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== 1. A general overview General Overview of Sophia University ==

While physically located in the heart of Tokyo, right across the Imperial Palace, Sophia University is also close to the socio-economic and political core of Japanese society. From its early days , the University has been a center for internationalization and to this day continues to act as a bridge to the wider world. Many of its graduates find their way into fields such as the media (national broadcasters like NHK), global development (international organizations like the United Nations), or global business (multinational corporations).

== 2. Promoting student innovation Student Innovation and entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship==

Recently, Sophia University has been increasingly focused on the environment and sustainable development. Many of its programs have conscientiously incorporated courses related to the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs (a set of global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015). As a prominent institution for research and higher education in the fields of social sciences, humanities , and natural sciences, Sophia University was one among 37 Japanese universities to be selected for the “Top Global University Project” – a funding project initiated by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to support the innovation and internationalization efforts of universities. Based on this project, Sophia University launched a new English-based undergraduate program called “Sophia Program for Sustainable Futures” (SPSF) in the fall of 2020. This program brings together seven different disciplines (journalism, education, sociology, economics, management, international relations, and area studies) and is designed to foster interdisciplinary and action-oriented learning.

OverallIn addition to these curricular programs, the university’s core values of respect there have been interactive events for equality, diversity, and contribution students to the larger social good are captured into its motto: “Men engage with and Women, With Others, For Othersspark innovation.” These values permeate not only its academic curriculum but also guide students in their extracurricular activitiesUnited Nations Week and Mirai 2. Students undertake many volunteer activities run inside 0 Research and outside the university, but also beyond Japan, such as the support activities focused on refugees, or the areas damaged by the Great Tohoku Earthquake, to name Innovation Week are a few. Extracurricular clubs annual events that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity include Horizon (a student empowerment organization committed to inspiring youth to create innovative solutions for social change) and Sophia Start-up Club (Sophia University’s first entrepreneurship organization established in 2021). Other programs that generate awareness and fundamental elements allow active learning through the collaboration of I&E include TEDxSophia industries and Sophia University Future Centeracademic institutions.

Overall, the university’s core values of respect for equality, diversity, and contribution to the larger social good are captured into its motto: “Men and Women, With Others, For Others.” These values permeate not only its academic curriculum but also guide students in their extracurricular activities. Students undertake many volunteer activities run inside and outside the university, but also beyond Japan, such as the support activities focused on refugees, or the areas damaged by the Great Tohoku Earthquake, to name a few. Extracurricular clubs that promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity include Horizon (a student empowerment organization committed to inspiring youth to create innovative solutions for social change) and Sophia Start-up Club (Sophia University’s first entrepreneurship organization established in 2021). Other programs that generate awareness and fundamental elements of I&E include TEDxSophia, Sophia University Future Center, Yotsuya Hatch (a start-up pitch event organized by Sophia Start-up Club), and Hult Prize OnCampus Program (an annual global competition for pitching business ideas that tackle various social issues).  == 3. Encouraging faculty innovation Faculty Innovation and entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship==

