Educational Mission and Vision

Ritsumeikan University seeks to promote both rigorous scholarship and individual insights while nurturing just and ethical global citizens. Based upon the university’s founding ideals of Freedom and Innovation and its core educational philosophy of Peace and Democracy, this educational mission furthers our core commitment to, in the words of the great Ritsumeikan postwar chancellor Hiroshi Suekawa, encouraging students to “believe in the future, live for the future.”
Faculty and staff within the various offices and departments of Ritsumeikan University work closely together to support the individualized learning and development of its many students from a diverse array of backgrounds, empowering those students who are the agents in the process of “Creating a Future Beyond Borders.”
Ritsumeikan University is committed to establishing an inclusive learning community. Its members are to learn together and to push one another to excel while they enjoy a comprehensive student experience that encompasses both academic and extracurricular activities. Bachelor’s degree program graduates are expected to demonstrate the following four key skills:
(1) Embrace the values of Peace and Democracy by respecting the diverse values held by others and by emphasizing communication and cooperation;
(2) Innovate existing frameworks and break down restrictive borders by applying the global and local perspectives acquired from a broad general education and studies in a specialized major field, even as they seek out and attempt to solve the problems facing human society, following the values of Freedom and Innovation;
(3) Think and act in a responsible manner based on an awareness of their own individual roles in society and issues discovered within their own lives;
(4) Take actions stemming from lifelong learning as the greatest expression of believing in the future and living for the future.

Embracing the University’s founding ideals of Freedom and Innovation with the goals of Peace and Democracy underlying its core educational philosophy, the various fields of study offered by the Ritsumeikan University Graduate Schools represent progressive education that gives students cutting-edge expertise that they express in research that meets the highest ethical standards.
The Graduate Schools’ aim is to nurture students who will take the initiative backed by a profound knowledge and keen intelligence as they identify and resolve problems that stand in the way of human and social development. The Graduate Schools are committed to, in the words of the great Ritsumeikan postwar chancellor Hiroshi Suekawa, encourage their students to “believe in the future, live for the future.”
Given this mission and these core values, graduates of the Graduate Schools are expected to demonstrate the following four key skills:
(1) Exercise autonomy of thought and action, applying the high ethical standards required of scholars and professionals while giving concrete substance to core ethical values of Peace and Democracy;
(2) Make full use of their expert knowledge, skills, and experience while keeping both global and local perspectives, even as they seek out and attempt to solve the problems facing human society, following the values of Freedom and Innovation;
(3) Think and act collaboratively in a dialogic and interdisciplinary manner, showing both awareness of social responsibility and a respect for diverse values, while simultaneously leading toward creation of knowledge and the accomplishment of goals; and
(4) Take actions stemming from lifelong learning as the greatest expression of believing in the future and living for the future.

March 2, 2018