10. FY2022 Progress[Soka University]■ Common indicators and targets
Internationalization○ Promotion of study abroad opportunities for Japanese students (reopening of study abroad/effective use of online tools)•••

Following the relaxation of overseas travel restrictions, the University recommenced suspended study abroad programs. With theaddition of new courses, some 140 students participated in the summer overseas short-term program consisting of eight training
Courses, and some 190 students in the spring overseas short-term program consisting of 12 training courses.
Continuing from FY2021, the University offered modules (subject groups) for the COIL educational program as part of the “Forum for
Promoting Internationalization of Universities” led by Kansai University. A total of 13 students from the University participated in theprogram for FY2022.
The University’s overseas partner institutions have expanded to 239 institutions in 65 countries and regions with the addition of two new
counties, Slovenia and Jordan.

○ Enhancing support for international students•Following the expiration of the term of the agreement on the UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP), a recommendation
admission system for refugees, between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Japan, the United Nations
Association of UNHCR, and Soka University, the three parties held an agreement signing ceremony for the renewal of the agreement
to extend its validity until March 31, 2027.

•In collaboration with Pathways Japan (PJ) and the Japan International Christian University Foundation (JICUF), the University
accepted five Ukraine students from the fall semester who wish to continue their studies in Japan as the Ukraine crisis continues.

○ Activities of overseas offices•

The University of Nairobi, Kenya, held a symposium to commemorate 35 years of exchangewith Soka University and the 30th anniversary of the honorary doctorate awarded to thefounder of the University. A Soka University liaison office was established inside theUniversity of Nairobi in 2021, which greatly contributed to the holding of the symposium.

○ Promotion for international students•An MOU was signed between the University and a high school in Bengaluru, India to start
discussions on a study program at the University.

Governance reform

Commemorative photo at the University of Nairobi○ Utilization of the cross-appointment system•The utilization of the cross-appointment system enabled the University to recruit international faculty members and other experts in amore flexible manner. A total of 34 cross-appointment agreements were signed which will take effect from FY2023.

○ Full-fledged activities using BEVI-j••An MOU was signed between the University and IBAVI (International Beliefs and Values Institute), which promotes activities using
BEVI, and the Japan chapter of IBAVI was established at the University.
In addition to the ongoing use of the BEVI-j test for students studying abroad, the University started utilizing BEVI in measuring theachievement of the Diploma Policy from the incoming students of FY2022. The students will take the BEVI from time to time, and thechanges will be analyzed.

○ Enhancement of collaboration with other universities•A symposium hosted by the Institute of Plankton Eco-engineering was held, where representatives from the University provided anoverview of and results from the SARTREPS-COSMOS project, which ended in FY2021, as well as an overview and results to datefrom the SATREPS-EARTH project, which started in FY2021. The rostrum was also taken by faculty members from the University ofGuanajuato, the Monterrey Institute of Technology, and the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Educational reform○ Introduction of a “Minor: SDGs”••

From FY2022, “Relevance to the SDGs” column was added to the syllabus, enabling the students to check the connection
between the class contents and the 17 SDGs when deciding the class of their interest. In addition to the main major in which
students study the curriculum of their own faculty and department, a minor system will be introduced from FY 2023 that allows
students to study specialized courses related to the SDGS across the humanities and sciences.
A new system “SDGs Good Practice” was launched to honor and subsidize initiatives with a high degreeof contribution and ideas with high feasibility toward the achievement of the SDGs.

○ Initiatives to foster global perspectives•

Continuing from FY2021, Soka Global Perspectives, a series of lectures that aim to provide opportunities
to develop global knowledge and perspectives was held. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of theLook East Policy, an associate professor from the University of Malaya, Malaysia and Soka University
faculty gave lecture sessions. Also invited to the lecture series were Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan,
the Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Cuba’s Ambassador toJapan, an associate professor from the Kyiv School of Economics, and other global intellectuals.

○ Lectures by the Southern African Development Community (SADC)•Olga Kupets
Associate Professor,
Kyiv School of Economics

SADC special lecture course started in the 2022 Spring semester which invited SADC member countries’ ambassadors anddiplomats as lecturers for each class. By popular demand, the course will also be held in FY2023.

[Soka University]■ University’s own indicators and targets○ The number of students advancing to overseas graduate schools•

There were 57 students admitted to overseas graduate schools. Major graduate schools include the State University of New York (U.S.),
Soka University of America (U.S.), Public Policy & Management at the University of Glasgow (UK), and Aarhus University (Denmark).

