Fair Trade
Becoming a Fair Trade University
Sapporo Bunka Senmon Gakuin (Sapporo College of Liberal Arts), the predecessor to Sapporo Gakuin University, was founded in 1946, soon after the end of World War II. At a time when society was still in turmoil, a group of young people, who were not politicians or businessmen, gathered together with a commitment to academic freedom, creative study, and respect for individuality, starting Sapporo Gakuin University in a rented building in the center of Sapporo City. Sapporo Gakuin University has cherished this spirit since its founding, making autonomy, human rights, coexistence, and cooperation the pillars of its university philosophy.
In 2015, the United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to solve the wide-ranging problems that we face today. The four pillars of Sapporo Gakuin University’s philosophy also align with the concept behind the SDGs. Accordingly, Sapporo Gakuin University has made it its new policy to contribute to the SDGs through education.
The first of the SDGs is to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere,” and one way of doing this is fair trade. Sapporo Gakuin University is committed to fair trade as a way of helping to fulfill the SDGs, and hereby adopts this commitment as its charter.
President,
Sapporo Gakuin University
Sapporo Gakuin University Fair Trade Charter
Sapporo Gakuin University, which upholds a university philosophy of “autonomy, human rights, coexistence, and collaboration,” actively supports fair trade, which aims to improve the lives and ensure the independence of producers and workers in developing countries through just and equitable business. Protecting the livelihood of producers and workers in developing countries through fair trade represents an effort to protect their human rights, and as such, the purpose of fair trade aligns closely with the philosophy of the university.
Sapporo Gakuin University will continue to actively incorporate fair trade in its educational and research activities, and will work to encourage and promote its widespread adoption.
Each member of the student body, faculty and staff of Sapporo Gakuin University will strive to maintain a constant awareness of fair trade in their consumer behavior, and will make clear their commitment to human rights, society and the environment.
Sapporo Gakuin University, as an institution of higher education with a responsibility to the local community, is committed to promoting fair trade in the Hokkaido region.