About GLA

Message

Professor / Dean

Miki Horie

College of Global Liberal Arts,
Ritsumeikan University

What do you see in the world today? What kind of change do you hope for? What do you want to do to make it happen?

The world today faces complex and unpredictable challenges. However, for young minds, this also presents opportunities to shape a more constructive and equitable future that enhances the well-being of all. To achieve this, we all need to work together by developing intellectual literacy across various disciplines, the ability to critically examine issues, and intercultural competency to collaborate creatively with people from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, beyond simply adapting to societal changes, inclusive leadership skills will also help you transform the community around you to. Don’t just wait for the change. Be the change that you want to see in the world.

The College of Global Liberal Arts provides an inspiring learning platform, particularly for those who seek to grow intellectually and as a person through various forms of cross-cultural collaborative learning. To that end, we collaborate with the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University to offer a dual degree program accredited in both Japan and Australia. In this program, you will have diverse opportunities across multiple disciplines, through which each of you can build your own unique learning path that suits your interests and career goals. Whether you aspire to be an expert in international relations, a global entrepreneur, or a changemaker in your community, the knowledge and experiences you gain here will empower you to take control of your own future.

At GLA, you are not just preparing for the future. You are shaping it with your own style. With fellow students from around the world, the distinguished faculty members across disciplines, and the dedicated efforts of staff behind the scenes, GLA remains committed to helping you realize your full potential.

Professor / Director of Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs

Julien Barbara

College of Asia & the Pacific,
The Australian National University

The Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs is very proud to be working with Ritsumeikan University (RU) on this important educational initiative.

Through this dual degree program, in partnership with RU, we are offering a model for how universities can innovate and cooperate in exciting ways. Students on this program will have the opportunity to study in both Australia and Japan, and receive two degrees – the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs (ANU) and the Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts (RU).

We are living in a time of daunting global challenges including growing global instability, the spread of nuclear weapons, climate change, and the impact of phenomenal technological change. We must collectively find a way to navigate these challenges, and work together to create a sustainable and equitable world. Doing so will require a bringing together of different disciplines to discover the solutions and understand how to adapt them to different contexts. We need to build awareness, understanding and engagement between people and between political communities.

Our dual degree program will produce a new generation of global leaders with the training, expertise, and lived experience to play a productive, successful and positive role in a rapidly changing world. This initiative reflects the close relationship between Australia and Japan, with the program creating even stronger international and interpersonal ties within and beyond Asia and the Pacific regions.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the College of Global Liberal Arts at RU on this exciting new model for education in the 21st century.