== 4. Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function== Sophia University is active in funding and supporting research programs through the Sophia Research Support Organization. The Organization has been exploring the possibility of further expanding its research support system and providing enhanced support for faculty to commercialize their research. It aims to act as an incubator that would facilitate successful technology transfers, licensing, and innovation projects. In this way, Sophia University is working to advance development projects through collaboration between industry, government, and academia.  In addition, Sophia University has several seed funding sources for students’ activities. For extracurricular activities, Sophia University provides grant support each semester for the University’s official extracurricular activities. Students go through the process of examination by submitting a proposal and having an interview to receive the grant and report the usage and the impact of the project. Likewise, despite not being a group specifically at Sophia University, many of its students actively utilize a social incubator for movements and change-makers called Social Innovation Japan where they can join its community to get information and opportunities regarding topics they are passionate about.  In 2021, Sophia University joined the Renewable Energy University League of Japan. The universities that join this community aim to transition their campuses to 100% renewable energy between 2030 and 2040. In November 2022, after an electricity supplier switch at some buildings, 100% of the electricity consumed at Sophia University's Yotsuya Campus have become to come from renewable energy. In addition, the university is trying to encourage its students to also take action for renewable energy and decarbonization through various initiatives and campaigns on the campus. ==Facilitating university technology -industry collaboration==Recognizing that Japan’s industry-academia collaboration is poor compared to Western countries, Sophia University's Faculty of Science and Engineering created the “Sophia Science & Technology Liaison Office” in November of 2001 to transfer function: research breakthroughs more easily into society. Unfortunately, this organization is no longer in operation within the University, but its impacts have left a strong impression on the I&E community and students involved in its mission. Another way Sophia University emphasizes industry-academia collaboration is through the Bulletin Board of Information found in the student portal. The University posts about scholarship opportunities and programs involving university-business collaborations. Some of these scholarships and programs offer students opportunities to engage with industries and learn I&E skills by working directly with them. Not only are students given a chance to expand their range of experiences by applying to these activities, but they are also able to build their own networks for their future careers. On the other hand, some of the posts within the Bulletin Board of Information are related to research labs and research funding. Sophia University highly values quality research and the involvement of students in developing new technologies and thus often offers these openings to its entire student body.  Although Sophia University’s history with innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) is short, the institution’s efforts such as opening new programs and opportunities for innovation to faculty and students have become more apparent in the past few years. Over time, a growing number of faculty members have become active in organizing events and activities where they encourage students to incorporate entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. ==Engaging with Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts==Sophia University has been promoting educational and research activities based on a spirit of charity and globalism through encounters and dialogues with people of diverse backgrounds in the hope to bring forth solutions to the many problems that torment our world today. Through its participation in the Inter-University Exchange Project called the “Collaborative Online International Learning,” Sophia University offers programs towards Human Security and Multicultural Coexistence which allow students in Japan to connect and learn together with other students at institutions in Japan and abroad.

Sophia In November 2015, the University is active in funding and supporting research programs through signed the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) supported by the United Nations with the Sophia Research Support Organizationaim to realize a sustainable society. The Organization has been exploring These principles advocate for the possibility incorporation of further expanding its research support system environmental, societal, and providing enhanced support for faculty to commercialize their researchcorporate governance concerns into investment decisions. They aim to act as an incubator As a private corporation that would facilitate successful technology transfers, licensingoperates education and research institutes, and innovation projects. In this wayas a responsible asset owner, Sophia University is working assumes its responsibility and contributes to advance development projects solving the various issues facing our global society through collaboration between industry, government, and academiaits ESG investment.

In additionto that, the Sophia University School Corporation has several seed funding sources established a new ‘green’ building on campus to be used for students’ activities. For extracurricular activitiesvarious purposes, Sophia University provides grant support including community events and academic gatherings for projects of Sophia University’s official extracurricular activities for each semesterworking professionals. Students go through the process The three-story wooden building consists of examination by submitting a proposal and having an interview to receive the grant and report café on the usage first floor and classrooms on the impact rest of the projectfloors. Likewise, despite not being The Corporation also plans to establish a group specifically for Sophia University, many of its students actively utilize a social incubator for movements and change-makers called Social Innovation Japan where students join its community disaster prevention warehouse that is accessible to get information and opportunities regarding topics they are passionate aboutthe public.

In 2021To conclude, Sophia University joined is located at the center of one of the busiest metropolitan areas in the world. It also gathers together the best and the renewable energy university leaguebrightest domestic and international students and faculty, giving it unique advantages and opportunities. The universities that joined this community are aiming Maximizing them will continue to make the university campus’ energy 100% renewable sometime between 2030 require innovative and 2040creative thinking. Sophia This is trying to create an ecosystem in which students take action to where the mindset and skills of the UIF Community can potentially make actions regarding renewable energy and decarbonizationa meaningful contribution.