Vision/Mission
Freedom, peace and humanity.
International mutual understanding.
The future shape of the Asia Pacific region.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) first opened its doors in 2000 with these ideals as its foundation. What emerged was an entirely new multicultural learning environment with the aim of creating global leaders across all fields and industries. Now entering its eighteenth year, this goal has not only been reached but exceeded as thousands of students from over 130 countries and regions have come together to learn intercultural coexistence, responsible business leadership, and sustainable development.
Business Description
APU was established with the goal of becoming an international university at a time when internationalization was not a common concept in Japanese higher education. With a student population of nearly 6,000 students from nearly 90 countries and regions enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, multiculturalism is a way of life at APU.
Products/Services
APU has two colleges with undergraduate and graduate programs.
College of Asia Pacific Studies
(Bachelor of Social Science)
Areas of Study:
Environment and Development
Hospitality and Tourism
International Relations and Peace Studies
Culture, Society and Media
College of International Management
(Bachelor of Business Administration)
Areas of Study:
Accounting and Finance
Marketing
Strategic Management and Organization
Innovation and Economics
Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
Master in Asia Pacific Studies (Master of Science)
Divisions:
International Relations
Society and Culture
Master’s in International Cooperation Policy (Master of Science)
Divisions:
International Public Administration
Public Health Management
Sustainability Science
Tourism and Hospitality
Development Economics
Doctor of Philosophy in Asia Pacific Studies (PhD)
Graduate School of Management
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Specialization
Accounting and Finance (AF)
Marketing and Management (MM)
Innovation and Operations Management (IOM)
Japanese Management (JM)
Location
APU is located in Beppu, a picturesque seaside city of 120,000 people surrounded by a dramatic mountainous landscape. The city is famous across Japan and internationally thanks to its abundance of natural hot springs, boasting the second highest amount of natural hot springs water in the world.
Competitive Advantages
The international environment makes APU an outlier in Japan, earning top marks in university rankings that look at diversity and a multicultural environment. As part of this international environment, APU utilizes a dual language system for undergraduate education. Students have the option to take a majority of their coursework in either English or Japanese.
Also unique to Japan, APU offers admissions and graduation twice a year, in the spring and fall. This gives students from areas that utilize a different academic year the flexibility to enter APU on a schedule that fits their educational background.
Fitting the international student body, APU has pursued international standards for its academic programs. APU was the third Japanese university to earn accreditation from AACSB International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—for its business programs in August 2016. In March 2018, APU was the second Japanese university to gain UNWTO.TedQual Certification from the United Nations World Tourism Organization for its Hospitality and Tourism cluster.
Employees
Like the student body, APU's faculty is also half Japanese and half international, representing more than 20 countries and regions.
