Vision/Mission
A short written statement of the organization’s goals and philosophies. Can copy and paste here the organization’s current vision/mission statement if there is one.
The school spirit of liberalism and internationalism advocated by Prince Saionji was combined with the ideas of academic freedom and vivacity pursued by Kojuro Nakagawa, and became a tradition of the university.
At Ritsumeikan, our goal is to meet the expectations of the society and to develop human resources that can lead the society. Ritsumeikan University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), and the affiliated schools look to actively promote and utilize the advantages of globalized education and the development of global human resources.
R2020 – A Vision for the Ritsumeikan of 2020
Organization Description/Background
This part should detail the organization’s history so far, including the structure, the origin of the idea of the organization/what it is building upon, how the organization is organized, progress to date, what is unique about the organization and what makes it qualified to succeed.
The Ritsumeikan Academy was founded in 1900 as the Kyoto School of Law and Politics, an evening law school open to working people. The school was founded by Nakagawa Kojuro, former secretary to Prince Saionji Kinmochi, liberal statesman of late 19th and early 20th Century Japan. With Saionji’s blessing, the name was changed to Ritsumeikan Private University in 1913. Following the end of World War II, then university president Suekawa Hiroshi proposed Ritsumeikan’s educational philosophy of Peace and Democracy, based on the Japanese Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education.
The Ritsumeikan Academy has now become an integrated academy with a rich culture of individuality and international awareness accommodating a total of 48,000 students. The current Ritsumeikan Academy has campuses in Hokkaido, Shiga, Kyoto, and Oita and encompasses two universities, four high schools, four junior high schools, and one primary school.
The Ritsumeikan Academy fosters learning and the development of individual talents in order to nurture just and ethical global citizens.
The word ‘ritsumei’ comes from a passage in the Jinxin chapter of the Discourses of Mencius and the passage states that “Some die young, as some live long lives. This is decided by fate. Therefore, one’s duty consists of cultivating one’s mind during this mortal span and thereby establishing one’s destiny.”
Location
Where the headquarters are located as well as other locations where it is present or has influence and how it benefits the organization.
Ritsumeikan University has four campuses and they are located in Kyoto Prefecture (Kinugasa & Suzaku), Shiga Prefecture (BKC), and Osaka Prefecture (OIC).
Leaders
A short explanation of how the organization is led and by whom, including the leader’s relevant background.
The president of Ritsumeikan is Dr. Mikio YOSHIDA.
Staff/Members
A list of the number of staff/members in each area and what they bring to the organization.
At Ritsumeikan University, currently there are 1,269 faculty members and the total number of administrative staff in the Ritsumeikan Trust is 1,425. (as of May 2014)
Highlights
Important dates in the organization’s history that mark its evolution towards the position it is currently in.
Ritsumeikan’s Path to Globalization
1988 – College of International Relations is established
1991 – The introduction of the Academic Exchange Program with the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)
*around 2,000 students have participated in this program
1994 – The introduction of a Dual Undergraduate Degree Program/Dual Masters Degree Program with American University
*around 100 students have participated in this program
2000 – Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is established in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture
2009 – Selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to participate in the Global 30 Program
2014 – A joint bachelor program is established between Ritsumeikan University and Australian National University
2014 – A Joint Department, DUT-RU International School of Information Science and Engineering, is established between Dalian University of Technology and Ritsumeikan University
2014 – Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University were selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as participating institutions in the Top Global University Project