○ The number of students reaching the standards of proficiency in a foreign language other than English• A decision has been made to subsidize the expense for proficiency tests of foreign languages other than English and Japanesefor students who have reached a given level of language proficiency. The subsidization program will be implemented in FY2023
and its preparations are underway.
○ Raising the motivation of students, faculty, and staff through the campaign for the project’s final year•

As the Top Global University Project approaches its final year, the University has organized a campaign to promote the project’sinitiatives, particularly those affected by COVID-19, in cooperation with relevant divisions and departments. Various initiatives toincrease the number of students studying abroad and that of students achieving foreign language proficiency standards as well as
special courses and events will be held under the campaign.

■ Featured initiatives based on the characteristics of the University○ Enhancement of collaborative research and partnership with exchange universities and institutions in Japan and overseas••

The first International Symposium on Global Citizenship Education was held to mark the latter half of Soka University’s 50 th-anniversary
project, which aims to build a hub for global citizenship education. The theme of the symposium was “Restoring Learning to Daily Living:Global Citizenship and John Dewey.” Keynote speeches and parallel presentations were delivered for the symposium, attended byabout 170 participants from 25 countries and regions around the world.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, the University andTsinghua University jointly held the Commemorative Forum for the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations - Japan-China Exchange
and the Mission of Universities. The forum was attended by some 250 students on both campuses connected online.

○ International conference on policy recommendations for G7 Hiroshima Summit•

In March 2023, for the G7 Summit to be held in Hiroshima in May 2023, an international
conference on policy recommendations was held at the University under the theme“Advancing Security and Sustainability.” Researchers and representatives from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) gathered at the conference to propose recommendations
for the forthcoming summit, especially on aggravating crises, such as nuclear proliferation,
climate change, and pandemics, that threaten the life of humanity. The recommendations
were submitted to Japan’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the G7
Hiroshima Summit Secretariat.

International conference on policy
recommendations for G7 Hiroshima Summit○ Ranks in global and national rankings• In the Times Higher Education (THE) Japan University Rankings 2023, the University was ranked 6thin the Internationality category, maintaining its top 10 position for four consecutive years.
• In the QS Asia University Rankings 2023 announced in November 2022, the University ranked asfollows: International faculty: 68th (6th in Japan), Outbound exchange students: 96th (7th in Japan),
Inbound exchange students: 116th (14th in Japan), and International students: 143rd (21st in Japan).

○ 50th Anniversary Commemorative Event: “Value Creation x SDGs” series•As part of the 50th-anniversary commemorative project, the fourth “Value Creation x SDGs” event
was held under the theme “The Role of Universities in Sustainable Development and Environmental
Protection.” With distinguished guests invited from various fields, including Mr. Richard Munang,Africa Regional Climate Change Programme Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), who gave a keynote speech, this event provided an opportunity for each one of us to think
about and take actions toward achieving the SDGs.

Keynote speech by Mr. Richard Munang○ Soka University President appointed a board member of ASAIHL•In November, Soka University President Masashi Suzuki was appointed as a board member of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL), which is currently aninternational academic institution with some 230 universities in 25 countries and regions around theworld, including not only Southeast Asia but also Europe and North America.
The association’s general conference was held at the University in 2018 for the first time in Japanand will be held at the University for the second time in 2023.

•“Value Creation x SDGs” symposium■ Others○ Student activities•

In the “RoboCup Japan Open 2022 @Home Simulation OPL” held in October 2022 jointly with theglobal-scale “IROS2022 Interactive Service Robot Competition in Cyberspace,” SOBITS, composedof members from the Faculty of Science and Engineering Prof. Choi’s seminar, took home theoverall victory. Furthermore, the team won the overall championship in the most difficult league ofrobotics competitions in Japan–the RoboCup Japan Open 2022 @Home OPL held in March 2023
by taking first place in all competitions, earning its second overall OPL championship in a row.

•At the 8th Sumitomo Riko SDGs Student Essay Award, a student of the University was chosen for the runner-up prize. The essaycontest has been held every year since 2014. This year, with increased importance placed on SDGs, decarbonization, and biodiversitypreservation, the essay theme was “Changing business starting with a ‘Purpose’ - Why do we need a reason to exist.”

SOBITS winning 2nd championship in a row