Last October, Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, President Mikio Yoshida) signed a dual degree agreement with The Australian National University (ANU), and both parties have been holding discussions in preparation for the establishment of a new college. Having submitted the notification of establishment to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Ritsumeikan University (RU) hereby announces that the decision to establish the College of Global Liberal Arts on Osaka Ibaraki Campus is now official.

The College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA) at RU is the 16th undergraduate college, where the students will learn a new kind of liberal arts that RU has developed for the global age together with the world-class Asia Pacific-centered learning that ANU College of Asia & the Pacific is known for. Over the course of four years, students will study in both Australia and Japan and graduate with degrees from both universities. This will be the first such undergraduate college in Japan whose curriculum is entirely designed around a dual degree program. All classes will be offered in English, and some of the ANU classes will be taught by ANU faculty on Osaka Ibaraki Campus.

RU has actively pursued a policy to globalize its education and research ever since establishing the College of International Relations in 1988. ANU is Australia's leading university, and the College of Asia & the Pacific boasts the largest number of regional experts in the English-speaking world. By virtue of its involvement in the Asia Pacific, the College plays a vital role in enhancing the understanding of the region. In light of RU’s achievements to date, the establishment of GLA is a new attempt at providing a global standard of education.

Name of College: College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA)
Name of Department: Department of Global Liberal Arts
Name of Degree: Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts
Date of Establishment: April 2019
Location: Osaka Ibaraki Campus (Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture)
Enrolment Capacity: 100 students (approximately 30 domestic, 70 international)

(1) All classes (except Japanese language classes) will be taught in English.
(2) Students will learn a new kind of Asia Pacific-centered liberal arts for the global age.
(3) All program students will graduate with two degrees, a Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts from Ritsumeikan University and a Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs from ANU, provided they satisfy both universities’ requirements and complete the requisite number of credits.
(4) Students will study in both Japan and Australia. Students admitted in April will spend their third year studying at ANU, while those admitted in September will study abroad at ANU for one year starting in the second semester of their second year.
(5) Students will gain a deeper understanding of each subject due to active learning. Each course will be generally meeting twice a week and be worth four credits. One of these two classes will feature group work, project-based tutorials, or other kinds of active learning.
(6) Students choose from three main streams of subjects according to their own study goals.
(7) Student learning is backed with ample study support. A permanent Learning Support Office will be established to provide students with the support they need. The faculty and staff both of GLA and ANU will work together to provide students with careful guidance on their courses of study.