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
This was my first time ever studying economics and at the start i found it challenging but slowly i started learning it. Also it was not easy to adopt to life in japan at the start because of issues like language but so far it has not stopped me from getting used to life in japan. Finding study and home life balance especially in a foreign country made me realise this strength that i have aquired.
Multitasking
When facing many challenges living in Japan, I realized I need to find new approaches to make matter more convenient.
Innovation
I have had to adapt to the differences in the Japanese education system and just living in Japan in general. It was a really big culture shock for me.
Innovation
During my studying abroad, I had much time to think about who am I. And it made me analyze myself.
Self-efficacy
I am already a really empathic person but due to this experience studying my whole masters abroad it really helped to open up even more to other cultures not only coming to my home country but to live in a foreign country together. The experience of being "foreign" as well helps a lot to be more sensitive and empathic to other international and local people. I think while being available to listen to people around me, they really felt heard by someone with maybe similar experiences. One situation was maybe that a friend was having a hard time so I offered her a hug which made her cry. Afterwards she told me that she normally doesn't cry and her reaction was unexpected even for her. She thanked me to be supportive and that she needed that hug more than she expected it. That was really cute and reinforced my intercultural sensivity.
Empathy
While living and studying in japan my friends talks about my behavior and after analyzing it .
Resilience
I was kind of person who can be easily influenced by the words of other. After coming to Japan I learned to analyze the perceptions and learned how to act them emotionally. I realized after being burdened with the tasks I have never experienced before, I gradually started to de clutter the things with best possible alternatives. For example if I have to fill out the form which is written in Japanese that will give me almost headaches but I used Google translate and answer in best possible way. Another example was talking in front of people in class room, I tried my best even with clumsy attempts, gradually I learned that the gravity of the questions or answers are less important than the expressions becasue very few of them will remember what I speak.
Resilience
While starting study here, I was first very pressured how things work here so it took me some time to get used to the system, the people and what was expected of me. After my first semester I became even more aware about myself and trusted my abilities and skills even more than I did already before. A very big contribution was the experience of living abroad as well by my best friend in the UK. Because I am currently working on scholarship applications to stay longer in Japan, I see my path more clearer because I needed to do more reflection on my values I live by and what it can do for my future professional career. Even though I know getting into the scholarships is very difficult I have more insurance and trust in my abilities and skills to find even a way to stay longer in Japan without the scholarship money. It will work out in my way, I am more sure about that. Fortunately, I did not had major set backs to get back up again but the small "failures" or learning experiences in the intercultural context made me really resilient towards everything that I am working on right now as well as my future goals.
Resilience
Through lectures and courses offered by the university, I have learned new things that I found very interesting and view as a great addition to my previous studies in my home country, especially about the interdisciplinary approach to policy-making, Japanese knowledge on disaster management and urban planning. As a result, I am able to adapt the knowledge to my research and studies.
Understanding