Member Universities

Ritsumeikan University, Japan

 

About the University

Ritsumeikan University (RU) is a private university located in Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and forms part of the Ritsumeikan Academy which consists of two universities, four senior and junior high schools, and one primary school, representing a total of 49,000 students. As one of the most internationally-oriented institutions in Japan, Ritsumeikan seeks to develop the individual talents of its students while fostering just and ethical global citizens.

Recently the international initiatives underway at RU received further impetus when RU was selected to be part of the Ministry of Education’s Global 30 program. As one of just six private universities in Japan selected for the program, RU has committed itself to more than tripling its number of international students and increasing the number of English-taught degree courses at RU to a total of 11 by 2020.

Ritsumeikan University has three campuses in the Kyoto and Shiga area: Kinugasa Campus, Biwako-Kusatsu Campus and Suzaku Campus.

Kinugasa Campus is home to six colleges and eight graduate schools in the liberal arts. Surrounded by historic temples, such as the Golden Pavilion and Ryoan-ji, Kinugasa Campus provides a serene environment for research and education.

Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC), located in Shiga prefecture, was established as an education and research center in 1994 with the aim of creating a world-class campus that integrates the humanities and sciences. The faculty and staff at BKC are striving to develop a diverse education and research system that goes beyond existing academic fields, while also pursuing the creation of new industries through industry-government-academia collaboration and community involvement. BKC is home to six undergraduate colleges and four graduate schools, including the newly established Colleges of Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Located in the center of downtown Kyoto near historic Nijo Castle, Suzaku Campus, established in September 2006, hosts the School of Law and the Graduate Schools of Management and Public Policy, as well as the Ritsumeikan Academy headquarters.

In the year 2000, the Ritsumeikan Academy established Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. APU now has nearly 6,000 students from over 80 different countries worldwide and has become known for its academic excellence and multicultural campus.

 

Location

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years and is often referred to as the heart of Japanese culture. With its more than 2000 temples and shrines, 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, modern museums & galleries, Japanese gardens and delicate Kyoto cuisine, the city provides seemingly endless discoveries for the adventurous visitor. Located in the Yamashiro basin, Kyoto is surrounded on three sides by low-lying mountains which provide a beautiful backdrop for the changing seasons and allow for peaceful retreats from the bustling downtown shopping area.

 

Research Strengths

At Ritsumeikan University, four world-class research organizations oversee a wide range of research institutes and centers. Kinugasa Research Organization primarily focuses on the humanities, social sciences, international & intercultural relations, and education. In contrast, the BKC Research Organization of Social Sciences seeks to integrate the development of new technologies and business studies in order to promote collaboration with industry and government. The Research Organization of Science and Engineering, also at BKC, focuses on eco-technology, robotics, health and sports, advanced materials, environmental management, and microsystem technology. Finally, the Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization (R-GIRO) concentrates on disaster mitigation and sustainability science.

The Japanese Ministry of Education has designated the following three Ritsumeikan University research centers as Global Centers of Excellence (as part of the Global COE Program):

• Digital Humanities Center for Japanese Arts and Cultures
• Center of “Ars Vivendi: Forms of Human Life and Survival”
• Global COE for Education, Research and Development of Strategy on Disaster Mitigation of Cultural Heritage and Historic Cities (Global-DMUCH)

 

Language/s of Instruction

Japanese and English