Global Leadership Program 2025
Hosted by Sophia University
August 4-9, 2025
Program Concept Note
A. Background
The Global Leadership Program is an annual program conducted by Jesuit universities
in Asia. In 2025, it will be hosted by Sophia University, Japan. The GLP program aims
to provide opportunities for students from member universities to discuss global issues
in their respective countries. In addition, the program also seeks to prepare students to
become leaders with global insight. Participating students from member colleges will
get the knowledge and abilities necessary to grow into young leaders in their local
communities. Participants will interact with marginalized groups in society and seek to
understand how young people may help address and relate relevant and similar issues
in global contexts.
B. Pre-session Activities
Before their departure, students from each university are expected to meet several times
to prepare and anticipate the activities and programs they are going to get involved in
GLP 2025. The students as teams need to study the schedule and programs. They
prepare the university presentation, a presentation about the theme “Education and
Cross-border Cooperation for Sustainable Development”, and a cultural performance.
The pre-session activities/meetings are intended to introduce the themes to the students
and to familiarise the students to the conceptual frames of the program. By the themes,
the participating students are expected to nourish Ignatian leadership characteristics.
They are invited to respond to global changes, help marginalized people and live the
tensions as global citizens.
C. Group’s University Presentations
There will be two presentations by each university participating in GLP 2025 besides
the presentation by theme. The presentations serve different aims and purposes.
1. August 4, 2025: prior to coming to Japan, each university prepares a 20-30-min.
presentation for the session on August 4 , to introduce their university in brief and
to explain a general overview of the main theme of Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) focused in each country. Each group also includes in their
presentation relevant examples of ESD practices from their home countries, which
are related to one or more of the three subthemes.
2. August 8, 2025: in this session, at the end of the program, the participants are
required to make a presentation from each of universities (20-30 min. each) on an
educational program for sustainable development, which each groups designs
making use of what they have learned and experienced over the course of the five
days. Each group can propose its own educational program, freely choosing the
1
educational level and learners that the program targets, objectives and activities of
the program.
D. Fieldwork and Presentation
Two fieldwork activities have been designed for the program. By the lectures, the
participants are introduced to the theme and the subthemes. The participants will
confirm their understanding and insights from the lectures in the fieldwork.
1. August 5, 2025: JICA is a Japanese government agency established to contribute
to the economic and social development of developing regions and other countries
and to promote international cooperation. Participants will deepen their
understanding of the three sub-themes through workshops on issues facing the
world (cross-cultural understanding, poverty, inequality, etc.) with JICA staff.
2. August 6, 2025: Students will be pre-grouped according to the three subtopics.
Each Group will visit a particular thematic site. After the visit, each group will be
required to make a presentation on their experiences and takeaways from the visit.
a. ESD in Basic Education: Ina Gakuen Junior High School in Saitama Prefecture
b. Inclusive Education: Educational activities for children with cultural diversity
in Kanagawa Prefecture
c. Higher Education: United Nations Institute for the Advanced Study of
Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
E. Japanese traditional culture experiences (Tea ceremony)
Participants will visit the Kioi-tei, a historic house located on campus, and take a tour
of the facility. After the tour, they will watch a demonstration of the Japanese tea
ceremony and enjoy a bowl of matcha in an authentic Japanese tatami room. During the
demonstration, we will explain how tea culture developed throughout Japan’s history
and how the practice of Chado (the Way of Tea) contributes to relaxation and
mindfulness within the context of modern society. Tea culture exists in various forms
across many Asian countries, each with its own unique customs and traditions related
to tea. Following the tea ceremony demonstration, participants will move to a different
room. We will set up tables where each university will share their tea and sweets.
Participants will move to different tables, exchanging and learning about their unique
tea cultures.
F. Cultural Night Performance (August 4)
Prior to coming to Japan, every university prepares a performance for about 15 minutes
that relates to their home culture, to be performed at the welcome party on August 4.
Folk games, songs, and traditional dances, etc can all be a part of it. This cultural
performance session is expected to highlight the sense of participating in the global
community.