Universidade Católica and Sophia University consolidate relationship with visit and signing of cooperation agreement

"With this visit, we hope to expand the possibilities for cooperation," was with these words that Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of Católica, highlighted the visit of Sophia University, Japan, to the headquarters of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, on March 1. A visit that the President hopes will help "steer and deepen our future cooperation."

The meeting was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which cemented the relationship between the two universities, already partners under SACRU - Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities. As the President stressed, "this research network of catholic universities is growing stronger and Sophia University was here from the start" in 2018, at the headquarters of Católica in Lisbon.

Also Yoshiaki Terumichi, President of Sophia University, stressed the importance of this connection, stating, "what makes Catholic so special iIs that we have already built a strong relationship trough SACRU network." A relationship now strengthened by the signed agreement, which the President believes will lead "a new stage of international cooperation."

Living proof of this long-lasting collaboration is Adriano Freire, alumnus and professor at Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, who received his PhD from Sophia University in 1995. The President of STRAT&EGOS Institute, also present at this meeting, recounted how "the opportunity arose to go to Japan" in 1991. At that time "there was already some cooperation between Católica and Sophia University, in Tokyo, so I took advantage of that connection to study," in the Japanese university, he recalled, proudly holding his diploma.

Of his time at Sophia, Adriano Freire stressed "the concern with education and the openness to the world," as the most positive characteristics of the university, and believes that the two universities share "many similarities". In his words: "we are both humanistic universities, people are at the center of our teaching".

Also attending the meeting were Tetsuo Morishita, Vice President for Global Academic Affairs, and Tomoe Yoshino, Director of the Office of Global Education and Collaboration at Sophia University. The Japanese counterparts met with Peter Hanenberg, Isabel Vasconcelos, José Manuel Pereira de Almeida and Miguel Athayde Marques, Vice-Rectors of Universidade Católica, and Francisco Mendes-Palma, Director of Global Engagement.

Along with the signing of the protocol and the tour of the facilities, there was an opportunity to discuss the future of international cooperation with the heads of International Relations of the various faculties of the Católica.

The visit of Sophia University to Universidade Católica reflects the significance of the enhancement of the educational offer, research work and social positioning of the University and the international recognition of these dimensions.

This visit strengthened the foundations for an effective cooperation, for the production of results throughout the universe of universities, and a programme of activities and work will be pursued in the coming months.