The PRIME Program of Okayama University is designed to increase the presence of the university as a leader in the internationalization of Japanese higher education and to develop community-based, globally-minded All-round Achievers. To make the program more globally-oriented, Okayama University incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 in its internationalization efforts in AY2017, and has since been promoting the program using the SDGs as a common language to connect with the world. By placing greater focus on the SDGs, the university hopes to nurture All-round Achievers with the ability to identify and solve social problems and build closer partnerships with the local community and international society.
NEWS & EVENTS
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NEWS SDGs
October 25, 2023
Two Students from Okayama University Attended One Young World 2023, a Global Summit for Future Leaders, as Japanese delegates
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NEWS SDGs
March 31, 2023
Senior Vice President Atsufumi Yokoi presented at the Main Session of the 26th CSTD Annual Meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
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NEWS SDGs
March 20, 2023
Honorary doctorate awarded to Her Royal Highness Princes Abze Djigma from Burkina Faso
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NEWS SDGs
February 07, 2023
Director of the Technology and Logistics at United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) visited Okayama University
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NEWS SDGs
January 30, 2023
UNCTAD Short-Term Programme: Fifth batch of young female researchers visit President Makino
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NEWS SDGs
December 15, 2022
UNCTAD Short-Term Programme: Fourth batch of young female researchers visit President Makino
“Goal 17” – Okayama University’s partnerships to join efforts across different sectors towards the SDGs
In 1994, Okayama University established the Faculty of Environmental Science and Technology, which is Japan’s first university department with the word “environmental” in its name, and has since been promoting education and research in environmental studies. In 2007, Okayama University was chosen to host Asia’s first UNESCO Chair to promote the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiative, and in 2017, the university launched the Action Guidelines of Okayama University on the SDGs, under which university-wide efforts are being made for research and social innovations for “Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for SDGs.”
Under the leadership of the President, the university has also developed the Partnerships for Goals (Goal 17) in cooperation with businesses, governmental agencies, academic institutions, financial institutions and the press.
In 2017, Okayama University received the SDGs Partnership Award, a special prize, in the first Japan SDGs Awards hosted by the Japanese government—the only national university to be honored with this important award.
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- Environment
- Challengeing Global Climate Change
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- Education
- Educating Students to Achieving SDGs
- Medical Care and Health
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- Research
- Providing Science and Solutions for Securing Energy
- Generating of Innovation
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- Society
- Supporting Town Development
- Realizing a Symbiotic Society
ACTION
Serving as a host university for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program sponsored by the United States Department of State
Okayama University became the first Japanese national university to be chosen as the host university for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.
In AY2019, the university accepted 26 top-class American graduate and undergraduate students selected from among about 500 applicants from all over the U.S. and arranged opportunities for these students to participate in community-based extracurricular activities and stay with Japanese families, as part of its global education focusing on the SDGs and ESD.
In AY2020, however, in-person study abroad has been rendered impossible due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of physically accepting American students, therefore, Okayama University offered a seven-week online program to study the Japanese language and culture starting in October, which was attended by 13 American students selected from universities all over the U.S.
Sending students to One Young World,
one of the world’s largest youth summits
Since AY2015, Okayama University has sent two students every year to One Young World (OYW), one of the world’s largest youth summits in which next-generation young leaders from more than 190 countries meet together annually. Okayama University is the first Japanese national university to become an official OYW partner. Participants in OYW engage in discussions on a broad range of topics related to the SDGs, including climate change, war and peace, education, human rights, leadership, and global business.
In OYW 2019 held in London, a student of Okayama University, who was admitted to the university as an International Baccalaureate student, was selected as one of the representatives of the world youth in a plenary session titled “One Young World Interfaith Dialogue” and discussed the theme with incumbent leaders on the stage. This is particularly noteworthy, as he is the third Japanese and the first Okayama University student to play this prestigious role in OYW’s history.
