Educational Institutions of Sophia School Corporation

• Sophia University
• Sophia University Junior College Division
• Eiko Gakuen Junior and Senior High School
• Rokko Junior / Senior High School
• Hiroshima Gakuin Junior and Senior High School
• Sophia Fukuoka Junior-Senior High School

Sophia University

Founding Spirit and Educational Ideals

Sophia University was founded in 1913 by the will of the Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier who came to Japan in 1549 to spread Christianity in Japan. Sophia was founded on the tradition of the Jesuit educational spirit of "for Others, with Others," which means "to utilize the talents given to oneself not for the benefit of oneself but for others," and "to aim at self-realization through service to others."
Education at Sophia is grounded on "Neighbourliness" and "Internationalism" based on "Christian humanism." Students ponder upon human dignity and deepen their understanding of that, while seeking human security and world peace through studying international relations, environmental issues, human rights and other issues.

Educational Characteristics

For people meeting ever diversifying, complex challenges facing today's world, both "profound knowledge in specialized fields" and "broad knowledge in liberal arts" are essential. Sophia University has 29 departments of nine faculties on a single campus, each of which offers an educational environment for students to concentrate on developing their respective specialties. On a single campus, interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary approaches using cooperation across different departments and faculties are also easy.
Furthermore, the university offers a variety of programs including "Global Competency Program (GCP)" which is intended to develop students' abilities to cope with globalization based on practical courses and hands-on learning.

Sophia University Junior College Division

Educational Philosophy

The Sophia University Junior College Division has embraced the following three mottos ever since its founding in 1973.

1. The Sophia University Junior College Division has embraced the following three mottos ever since its founding in 1973.
2. We focus on English language skill training Based on the foundation of trainings in the four skills of language, we focus on equipping students with the abilities to think in English and express their views in English.
3. We will develop human resources capable of dealing with international issues in the globalizing world through English language education as well as education in a broad spectrum of liberal arts and specialized fields.

Based on these mottos, we endeavor to realize the founding spirit of Sophia "Sophia - Bringing the World Together."

Educational Characteristics

The major goal of the educational program of the English Department of the Sophia University Junior College Division is to develop students' English language skills effectively. By further equipping students with knowledge in liberal arts and specialized fields, we aim to develop human resources who can play active roles in the international community where people of diverse cultural backgrounds are to live in harmony into future.
Another key feature of our curriculum is the "Service Learning" program: students engage in volunteer work such as teaching English to local children or teaching Japanese to foreign nationals in the community, which helps students’ further growth outside the campus.

Eiko Gakuen Junior and Senior High School

Educational Philosophy

The educational experience offered at Eiko Gakuen is founded on Christian values and the spirit of the founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Eiko Gakuen's basic philosophy is to assist students in developing the skills God gave them to the fullest extent of their potential.
A Jesuit education teaches students to become excellent people by producing excellent results in a wide range of fields. The excellence in this meaning has nothing to do with comparing oneself with others. It is about each individual maximizing his unique potential by seeking out issues suited to his stage of growth. Furthermore, the emphasis is on nurturing heart and spirit in an individual to be willing to contribute his abilities for the well-beings of others and to work with others.

Educational Characteristics

We believe that the family has a vital role to play in a child's education. For this reason close liaison with families is essential to Eiko Gakuen. To facilitate close communication between parents and teachers, Eiko Gakuen holds one-on-one interviews between parents and homeroom teachers, grade "PTA meetings" twice a year, as well as informal "get-togethers" in each district of our catchment area.
In such a world, Eiko Gakuen students and other beneficiaries of Jesuit education worldwide are required to be able to consider issues from a global perspective. To achieve this objective, making use of a global network of Jesuit educational institutions, Eiko Gakuen organize student activities in cooperation with Jesuit institutions in the Philippines and the United States.

Rokko Junior / Senior High School

Education Policy

Rokko Junior / Senior High School defines its mission as to pursue "eternal things that are deep behind transient things" to develop "individuals with leadership qualities who will live for others, with others." To fulfill this mission, we will:

1. help students building human relations in which they recognize their own virtues and others' virtues and hone themselves in friendly rivalry with each other;
2. guide every single student to develop his individual talents to the full and find pleasure in using them for others;
3. encourage students to seek after truth through experiences and reflections, to cultivate in them intelligence for understanding the essence of things;
4. provide opportunities of exposure to diverse ideas and different cultures to develop individuals with a broad vision and an international perspective, and
5. nurture individuals who can be active at the forefront of the endeavor to realize justice and peach in the world.

Educational Characteristics

Rokko Junior / Senior High School has traditionally held three mottos as the foundation of its education: I. developing mental and physical strength; II. developing independence; and III. cultivating sensibility and emotional richness. As part of "character building" under the first motto, for example, we encourage students to discipline themselves and cultivate mental and physical strength through cleaning school buildings or practicing gymnastics after the second period. Under the second motto, we expect every student to learn, through their daily school life, events and extracurricular activities, to act independently on their own responsibility and initiative. Under the third motto, students are encouraged to ponder upon how they should live and cultivate sensibility and emotional well-being through taking part in charity fund raising or service at welfare institutions under the spirit of Christianity.
At Rokko Junior / Senior High School, we take full advantage of the six years of integrated curriculum through junior and senior high school levels to provide effective guidance for each student. The six-year curriculum is divided into three two-year stages with their respective learning targets. We help every student's learning with close individual attention and timely support.

Hiroshima Gakuin Junior and Senior High School

Educational Philosophy

"Puerilis Institutio est Renovatio Mundi" (the education of youth is the renewal of the world) -- the Society of Jesus have held this ideal since more than four centuries ago, which holds truth even today. Based on "Cura Personalis" (care for individuals), Hiroshima Gakuin defines its mission as to develop young people to be "Men for Others" as well as "Men with Others," and guide them to be able to contribute to the betterment of the world.

Educational Characteristics

Hiroshima Gakuin aims to realize the following goals in its education: "caring for individuals," "cultivating self-control," "developing consideration for others," "enhancing students' ability to make value judgements," "developing students' ability to take independent action," and "cultivating a mindset to aim ever higher."
As part of international education activities, students can opt to participate in a summer program in the Philippines while students from our Philippine sister school come to stay in Hiroshima every year. Students also participate in community service activities such as volunteer activities and street fund raising.

Sophia Fukuoka Junior-Senior High School

Educational Philosophy

The mission of Sophia Fukuoka Junior-Senior High School is to form "leaders who are aware of greater and higher things to serve others as human bridges to the world." To fulfill this mission, we aim to foster individuals equipped with the following.

1. Christian humanism
2. Leadership that serves others
3. Global competency

Our goal is to grow people with good knowledge about global issues and skills for communication with diverse people.

Educational Characteristics

• Small group teaching
Students are instructed and guided with close attention to individual needs. Students receive English and mathematics lessons in a half-sized class to master basic skills with careful individual support.
• English language education for competence in a globalizing world
Our English language courses have ample elements for improving the four language skills to help students learn English through hands-on interaction. We prepare a wide variety of menu to ensure students will enjoy acquiring English skills, including classes using the "CALL system," interaction with foreign students studying in Japan and speech contests.
• Attentive career counseling for individual future plans
Close individual counseling encourages students to reflect on themselves at present and in future, and plan their own future path. We also offer a variety of opportunities to support their carrier planning such as a "Career Day" inviting speakers from outside the school or hands-on activity classes.