world peace and people’s happiness. Such a spirit requires the acquisition of various skills. Service refers to an approach of going beyond one’s own personal benefit to transform the skills that one has acquired into wisdom and demonstrate the courage, action and leadership to contribute toward world peace and people’s happiness. It is only with service that spirit and skill can be of benefit in the real world. The aim of the GCP is to produce global citizens who will fulfill these requirements. To this end, the program supports students’ growth through the five initiatives described below. Through this program, Soka University provides full support to students who have strong aspirations for their future to play an active role in the global community, such as by working for a global company or international organization, by continuing on to graduate school overseas, by becoming a national public servant, or by joining a company in Japan.