Focusing on science & tech research Global Learning at Sophia University
Sophia University is proud of its international diversity, and its Faculty of Science and Technology is among the faculties at Japanese universities that have most proactively instituted frameworks to promote the progress of globalism . In recent years, these efforts have been paying off in a highly visible fashion, such as with a series of students earning high acclaim at international conferences.
“English for Science and Technology” to compete on a global stage
Professor Tetsuhiro Tsukiji, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, says that English education has made enormous contributions to the Faculty of Science and Technology’s outstanding track record.
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University
“In our faculty, apart from English as a language subject, we have also developed a curriculum where scientific English is taught systematically from the second year. The goal is for students to master specialized terms and expressions in the science and technology field and build discussion and presentation skills, and the English proficiency cultivated through this program is being put to use on the world stage with tremendous results.”
The Green Science program in the Department of Materials and Life Sciences and the Green Engineering program in the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, in which all lectures, experiments and research guidance are conducted in English and credits can be earned in English, also symbolize the internationalization of the Faculty. Possibly as a result of these programs, the number of international students in Faculty of Science and Technology has steadily increased from 76 in 2012 to 112 in 2017 years, from 14 to 51 in the graduate school. These students are highly diverse, hailing from 23 different countries.
Also, we have seen improvements in research outcomes, including an increase in the number of scientific research grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science awarded for joint research with companies and organizations. The Faculty of Science and Technology is currently focusing on further accelerating the dissemination of research contents and outcomes outside the university, with a view to cooperation among industry, government, and academia.
“When a faculty member or student receives an award at an academic conference, we immediately post it on our website and/or Facebook, and create press releases on distinctive and intriguing research. We gain publicity by disseminating them through the Economy, Trade and Industry Press Club and Education Ministry Science Press Club.” (Dean Tsukiji)
