On 27 March 2025, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS hosted a symposium on sustainability initiatives by universities participating in the SDG¨CUniversities Platform (SDG¨CUP). Held at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ headquarters in Tokyo and online, the event engaged university administrators, professors, students and government officials to discuss how Japanese universities can advance the SDGs through education, research and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Tshilidzi Marwala (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Rector) delivered opening remarks, highlighting ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ's role as co-chair of the (HESI) in 2024¨C2025, and the contributions of SDG¨CUP in strengthening cooperation between ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ and Japanese universities.
Koji Kitayama (Deputy Assistant Minister / Director, International Affairs Division, Minister¡¯s Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)) emphasized that MEXT works in close partnership with ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS, supporting research and the development of human resources to drive progress on the SDGs.
The first session featured a panel discussion moderated by Yasushi Katsuma (Academic Programme Advisor, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS). Members of the SDG¨CUP Working Groups on Management, Sustainable Campus, University Evaluation and Accountability, and SDGs Curriculum introduced the activities of their respective working groups and sustainability initiatives at their universities.
Shunichi Murata (Professor, Kwansei Gakuin University; Former UNDP Representative in Japan) moderated the second session, in which students from participating universities introduced their activities to promote sustainability on campus: Hazaithon Project at Osaka University, KG SDGs Campus Supporter at Kwansei Gakuin University, and the UNESCO Club at Nara University of Education.
In closing, Shinobu Yume Yamaguchi (Director, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-IAS; Chair, SDG¨CUP) noted that since its launch in October 2020, SDG¨CUP has fostered university partnerships through the exchange of knowledge and effective strategies. She encouraged the students to persist in their sustainability efforts to build a more sustainable future for people and the planet.
