The Xavier Exchange Student Support program was started in April 2014 between APIC and Sophia University, stemming from the Sophia-APIC Xavier High School Exchange Student Scholarship. The program between Sophia University, APIC, and Xavier High School appoints exchange students from Xavier to Sophia University under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the three members. Under the MoU, students from Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands are admitted regularly to Sophia University where they receive educational support, and help foster relations between Japan and the international community.

During the first term Ms. Mary Helen Mori along with two other students spent time studying hard at Sophia University, and now two new students have joined the group for a total of five students studying at Sophia University starting Fall 2017.

The two new graduate students will be studying at Sophia University Graduate School under the agreement that APIC and the Micronesia Conservation Trust have founded. One of the main purposes for its founding is to develop human resources in the area of environmental protection. APIC has joined hands with MCT and put in effort into programs such as “The Clean Water and Lifestyle Improvement Project” to help protect and improve the Micronesian environment. The program with Sophia University will aim to produce graduates who will be active in shaping environmental policies by providing a high level of field-specific knowledge during their studies.

APIC hopes to provide support to students from the Pacific Islands region who are new to Japan.