Sophia University, the oldest Jesuit university in Japan, was founded in 1913 and has a history spanning 112 years. The founding of the university can be traced back to 1549, when St. Francis Xavier, upon his first missionary visit to Japan, highly praised the Japanese people's thirst for knowledge. This led to the Jesuits' establishment of the university in Tokyo as a bridge for cultural and intellectual exchange.

This time, Providence University President Dr. Lin Siling, along with Dr. Kelly Chiu from the Office of International Affairs, visited Sophia University. They expressed their gratitude to President Miki Sugimura and Vice President Mariko Iijima for their warm reception. In her speech, President Lin emphasized that Providence University has always adhered to its educational philosophy of "serving society and caring for people," with a focus on love, empathy, and the promotion of cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation. The university is committed to nurturing leaders who are grounded in faith and empathy.

Providence University's educational mission is guided by the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux, who said, "Love the child first, and then teach them." This philosophy directs all of the university's teaching work. In terms of internationalization, Providence University has also achieved significant milestones, ranking fourth in Taiwan's "Most Internationalized Universities" in 2025, and first among private universities.

President Lin pointed out that Providence University places great importance on its collaboration with Sophia University in teaching and research, particularly in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Green Energy. These fields are not only crucial to future technological development but also offer new solutions to global challenges.

Finally, President Lin sincerely invited President Miki Sugimura and all members of Sophia University to visit Providence University in Taiwan. She looks forward to the two universities' collaboration yielding tangible results, laying a solid foundation for future development.