On July 23 (Tuesday), a party of 10 led by Director James Berry of the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership (ICPEL) of the United States visited Soka University. The party toured the educational venues of Soka University, which has been selected for inclusion in the “Top Global University Project” conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

The ICPEL is carrying out its activities as a cooperative group of scholars and executors, the scholars engaged in activities and research related to educational administration, and is energetically engaged in responding to the interests and needs of university professors mainly engaged in educational administration as well as university leaders that put into practice such areas as “equity, inclusion, innovation and excellence.”

In odd years, the council jointly sponsors specialized conferences and promotes interdisciplinary exchanges, together with another group, Educational Leaders Without Boarders (ELWB). The 2019 annual conference was held in conjunction with the ELWB, sponsored by Soka University’s sister school, Soka University of America’s Graduate School.

The party met with President Yoshihisa Baba and Vice President Ryohei Tanaka and discussed an overview of the “Top Global University Project” as well as Soka University’s engagement in such project. This was followed by a meeting with the dean of the Faculty of Education Masashi Suzuki, during which they exchanged views on the educational circumstances of the U.S. and Japan.
In the afternoon, after meeting with Prof. McDonald, Dean of the Faculty of International Liberal Arts, the party met with professors and students involved in the Global Citizenship Program (GCP).
ICPEL’s Director Berry shared that, through this visit, he was able to learn about the educational situation in Japan on a deeper level and that, above all, he was greatly impressed, feeling the spirit of Soka University’s foundation.