Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, commonly referred to as APU, is one of the top international private institutions in Japan. Ritsumeikan APU was established in April of 2000 in Beppu, Ōita, Japan. APU was created through the collaboration of three parties from the public and private sectors: Ōita Prefecture, Beppu City and the Ritsumeikan Trust. The university has an enrollment of about 5,850, including approximately 2,900 domestic, and 2,900 international students originating from 90 countries and regions. Half of the 172 full-time faculty members are also foreign nationals who come from more than 30 countries and regions.
Location
The Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is located in Beppu, Ōita, on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan.
Background
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is a member of the Ritsumeikan Trust which includes APU, Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto and Lake Biwa and primary, junior and senior high schools throughout Japan. In the early 1990s the concept of creating an international university in the city of Beppu was first raised by the governor of Ōita Prefecture, Morihiko Hiramatsu, with the then chancellor of the Ritsumeikan Trust in Kyoto, Mr Kawamoto. A chief proponent of the concept and design was Professor Makitaro Hotta. The university opened at Jumonjibaru, north of Beppu City in April 2000.
Campus features
Programs
There are two four-month semesters in one academic year. One semester is divided into two quarters lasting for seven weeks. Most of the classes in APU are carried out on a quarter system. Unlike many other universities, students are accepted for enrollment and graduate twice a year, in spring and fall. APU offers undergraduate studies in subjects including liberal arts such as media studies, language subjects, and Japanese traditional arts. It offers special lecture subjects, which are added to and may change every semester. Students select their own classes and are not restricted to classes in their majors. However, students can only choose classes in their respective curriculum according to their enrollment year, for the curriculum has undergone changes three times since the university was founded. The current undergraduate programs are conducted in the College of International Management and College of Asia Pacific Studies. The College of International Management consists of four areas of study: Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Strategic Management and Organization, Innovation and Economics. The College of Asia Pacific Studies has also established four areas of study: Environment & Development, Hospitality & Tourism, International Relations & Peace Studies, Culture, Society & Media. Furthermore, students must complete compulsory language education credits in either English or Japanese. Specialized post-graduate programs are conducted in the and . The graduate programs are conducted exclusively in English.
Enrollment
As of 1 November 2016 the university has a total enrollment of around 5,850 students, down from the 2009 figure of 6,162. Currently there are 5,553 students in undergraduate programs, 178 at postgraduate level, and 117 non-degree students. The students are equally distributed between APU's two schools, the College of Asia Pacific Studies, and the College of International Management. While 2,904 of these students are domestic Japanese, 2,944 are international students from 90 countries and regions. This ratio is a feature unique to APU amongst Japanese universities; APU is second only to Waseda University in the absolute number of international students enrolled. In terms of country of origin, the majority of international students come from eastern Asia, namely South Korea, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
Facilities
The library provides paper-based as well as electronic media including, academic databases, magazines, newspaper, textbooks, and DVD. Visitors can request media from other Ritsumeikan campuses which will be delivered to the library counter. Recently the library has included other services such as a writing center and meeting spaces for collaborative work. APU has designated smoking areas around campus and near the student dormitories. The rest of the university is smoke-free. As of 2013, APU will implement a new regulation that aims to make the entire university campus a smoke-free environment.
Intercultural awareness
APU has regular country cultural weeks, which help students to learn more about foreign cultures, for example, Vietnamese Week, Chinese Week, Indian Week, Korean Week, Indonesian Week, Nepali Week, Bangladeshi Week, Taiwanese Week, Sri Lanka Week, Thai Week, and Cambodian Week.
Extracurricular activities
There are over 100 student organizations available at APU, which cover categories of sports, academic research, arts, and social organizations. Students are free to join clubs they are interested in, and they can create new ones, too. Examples of student organizations include APU Yosshakoi, PRENGO, APU Wind Orchestra, Muay Thai, and Global Business Leader. Since 2015, APU has also been host to the Global Business Case Competition.
On-campus housing
The on-campus housing, AP House, offers international students the opportunity to live next to the campus for their first year as they learn the ways and customs of life in Japan. Single and shared rooms are available. AP house provides shared facilities and borrowable items to the residents. Support faculty and staff members are on site, in addition to resident assistants recruited from the resident student body. RAs play an important role at AP House by supporting residents and promoting interaction and exchange. They also hold some events such as AP House Entrance Ceremony & Welcome Dinner Party and The AP House "World Festival."
