Sophia University and African Development Bank Concludes Memorandum of Understanding for Academic Cooperation
To promote education and research activities in consideration of the future of growing African regions
https://www.sophia.ac.jp/eng/news/2018/03262018.html
On March 8, 2019 Sophia University concluded Memorandum of Understanding for academic cooperation with African Development Bank (AfDB Headquarter: Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire President: Akinwumi Adesina).
President Terumichi and Senior Vice President Charles Boamah attended the signing ceremony held at AfDB heaquarter. In this MOU it was agreed to organize joint lectures, seminars, symposiums as well as to establish training programs for Sophia students implemented by AfDB. This is the first MOU AfDB concluded with an educational institution in Japan not only for research exchanges but extending to student trainings.
AfDB is an international organization engaged in economic and social development of member African countries through promoting public and private capital investments to support developmental projects and programs.
In 2012, its Asia representative office was opened in Tokyo and in January 2015 as a first educational in Japan, Sophia University concluded MOU with AfDB Tokyo Office, and thereafter various exchanges were made such as co-organizing collaborative lectures relating to international cooperation, co-hosting seminars and symposiums as well as implementing student internships at AfDB. By our cordial relation concluding MOU with AfDB headquarter realized at this time.
Considered as the world last megamarket with rapid economic growth Africa is increasing its presence at a global arena. Expecting our current students to be excelling globally as leading members of the society few decades later, Sophia University is promoting educational and research exchanges with African regions offering opportunities for students to gain understandings and visions for such notable regions by initiatives such as: concluding MOU for academic cooperation with African organizations: promoting Africa related researches mainly at Center for Global Education and Discovery: hosting “Sophia Africa Week” to gain understanding of African regions: implementation of short programs in Africa: establishing partnership with African universities and educational institutions through Jesuit networks and so on.
Sophia University also welcomes African students who are granted Japan African Dream Scholarship by AfDB to study energy related fields with hope for gaining more students from African countries hereafter.
Cooperation with International Organization
Sophia University focuses in cooperating with international organizations as well as international development and financial institutions such as AfDB.
On March 18, a career seminar co-organized with World Bank was held attracting many participants. To enable students with aspiration to excel in the field of international cooperation to learn from leading professionals from an early stage,our Human Resources Center for International Cooperation provides information and opportunities such as joint seminars with international organizations as well as special programs, some open for high school students.
Our current partnered institutions in Africa as of March 2019 are: Université d’Abomey-Calavi (Benin) University Ouaga II(Burkina Faso) Catholic University of Central Africa(Cameroon)、Centre de Recherche et d’Action pour la Paix(Cote d’Ivoire) The Catholic Institute of Business and Technology (Ghana) Stellenbosch University (South Africa)