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15th June Celebration

On 15th June, we commemorated the 30th anniversary of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

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15th June Celebration

On 15th June, we commemorated the 30th anniversary of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda receiving an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

SATURDAY 15TH JUNE 2024

Leave No One Behind: Humanistic Education for the Flourishing of Each Person

Thirty years ago, in June 1994, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda made his last visit to the United Kingdom. It was on that occasion that he visited Scotland for the first and only time and, on 15th June, had an Honorary Doctorate bestowed on him by the University of Glasgow.

On Saturday 15th June 2024, we celebrated the 30th anniversary to showcase the inspirational efforts of Daisaku Ikeda and the impact of his life as we returned to the true purpose of education: a source of personal dignity and empowerment.

Featuring a diverse agenda, the event explored the idea of humanistic education, in its broadest sense, as a means to inspire and empower people and to connect with our local communities.

The event combined a powerful variety of talks and expressions of culture including: 

Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition

Focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 of quality education, the event featured the Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition.

Find out more here

Dialogues

Including dialogue between young people and education professionals, speakers shared their thoughts on key topics shaping the future of humanistic education.

Cultural Performances

The event also included cultural expressions and artistic displays combining music, dance, art and history.

© Photo by Seikyo Press

Daisaku Ikeda

Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023) was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet who dedicated his life to fostering a lasting culture of peace through dialogue.

As third president of the Soka Gakkai, founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and founder of several international institutions promoting peace, culture and education, he championed the power of dialogue as a central means to addressing global challenges.

This event acknowledged Daisaku Ikeda’s contributions to the field of education for which he was recognised by University of Glasgow.

Honours across the globe

Throughout Daisaku Ikeda’s life, he received more than 405 academic honours from institutions across the globe, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

Click on/touch each flag on the map below to learn more about 45 of the academic honours received by Daisaku Ikeda.

To view the full list of over 405 academic honours, please click here.

Throughout Daisaku Ikeda’s life, he received more than 405 academic honours from institutions across the globe, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow.

Click on/touch each flag on the map below to learn more about 45 of the academic honours received by Daisaku Ikeda. There is also a dropdown box which can be used to view the honour from the list of 45 countries. 

To view the full list of over 405 academic honours, please click here.

Soka Education

Daisaku Ikeda is the founder of the Soka (value-creation) School System, setting the goal of education as the realisation of each student’s happiness by fostering their unique creative potential.

With educational institutions in Asia, South America and USA, the system embraces the educational philosophy developed by the first two Soka Gakkai presidents Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and Josei Toda, with a focus on peace, social contribution and global consciousness.

Soka Gakkai has also founded a number of research institutes since 1962 in Brazil, Japan and USA.

Soka University in California, founded by Daisaku Ikeda

The Connection Between Soka Education and the University of Glasgow