Ritsumeikan University's Progress toward Internationalization

Note: Programs written below do not cover all our activities.

Late 1980s to early 1990s/ The first stage of internationalization

Creating an international hub centered around College of International Relations

1985 ・Established the International Center
1987 ・Set up foreign exchange programs
・Started sending students to overseas seminars
1988 ・Established College of International Relations
・Founded the Kyoto United Nations Depository Library
・Established Institute of International Relations and Area Studies
・Started accepting short-term (1 year) exchange students
1989 ・Established the International Institute of Language and Culture Studies
1991 ・Created the "UBC-JP" Joint Program with the University of British Columbia, Canada (UBC)
・Established an overseas office at UBC
1992 ・Established Graduate School of International Relations
・Set up the Dual Master's Degree Program with American University (DMDP)
・Established an international educational dormitory at UBC
・Founded Kyoto Museum for World Peace
・Established the Extension Center to start providing TOEFL® Courses, etc.
1993 ・Established the Foreign Language Center
1994 ・Set up the Dual Undergraduate Degree Program with American University (DUDP)

Late 1990s to early 2000s/ The second stage of internationalization

Developing and enhancing international educational programs across the entire university

1995 ・Organized the World University Students' Peace Summit
1998 ・Established the World Peace Development Center
1999 ・Started offering cross-cultural seminars
2000 ・Established Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Beppu, Oita)
・Established the "Inter-Faculty Institute for International Studies"
2001 ・Started offering a Master's Program in English (International Program in Advanced Industrial Technology) through Graduate School of Science and Engineering
2002 ・Started offering a Master's Program (Master's Program in Economic Development) in English through Graduate School of Economics
・Established the Center for Language Acquisition (CLA)
2003 ・Created the "Global Cooperation Program" within Graduate School of International Relations
2004 ・Started offering a Master's Program in English through College of Policy Science
2005 ・Created the "JWP (Japan and World Perspectives Program)" within the Inter-Faculty Institute for International Studies
・Established "The Confucius Institute"

Late 2000s to present/ The third stage of internationalization

Developing multileveled international education through all-faculty programs while each college accelerates the internationalization of its educational content; and
Promoting international education and exchange through extra-curricular activities as well as core curricula

2006 ・Created Department of International Economics in College of Economics
・Created Department of International Business Administration in College of Business Administration
・Set up the "Global Business Leadership Program (GBLP)" in College of Business Administration
・Created the "Business Studies Abroad"program in College of Business Administration
・College of Information Science and Engineering began an ODA project "Strengthening the Capacity of ITSS Education at Hanoi University of Technology"
2007 ・Set up the "Overseas IT Training Program" in College of Information Science and Engineering
・Created the "Global-ready Graduate Program" in Department of Science and Engineering
2008 ・Created the "Advanced Course for International Justice" in College of Law
・Created the "Project-based English Program" in College of Life Sciences and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
2009 ・Set up the "Global Gateway Program (GGP)" to support study abroad activities
・Set up the "Language Communication Program" in College of Letters
・Selected for the "Global 30 (G30) Project" by the Japanese Government to nurture internationally competent individuals
2010 ・Started offering the "English Diploma Course" in College of Science and Engineering
・Created the "Project-based English Program" in College of Sports and Health Science
・Set up the "Global Human Resource Development Program through Career Support"
・Established the Ritsumeikan UK Office
・Established the Ritsumeikan India Office
2011 ・Created "Global Studies Major" in College of International Relations
・"Campus Asia Program" in College of Letters was selected for the "Inter-University Exchange Project" by the Japanese Government
2012 ・Created "Global Focus", an educational model to offer more international learning in College of Social Sciences
・College of Information Science and Engineering was selected for the "Go Global Japan Project" by the Japanese Government
・Joined the "Japan-UK Research and Education Network for Knowledge Economy Initiatives (RENKEI)"
2013 ・Founded "DUT-RU International School of Information Science and Engineering" with the Dalian University of Technology
・Started offering "Community and Regional Policy Science Major" in College of Policy Science
・Colleges of Policy Science, International Relations, Letters, Economics, and Business Administration were selected for the "Re-Inventing Japan Project" by the Japanese Government
2014 ・Created the "Global Athletic Trainer Program" in College of Sports and Health Science
・Selected for the "Top Global University Project" by the Japanese Government
・Colleges and Graduate Schools of Science and Engineering, Information Science and Engineering, and Life Sciences were selected for the "Re-Inventing Japan Project" by the Japanese Government 
2015 ・Founded Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC)
・Set up the "Global and Japanese Perspectives Program" in Graduate School of International Relations      
2016 ・"Campus Asia Program" in College of Letters was selected for the "Inter-University Exchange Project" by the Japanese Government 
2017 ・Set up the "Information Systems Science and Engineering Program" in the College of Information Science and Engineering
・Established the Ritsumeikan University Beijing Office
 ・Established the Ritsumeikan University Vietnam Office (Renamed to Ritsumeikan University ASEAN Office in July 2020)      
2018 ・Created the “American University Ritsumeikan University Joint Degree Program” in the College of International Relations 
2019 ・Established the College of Global Liberal Arts offering the Dual Degree Program together with the Australian National University (ANU) Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs
・Established the Ritsumeikan University Washington, D.C. Office 
2020 ・Set up the "International Studies and English Communication Program" , the "Language and Communication Program" in the College of Letters 
2021 ・"Campus Asia Program" in College of Letters was selected for the "Inter-University Exchange Project" by the Japanese Government

page top