On March 18, an academic partnership was signed between Soka University’s Faculty of Education and Leipzig University in Germany. The signing ceremony took place at Soka’s campus in Hachioji city, Tokyo, with Dr. Barbara Drinck, head professor of Leipzig University; Soka University president Yoshihisa Baba; and Masashi Suzuki, Soka’s dean of the Faculty of Education, in attendance.

Until recently, Soka’s exchange program with Leipzig University had consisted of a short-term study abroad program focusing on English and German language acquisition. This new agreement aims to broaden that partnership to include study and research between the institutions in the field of education. Plans are underway to provide exchange opportunities for students from both universities to study the education systems of Germany and Japan as well as conduct joint research activities between faculty members of the two schools.

Commenting on the new agreement, Dean Masashi Suzuki said, “To have this kind of partnership with a German institution of such remarkable heritage is deeply meaningful for our university. I hope we can further strengthen both institutions’ research in education by engaging proactively in this exchange.”