Partnership with the University of Tokyo on its Global Leadership Program

Sumitomo Corporation has launched a partnership with the University of Tokyo as part of its Global Leadership Program (GLP). We are the first leading partner in this undergraduate program, which aims at developing human resources capable of assuming leading roles in the international community. On December 18, 2018, We hosted Prof. Makoto Gonokami, the president of the University of Tokyo, and a memorandum was signed between him and Masayuki Hyodo, the president and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation.

We have been supporting GLP since its inception in 2013. This is because its purpose deeply resonates with our vision for HR development: nurturing the ability to engage in transverse collaboration based on specialty and design innovative solutions to global issues. Up to now, 338 students have participated GLP-GEfIL(*1), with an alumni organization by GEfIL graduates has also been established.

During the meeting, the two presidents exchanged views on the future of trans-sectoral collaboration. It was an occasion to affirm that Sumitomo Corporation and Japan’s premier university share important values. That is, the University of Tokyo operates the Future Society Initiative (*2) under the strong leadership of Prof. Gonokami to find synergies through its research in various fields so as to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Meanwhile we pursue its activities in line with the “Six Material Issues to Achieve Sustainable Growth with Society” (*3) defined in April 2017 as the company’s fundamental business orientation. There is much optimism about this partnership between the integrated trading company and the top academic institution and what it can achieve to help overcome global challenges for a better and brighter future.

*1 GEfIL :
“Global Education for Innovation & Leadership,” a special program within GLP organized during the last two years of the GLP period

*2 The Future Society Initiative:
A University of Tokyo organization under the direct leadership of its president. It promotes collaborative projects (“Future Society Initiatives”) to contribute to the future of humanity and the planet, as outlined in the university’s visions as a Designated National University Corporation.

*3 The “Six Material Issues to Achieve Sustainable Growth with Society” :
The set of social issues that Sumitomo Corporation Group regards as important and should prioritize addressing through its business activities as well as the challenges Sumitomo Corporation Group needs to overcome in creating solutions