A Space for Exchange and Learning for the Creation of a Global Community

As the international situation surrounding us changes from moment to moment, there is an increasing demand for talented people who can play an active role in global society. At Ritsumeikan University, as a part of our goal for students to engage in international exchange on campus, in 2018 we established the Beyond Borders Plaza (commonly known as the BBP) to create a global community based on the idea of going beyond the various borders that exist within a community such as nationality, language, religion, gender, disability, age, and class. A BBP is located on every campus and is a space that aims to allow students to build connections across such borders and to learn together through language learning and international exchange.

Regarding language learning, for example, there are textbooks in English and five other foreign languages (German, French, Chinese, Spanish, Korean) available in the BBP’s self-study space, so you can learn a language at your own pace. For international exchange, there are events to introduce the cultures of other countries and regions, events to introduce the home universities of study abroad students, study abroad support, and workshops to improve various skills. We have also organized activities such as sporting meets with other organizations, and a charity event to support Ukraine that involved making friendship bracelets. Ritsumeikan University considers BBP a place where students meet and learn together while crossing all kinds of invisible borders like age and gender as well as differences in nationality and language. For example, workshops on LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) are held, and efforts are underway to raise awareness about sexual minorities.