On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Ritsumeikan University signed a partnership agreement with V Plus Plus Limited and held a signing ceremony at Suzaku Campus. Attendees included Tadashi Tsukaguchi, CEO and CIO of V Plus Plus Limited, and Ritsumeikan University President Yoshio Nakatani.

Headquartered in Nicosia, Republic of Cyprus, V Plus Plus Limited is an alternative investment fund manager authorized by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD). As CEO and CIO, Mr. Tsukaguchi has sought to serve as a bridge between Japan and Cyprus and contribute to the development of the next generation of professionals equipped with global perspectives on finance and economics. To this end, the company has been working with Ritsumeikan University to develop a highly specialized study abroad program. As one initiative under the agreement, the Global Finance Immersion Program will be held in Cyprus in February 2027, with five Ritsumeikan University students scheduled to participate.

In the Global Finance Immersion Program, students will learn directly from financial professionals and researchers about such topics as the global economy, geopolitics, investment strategies, AI and data analysis, and governance and regulation. Through lectures, quantitative analysis, case studies, simulations drawing on history and geopolitics, and visits to relevant institutions, the program aims to connect academic study with professional practice while developing students’ ability to view an increasingly complex international community from multiple perspectives and to think and make decisions independently. V Plus Plus Limited is also expected to provide financial support for the planning and implementation of the program, as well as for students’ airfare, local accommodation, and other related expenses.

At the signing ceremony, President Nakatani and Mr. Tsukaguchi delivered remarks, after which the agreement was signed and commemorative gifts were presented. President Nakatani described the agreement as an important first step toward jointly creating new value by leveraging the strengths of both parties. He also expressed his hope that, through the Global Finance Immersion Program, students would deepen their expertise and broaden their international perspectives, enabling them to one day serve as bridges linking Japan and Cyprus with the wider international community. Mr. Tsukaguchi emphasized that, in a complex and highly uncertain world, it is important not only to acquire knowledge but also to develop the ability to consider multiple scenarios and translate one’s insights into decisions and action.

Speaking on behalf of the students scheduled to participate in the Global Finance Immersion Program, Kota Ebina (4th year, College of Business Administration) expressed his gratitude for the support he will receive and his desire to deepen his knowledge of finance and investment in an international environment. He also shared his intention to learn proactively from local practitioners and experts while considering Cyprus’s historical and geopolitical background. Upon returning to Japan, he hopes to apply what he learns to his future studies and career, share it with persons both inside and outside of the university, and serve as a bridge for exchange between Japan and Cyprus.

Following the signing ceremony, an informal discussion was held with three of the five students scheduled to participate in the Global Finance Immersion Program who were in attendance that day. The students spoke about their studies, future career aspirations, and expectations for the program, deepening their connections ahead of their departure in February 2027.

Based on this agreement, Ritsumeikan University will deepen its collaboration with V Plus Plus Limited and create learning opportunities that enable students to acquire advanced expertise and international perspectives while developing the ability to independently formulate questions, think, and make decisions in an ever-changing international community.