We are excited to announce our new cooperation agreement with Soka University of America. Due to our common academic, philosophical and educational interests, Soka University of America and the Earth Charter International entered a new partnership, which will open opportunities to collaborate in fostering education for sustainable development, promoting the importance of global ethics and cultivating awareness of the Earth Charter document and its many applications in building a more just, sustainable and peaceful world.
On 5 September 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between President Edward Feasel of Soka University of America (SUA) and Mirian Vilela of Earth Charter International (ECI). For two days, both Mirian Vilela and Michael Bracken, Chair of ECI, engaged in constructive dialogue with faculty and students of SUA at their beautiful campus located in Aliso Viejo, California.
Our new partnership builds on our common interest in strengthening efforts in the areas of internationalization of higher education, global citizenship education, education for sustainable development and nurturing values and ethics through higher education. It creates a strong foundation for developing a long-term collaboration in the following areas:
- ECI hosting a Learning Cluster program in Costa Rica for SUA students
- SUA students participating in ECI education programmes such as our LSE class
- SUA academic and administrative staff utilizing ECI programs for professional development
With the inspiring mission “to foster a steady stream of global citizens committed to living a contributive life,” Soka University of America is a private, nonprofit, four-year liberal arts college and graduate school located on 103 acres in Aliso Viejo, California. Located three miles from the Pacific coast, SUA is in the heart of Southern California’s abundance of cultural, educational, sporting, and adventure opportunities.
Soka University of America has a unique commitment to the ongoing process of integrating sustainability within the university’s education programmes, operations and campus. In alignment with their mission of creating citizens committed to fostering global change, all members of the SUA community – students, faculty, and staff – are encouraged to be actively engaged in incorporating sustainable practices in all areas of university activities, including teaching, research, planning, operations, and student engagement.
We look forward to developing our collaborative partnership with SUA for the mutual benefit of all parties.