Ceremony held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Biwako-Kusatsu Campus—Using 30 years of working with the community to power the future
On Sunday, December 1, Ritsumeikan University held a ceremony celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC). This ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on the 30 years of progress achieved under the theme of coexisting with the community and to share our vision for the future.
Since its establishment in 1994, BKC has worked closely with the local community in the areas of education, research, and social outreach, and it has consistently promoted the cultivation of the next generation of leaders. BKC has grown into an academic hub with six colleges and six graduate schools where approximately 14,000 students study. About 200 people attended the ceremony, including Governor of Shiga Prefecture Taizo Mikazuki, Mayor of Kusatsu City Wataru Hashikawa, local residents, and members of the Ritsumeikan Academy. Ritsumeikan officials shared the achievements of the past 30 years and reaffirmed the value of the connections BKC has built with the local community.
In his speech at the beginning of the ceremony, President Yoshio Nakatani declared, "Since its establishment, BKC has pursued education and research in cooperation with the local community and has contributed to solving social issues and promoting regional development. With new facilities slated for completion in fiscal 2025, we will accelerate our efforts to practically apply research outcomes to the real world. We intend to continue working together with the community and contributing to the society of the future."
Next, reflecting on the course of events leading to BKC’s establishment, Chairperson Tomomi Morishima remarked, “Shiga Prefecture will always be Ritsumeikan’s home. We will continue to coexist and prosper with the local community and as we aim to become an internationally recognized next-generation research university." He also expressed his gratitude to the local residents who helped students get through the COVID-19 pandemic and declared that “Ritsumeikan will return the favor and continue to grow along with the community.”
At the reception held after the ceremony, Professor Kentaro Kaneko of the Ritsumeikan Semiconductor Application Research Center (RISA) and Associate Professor Hiroshi Nagaoka of the Earth & Space Exploration Center (ESEC) introduced the advanced research that is being conducted at BKC. There was also a presentation given by the student-led "Beer the 30th–Upcycling Project by Craft Beer," which was undertaken to commemorate the 30th anniversary of BKC and garnered a great deal of interest for its originality and creativity.
At the end of the ceremony, Chairperson Morishima presented certificates of appreciation to companies and community members who have made significant contributions to BKC's development. The reception reaffirmed BKC's commitment to continue working together with the community, and feelings of gratitude and hope for the future filled the venue.
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