Waseda University (早稲田大学, Waseda Daigaku), abbreviated as Sōdai (早大, Sōdai), is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by the motto "independence of learning" (学問の独立, gakumon-no-dokuritsu),. Especially, the School of Political Science and Economics has significant influence on Japanese society. The alumni include six post-war prime ministers and prominent corporate leaders. Currently, seven of the Fortune Global 2007's CEOs are Waseda graduates. Waseda University is a member of Universitas 21, an international network of 21 universities that have a particular focus on research. The university was founded by samurai scholar and Meiji-era politician and former prime minister Ōkuma Shigenobu in 1882, and was designated as a full university in 1902. It started as a college with three departments under the old Japanese system of higher education.