Ritsumeikan University to Establish the College of Global Liberal Arts in April 2019 on Osaka Ibaraki Campus

Last October, Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, President Mikio Yoshida) signed a dual degree agreement with The Australian National University (ANU), and both parties have been holding discussions in preparation for the establishment of a new college. Having submitted the notification of establishment to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Ritsumeikan University (RU) hereby announces that the decision to establish the College of Global Liberal Arts on Osaka Ibaraki Campus is now official.

The College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA) at RU is the 16th undergraduate college, where the students will learn a new kind of liberal arts that RU has developed for the global age together with the world-class Asia Pacific-centered learning that ANU College of Asia & the Pacific is known for. Over the course of four years, students will study in both Australia and Japan and graduate with degrees from both universities. This will be the first such undergraduate college in Japan whose curriculum is entirely designed around a dual degree program. All classes will be offered in English, and some of the ANU classes will be taught by ANU faculty on Osaka Ibaraki Campus.

RU has actively pursued a policy to globalize its education and research ever since establishing the College of International Relations in 1988. ANU is Australia's leading university, and the College of Asia & the Pacific boasts the largest number of regional experts in the English-speaking world. By virtue of its involvement in the Asia Pacific, the College plays a vital role in enhancing the understanding of the region. In light of RU's achievements to date, the establishment of GLA is a new attempt at providing a global standard of education.

*For media assistance, contact Shinji Ishikawa at the RU Office of Public Relations on +81 75 813 8126 or email pr-web@st.ritsumei.ac.jp

About the College of Global Liberal Arts at Ritsumeikan University
Name of College: College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA)
Name of Department: Department of Global Liberal Arts
Name of Degree: Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts
Date of Establishment: April 2019
Location: Osaka Ibaraki Campus (Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture)
Enrolment Capacity: 100 students (approximately 30 domestic, 70 international)
<Features of Learning at GLA>
(1) All classes (except Japanese language classes) will be taught in English.
(2) Students will learn a new kind of Asia Pacific-centered liberal arts for the global age.
(3) All program students will graduate with two degrees, a Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts from Ritsumeikan University and a Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs from ANU, provided they satisfy both universities' requirements and complete the requisite number of credits.
(4) Students will study in both Japan and Australia. Students admitted in April will spend their third year studying at ANU, while those admitted in September will study abroad at ANU for one year starting in the second semester of their second year.
(5) Students will gain a deeper understanding of each subject due to active learning. Each course will be generally meeting twice a week and be worth four credits. One of these two classes will feature group work, project-based tutorials, or other kinds of active learning.
(6) Students choose from three main streams of subjects according to their own study goals.
(7) Student learning is backed with ample study support. A permanent Learning Support Office will be established to provide students with the support they need. The faculty and staff both of GLA and ANU will work together to provide students with careful guidance on their courses of study.
<Expected Career Paths>
Further study at professional schools or research graduate schools in English-speaking countries (with an eye on working as professionals)
Companies that enable graduates to exercise their practical skills on the global stage

Ritsumeikan University
Ritsumeikan University (RU) is a leading private university in Japan, with 15 undergraduate schools and 22 graduate schools spread across four campuses in Kyoto, Shiga, and Osaka Prefectures. RU constantly innovates in the aim of achieving world-class education and research. In 2014, RU was selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for its Top Global University Project. Japan has around 800 universities, but only 37 have been selected for the project, which shows RU is highly regarded for its track record in globalization of education and research.

About The Australian National University
Located in the Australian capital of Canberra, the Australian National University is one of the world's leading universities. Its location means it has close ties with the government of Australia, and it prides itself in its rich and unique history as an intellectual hub for the Australian people. ANU places a strong focus on research, both as an investment and to contribute to its teaching. In turn, its students are sought after by companies and organizations the world over for their understanding of complex contemporary issues and the insight and creativity required to find solutions thereto.

ANU College of Asia & the Pacific
The ANU College of Asia & the Pacific (CAP) is a global centre of excellence in research, teaching and influence on Asia and the Pacific. The College hosts the largest number of regional experts and specialist academic programs in the English-speaking world, and plays a vital role in informing public policy and Australia's intellectual engagement with the societies, cultures and economies of Asia and the Pacific. Although the College remains unique for its regional focus, it also has an unwavering commitment to disciplinary strength, particularly in political science, economics, history, anthropology, law, archaeology and linguistics, with an enviable international standing across all these disciplines. With the College's focus on Asia and the Pacific more relevant now than ever, ANU is indisputably the best place to prepare the next generation of regional specialists for the challenges of the Asian century.