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
My friends tell me that I need to see things from different angles when things are difficult.
Understanding
Last two semesters, I took courses that were very teamwork heavy, and I had a fair share between good teamwork experiences and terrible ones. Working with responsible and insightful peers enabled me to learn more not about the topic the team has to cover but also new perspectives and skills from my friends. Working with irresponsible and lackluster teammates, however, sharpened my leadership skills and my resilience as I worked alone and carried the teamwork most of the time, despite motivating and calling on my teammates.
Teamwork
I felt that bad teammates in projects are not that bad but I realized that by relying less on them and more on others, the project moved forward a lot better and quicker.
Teamwork
I feel like this past year, and specifically these past 2 semesters, a lot have happened to me. I took on harder courses and I had to move out of the dorm and navigate house-hunting and moving as an international student with low Japanese proficiency. Additionally, I faced a few relationship struggles and had to cut off a few friends due to conflicts in mindset and their behaviors. All of these struggles were happing around June to August - also a time in which mid-terms and finals at school were conducted. I was very stressed, about school, finding a part-time job, finding a house and dealing with toxic friends. Retrospectively, I am impressed I was able to pull myself through such situations. I suppose I could do so by setting more realistic academic goals after periods of burnout, looking for help for house-hunting from Japanese-proficient friends and talking to - cutting off toxic friends. My life and my decisions during this period, has reinforced my resilience as an international in Japan.
Resilience
Before joining university I attended a Japanese comprehensive high school which ment that I didn't have many chances or opportunities to work as a team so I didn't have much experience working in groups. The first few times that I worked in a group I didn't know what to do and I could say wasn't a very good team member and might have brought my team down. I asked a friend on how to work better in groups and they told me that I had to listen and try to communicate better. After doing this I saw a big increase in the efficiency of my work while in a group and I became a better team mate.
Teamwork
This skill has been influenced by many people: my classmates, senpai and professor. It happened gradually and I realize such while doing this survey .
Innovation
I realized the competency that i had acquired was resilience was during the time around my exams. During the exam period there were many things that i had to study and i didn't know what to do. Instead of giving up and just failing the exams or getting a bad score, I continued to study hard and asked my professors, seniors and friends when i didn't understand something. I am someone who usually finds it hard to concentrate on tasks so this was very difficult to me. By asking my teachers and not giving up in the early stages I got good scores on my exams and i hope that translates to a good grade at the end of the semester.
Resilience
People helped me decide whats best for me and what I need to do and when I need to do it, mostly seniors and other friends who have more experience than me.
Empathy
When my friends asking me for advice, I can see how I can put myself in their shoes as before I find it difficult to think emotionally.
Empathy