On Monday, 20 February 2023, the Pridi Banomyong Library, Tha Prachan campus, was pleased to welcome a visiting group from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is located in Beppu, Ōita, Japan. Beppu is a city in on the island of Kyushu that is famous for its hot springs (onsen). It has eight major geothermal hot spots.
The Times Higher Education website explains,
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) was recently founded in 2000. Three parties from the public and private sectors collaborated to establish the university. These include Oita Prefecture, Beppu City, and Ritsumeikan. The university is one of the top international private institutions in Japan.
There are two undergraduate colleges at the university, the College of Asia Pacific Studies and the College of International Management. The university’s graduate schools also offer programmes in Asia Pacific Studies and Management. Each school and college has a number of courses that specialise in specific areas of both fields.
Student life outside of the classroom is rich and diverse. APU has a variety of extracurricular clubs and events that students can get involved in. Throughout the year the university also hosts a series of multicultural weeks, during which a spotlight is put on a different country each week so that students and staff can celebrate its culture and language. In 2003 APU began its own campus festival, Tenkusai, which features global food stalls, colourful performing arts, and traditional music and dance.
APU is located in Beppu, a city in Ōita Prefecture on the Japanese island of Kyushu. Beppu is a popular tourist destination as a result of its hot spring resorts, which produce more hot spring water than any other Japanese resort. Visitors can also enjoy the city’s range of baths, such as sand baths, steam baths, hot water baths and mud baths. Beppu’s location along the coast makes it the perfect spot for exploring the local beaches. In the surrounding area there are also several mountains to discover.
TU students interested in possible further studies at APU may consult the APU Thailand office page on Facebook at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/aputhailand/
The Declaration on the Occasion of the Opening of APU follows:
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Since the beginning of human history, human beings have attempted to create their own distinctive cultures and develop civilizations in the various regions of the world. They have also had to overcome many constraints and obstacles in order to achieve their goal of living in conditions of freedom, peace and humanity.
The twentieth century was an era of rapid progress and unprecedented advance in the political, economical and cultural fields, as human activity increasingly took place on a global scale. Through the experience of the two World Wars, the United Nations and other international organizations were formed to enhance cooperation in order to maintain peace and to promote international understanding.
Given that the 21st century will see the emergence of a global society, we firmly believe that coexistence between mankind and nature, as well as between diverse cultures, will be indispensable for the peaceful and sustainable development of the Asia Pacific region. This is why we are now establishing a university here, to nurture the young talent and to create a new academic discipline which will help shape the region’s future.
April 1, 2000 therefore marked the birth of the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, based on a vision of freedom, peace and humanity, international mutual understanding, and the future shape of the Asia Pacific region. The establishment of the University at Jumonjibaru, in Beppu City, has been made possible through the cooperation of the people of Beppu and Oita Prefecture, together with many others both within and outside Japan.
Our hope is that it will be a place where the young future leaders from countries and regions throughout the world will come to study together, live together, and understand each other’s cultures and ways of life, in pursuit of goals which are common to all mankind.
The Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is hereby declared open.
April 1, 2000
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On the university website, the APU Educational Objectives are listed as follows:
Common for all Colleges and Graduate Schools
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University University Regulations
The University’s mission is to offer a wide range of knowledge as an academic center in accordance with the general principles and methods of education set forth in the Fundamental Education Law, as well as to teach and research in-depth technical knowledge pertaining to the Asia Pacific region in order to develop students’ intellectual, moral, and practical abilities.
Through its educational and research activities, APU seeks to cultivate the following kinds of graduates.
Japanese with global perspectives and worldviews who can cooperate with peoples of various countries and regions in the spirit of mutual international understanding.
Exchange students who, by learning at a Japanese institute of higher education, have developed a proper understanding of Japan and who are active in the global arena.
Talented individuals who can build amicable and trustworthy relationships between Japan and the countries of the world and contribute to developing the future economies and societies in their respective countries and regions.
College of Asia Pacific Studies
The College of Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate human resources who, upon comprehensive understanding of the diverse political conditions, economies, societies, and cultures of the Asia Pacific region, will (1) achieve basic and advanced knowledge in such areas as global society, environment and development, and tourism, (2) develop language, communication and problem-solving abilities, and (3) through understanding of the diverse problems facing the Asia Pacific, will be able to contribute to sustainable development and coexistence in the region.
College of International Management
The Mission of APM is to cultivate human resources with strong business ethics that will play an active role in resolving management issues at globalizing enterprises and other organizations by imparting fundamental knowledge in management, enhancing intercultural communication skills and upholding cultural diversity.
Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
The Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess specialized knowledge in administration, environment and development economics and have practical problem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies
The Master’s Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess a keen interest in research pertaining to and specialized knowledge and skills in fields including international relations and social and cultural studies, and they will demonstrate the practical problem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy
The Master’s Program in International Cooperation Policy aims to cultivate human resources who will contribute to the sustainable development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region. These individuals will possess a keen interest in research pertaining to and specialized knowledge and skills in fields including administration, environmental studies, development, health science and tourism, and they will demonstrate the practical problem-solving skills required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies
The Doctoral Program in Asia Pacific Studies aims to cultivate advanced researchers and professionals who will contribute to the sustainable development of and coexistence in the Asia Pacific region and achieve an advanced capacity for pioneering new academic disciplines required for the development of the Asia Pacific region.
Graduate School of Management
The Mission of GSM is to cultivate creative well-rounded professionals and leaders who will play a central role in resolving management issues at globalizing enterprises and other organizations by imparting advanced management skills, a good understanding of business ethics and a deep insight into globalization.
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)