The Soka University SDGs Promotion Center, which aims to internally and externally promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advocated by the United Nations, was established this academic year, and its first conference took place on April 30 (Tuesday).

At the start of the conference, Soka University President Yoshihisa Baba, who serves as the general manager of the center, shared his greetings: “For Soka University, our engagement in the SDGs is extremely important. One reason for this is that Soka University is aiming at 2023 for becoming a ‘global hub for humanistic education,’ under the Top Global University Project. In relation, global citizenship education plays a major role. Another reason is that we consider the SDGs to be an important pillar among the new ‘Grand Design’ for the next decade, and we are currently in preparation for this. Also, in January this year, our founder referred to the SDGs in concrete terms in his peace proposal and emphasized the possibility of university cooperation and education on a global scale. In that sense, focusing on this center, we hope to steadily contribute to the SDGs, gather the wisdom of all related parties, and share such an effort with society and the world at large.”

Next, Ryohei Tanaka, director of the center and Soka University’s vice president, shared why the center was established, stating: “At Soka University, SDG-related engagement is already taking place, and there is various education- and research-based efforts advancing toward the SDGs. In addition, in the 50th-anniversary project, SDG-related events are being planned. In this way, SDG-related engagement has been taking place in a spontaneous manner, and it became necessary to establish a conference that unifies and coordinates all projects on campus. We would like to gather all the strengths of Soka University, ensure that all projects can organically work together, and promote the SDGs while cooperating with stakeholders within and outside our school.” This comment was followed by a lively discussion on future activities and the sharing of updated information pertaining to the SDGs on campus.

Also, the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2019, which ranks the degree of social contribution of each university in relation to SDGs around the world, was announced this month. Soka University was ranked 4th place in Japan and entered the range of 101st–200th place globally.