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
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
Communicating with people from different backgrounds on campus
Empathy
After spending time with my Japanese and Chinese friends, I realized that I have learned how to balance life and study.
Resilience
During my PhD journey, I developed resilience through repeated rejections of my research papers for publication. Each rejection was disheartening, but I chose to view them as opportunities to grow. I carefully analyzed reviewers' feedback, sought guidance from my supervisor, and refined my work. One memorable instance involved a paper that was rejected twice. Instead of giving up, I revised it thoroughly and submitted it again, eventually achieving acceptance. This process taught me to persevere, adapt, and embrace challenges, transforming setbacks into stepping stones. These experiences strengthened my ability to recover from failures and continue striving for my goals.
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 am currently pursuing my PhD, and throughout my research, I have faced numerous challenges, including many failed experiments. Living abroad and dealing with the pressures of research, along with concerns about the future, has often left me feeling frustrated. During these difficult times, I have been fortunate to have the unwavering support of my professor, assistant professor, and administrative staff. Their encouraging words and moral support have been invaluable, helping me navigate my research and motivating me to achieve my goals, making life in Japan much easier.
Initiative
I had gotten my journal submissions rejected three times, and learned through self-reflection, retrospection and analysis, how to change my approach and my plan in order to produce work of a sufficient level to get accepted by an appropriate academic journal.
Self-efficacy
I learned that without taking the initiative and dedicating time and effort towards something you want to achieve; you won't ever succeed. I learned to sacrifice short-term gains and pleasurable activities (e.g. wasting time watching TV/YouTube, playing video games, hanging out with friends) for meaningful pursuits, such as my PhD, my job, and the skills I wanted to work on. If you want to achieve something, you just have to work hard at it, every day, and you have to give up the things that would otherwise take up that time.
Initiative
Even though Its very hard to continue my research, I improve my Japanese language and I have friends now to improve way of life.
Multitasking