Ritsumeikan announces plan to establish the tentatively named Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space in April 2028, aiming to create one of the largest space-related graduate schools in Japan
On March 23, 2026, Ritsumeikan University (Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; President: Yoshio Nakatani) announced its plan to establish a new graduate school, the tentatively named Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space, which will open in April 2028.
To date, Ritsumeikan has advanced the development of a foundation for next-generation research across multiple fields, including space exploration, satellite data utilization, and space business, through initiatives such as research promotion centered on the Earth & Space Exploration Center (ESEC) and cross-disciplinary educational programs in space management spanning the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The new graduate school will provide interdisciplinary education that integrates science, engineering, and management, focusing on the field of Earth & Planetary Science. In addition, it will be the first graduate school in Japan to include the term “space” in its name (according to a survey conducted by Ritsumeikan University), and it aims to develop advanced professionals who will lead future space exploration and development as one of the largest graduate programs in Japan dedicated to cultivating highly specialized talent in the space field. Please note that the establishment plan for this graduate school is provisional and subject to change.
The global space business market is projected to grow to approximately three times its current size by 2035. In addition to core technologies such as satellites and rockets, new service domains utilizing satellite data are rapidly expanding, placing the space industry in the midst of significant structural transformation. In contrast to these global trends, Japan is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers, as the development of specialized talent capable of handling this market expansion has failed to keep pace.
In response to this demand from society, Ritsumeikan University has taken steps to establish this new graduate program in order to further strengthen its educational and research infrastructure in the field of space science.
Comment from Yoshio Nakatani, President of Ritsumeikan University
In response to the advancing era of space utilization, Ritsumeikan will promote interdisciplinary knowledge and human resources development through the establishment of this new graduate school. As a university that strives to meet the expectations of society, we will steadily advance education and research that contribute to the creation of sustainable value, while also contributing to the development of the academic foundations that will support the society of the future.
Comment from Prof. Shinichi Nakasuka, Prospective Dean of the Graduate School
The space field is currently undergoing a major transition from research to industry, and there is a strong demand for human resources that can integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and lead real-world projects. At this graduate school, we will cultivate the ability to take initiatives from concept to implementation through education grounded in actual space missions and exploration projects, and we will work to develop talent that will support the front lines of space development and utilization.
Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space teaser site(Japanese only)
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