Story of APU

Look through APU’s history, the original intention has never changed. As early as
1990s, the Ritsumeikan organization has developed a strong sense of internationalization and
further envisioned “an institution of global standing, an idea university”. It was also agreed
that the internationalization process should be centered on the concept of the “the Asia
Pacific era”. Thus, APU was born, as a centerpiece of Ritsumeikan fifth long-term plan and a
major centennial project.
Ritsumeikan’s idea was to provide Japanese students a platform to study alongside an
equal number of none-Japanese students, and thereby equip them with the skills to succeed
on international stage without even leaving Japan. But this task was bound to be difficult
because of the lack of precedents. Only by considering the hurdles they may
encounter―language barriers, international economic disparity, international students’
accommodation and so on, the members started to feel faint. However, when almost
everyone―students, professors, parents even the government was doubting this impossible
task, they did it.
APU has started a unique educational system which offers classes in both English and
Japanese. It has avoided that a huge ratio of students is only from adjacent countries like
China and Korea, which goes against the ideal of truly multi-cultural campus, and letting
prospective international students slip through its fingers at the same time.
APU was the pioneer of the dual-language system not only in Japan but in the world.
It has made real contributions to education and training at a global level.
As a world-class educational institution, APU has struggled to achieve the Quality
Education. APU implements tuition fee reduction program and effective learning
environment. Also, APU’s own 2030 vision has perfectly matched with the Quality
Education 2030 vision, including education for sustainable development and global
citizenship, education for equality, and transferable skills.
The establishment of APU was a culture shock in Japan, and it took global education in
Japan to a new stage. The next step is to enable APU students the power that can change our
world. As Oita’s Governor Hiramatsu referred “A campus full of international students
studying alongside Japanese student, a kind of international training ground. Just being there
would be a lesson in itself.”