Episode
The eight competencies developed at Ritsumeikan Academy.
We introduce how they are developed through daily experiences, along with diverse episodes.
*These episodes are based on responses actually submitted by students at every level of education—including elementary, junior high, and high school students, as well as university and graduate students—in the Quantitative Survey for Ritsumeikan Academy Competency Framework conducted in the 2024 academic year. Information that could identify individuals has been removed or modified before publication.
Competency
Episode
- Classes
- StudyAbroad
- ExtracurricularActivities
- ClubsAndSocieties
- StudyingOutsideOfClass
- Research
- SchoolEvents
- ExtracurricularLessons
- Community
- Family
- FriendsAndPeers
- TeachersAndMentors
- Goals
- Effort
- Achievement
- Growth
- Collaboration
- SeekingAdvice
- GivingUp
- Worries
- Happiness
- Anxiety
- Confidence
- Change
- EntranceExamsAndQualifications
- JobHuntingAndInternships
- PartTimeJobs
Over the past year at the Intelligence Computer Entertainment Laboratory, I've grown significantly in my ability to set and pursue goals independently. During our lab seminars led by my professor, I consistently pushed beyond assigned tasks. I began proposing my research ideas, designing experiments, and working late into the night to see them through. When faced with setbacks or unexpected results, I didn't give up. Instead, I adjusted my approach and kept going. This self-driven attitude led to several breakthroughs in our game AI projects. My initiative caught the attention of my peers and my professor, who encouraged me to present my findings at a conference. This experience taught me the value of self-motivation and perseverance in academic research.
Initiative
My multitasking skills improved and enabled me to handle problems in a balanced manner. Balancing demanding coursework, research deadlines and personal commitments required careful prioritization and time management. Despite the pressure, I learned to adapt and maintain focus, ensuring each responsibility received adequate attention. Open communication played a vital role in managing overlapping deadlines and responsibilities. Through this experience, I gained confidence in handling complex situations without compromising on quality. The ability to multitask effectively became an important competency that continues to support me in many aspects of my life.
Multitasking
During my two experiences of studying in foreign countries, in the UK and Japan, I had to adapt to the local life and get used to it quickly while I was studying. In terms of language, daily life and learning style. In fact, studying abroad is a very stressful experience in itself. Although familiarising myself with the local customs and ways of interacting with people and learning to use the school's facilities and help were not that difficult in themselves, adapting and solving problems at the same time within a limited period of time was a real new challenge for me. Compared to my first master's degree and my current study life, I have really improved a lot, being able to work independently and efficiently in multiple threads, organising my time and energy rationally, and facing challenges in many aspects at the same time.
Multitasking
Nobody is there to help you, it is you and only you can help yourself.
Resilience
During my PhD journey, I honed my multitasking skills by managing various responsibilities simultaneously. I balanced conducting research, writing papers, attending classes, and participating in conferences while also fulfilling personal obligations. One notable instance was during the preparation for a conference presentation while revising a research paper for resubmission. To manage both effectively, I created a structured schedule, prioritizing tasks based on deadlines and importance. By allocating focused time to each task and maintaining flexibility, I successfully completed both. This experience enhanced my ability to address multiple issues in a well-balanced way, ensuring quality work under tight schedules.
Multitasking
I do not want to share the specific situation or occasion, but I want to express that the support and belief I received from my professor, assistant professor, and one of the administrative staff were truly invaluable. Thanks to their encouragement, I have recovered from my frustration and can believe in myself again.
Self-efficacy
Before coming to APU, I always felt like I needed someone to lead me and I could not complete the task alone. However, when I had experience with both group work and individual work, I found out that I can work more efficiently independently as I can decide things based on my judgment. I gain more self-respect and self-esteem.
Self-efficacy
It was when I learned how to cope with stress and overwhelming feelings when I compared myself to my friends in the same major. It is a fact that I cannot always be as passionate as my friends but I realize that these kinds of things depend on personal preference. I still have tried my best so I have no regret after I failed or succeeded.
Resilience
Since I was a kid, I have always loved talking and playing with other people around me. Back in the days, I spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends and sharing daily events around me with them. We went to each other houses and played card together while talking about our days at school. I was considered as a smart kid back then, especially in English so my friends would come and ask me about English homework. I enjoyed sharing what I knew with them because I found I could be helpful to them. Another thing which I am really good at is giving pieces of advice for relationships. Many of my friends ask me for bits of advice regarding relationships with their loved ones or even disliked ones. I think it is because I am good at listening and I often give them ideas which they never think about. I also do not have much conflicts with anybody as if something goes wrong, I am always the one who say sorry and show attitudes to move toward a better things. I do not like fighting and quarelling against anybody and anythings. That might be because I am afraid to be hurted and hurt other people. My friends tell me I am easy to cry whenever I feel sad. I do not like but also not hate this part of me. Because I do not like the feeling to be hurted and sad so I always careful with words and actions in order not to hurt anyone. And thus that makes me good at talking and building relationships with others. I have always enjoyed playing and chatting with those around me, even as a little child. I used to hang out with my pals a lot and tell them about the things that happened in my life. We visited one other's homes and played cards while discussing our school days. Back then, I was thought to be a bright child, particularly in English, so my buddies would come to me with English homework questions. I discovered that I could be of assistance to them, therefore I appreciated sharing my knowledge with them. My ability to offer relationship counsel is another one of my strong points. A lot of my friends ask me for small pieces of advice about how to interact with their loved ones or even those they don't like. I believe it's because I listen well and frequently offer them options that they would never consider. Additionally, I don't have many disagreements with people since I'm the one who constantly apologizes and adopts a positive outlook in order to make things better. I don't enjoy arguing and fighting with people or things. This may be because I'm scared of getting hurt and hurting other people. According to my friends, I cry easily when I'm depressed. Although I dislike this aspect of myself, I also do not despise it. I always take care with my words and actions to avoid hurting anyone because I dislike the feeling of being unhappy and wounded. As a result, I'm skilled at interacting with people and establishing rapport.
Empathy