CAP celebrates graduation ceremony at Ritsumeikan University for dual degree program

At the Osaka Ibaraki Campus of Ritsumeikan University in Japan, students from the distinctive undergraduate dual degree program, the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs and Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts, offered by the College of Global Liberal Arts at Ritsumeikan University (RU) and ANU College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University (ANU), donned their caps and gowns to celebrate their graduation.

The ceremony, held on 23 September, celebrated twenty-three students who successfully completed the program, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey.  

Launched in 2019 with its first cohort of students, this four-year program presents undergraduate students with an exceptional opportunity to embark on a dual academic journey in both Japan and Australia. By undertaking this program, students can immerse themselves in two distinct education systems while cultivating a global network of friends and colleagues.

The Australian National University's campus, nestled in the heart of Canberra, helps students establish close connections to the nation's government and political landscape. In contrast, Ritsumeikan University's campus in Japan provides students with unparalleled access to Kyoto's rich traditions and history and the bustling commerce and vibrant energy of Osaka.

The Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs from ANU helps students develop a deep and rich understanding of the Asia Pacific region, and the Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts from RU equips students with the kind of critical, interdisciplinary thinking they need for a rapidly changing world.

Our College Dean, Professor Helen Sullivan, spoke at the graduation ceremony in Japan, commending students for maintaining their educational focus, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

“The world you are inheriting confronts many challenges – climate change, growing global instability, and phenomenal technological change,” Professor Sullivan said.

“We must collectively find a way to navigate these changes and work together to create a sustainable and equitable world. Doing so will require bringing together different disciplines to discover solutions and understand how to adapt them to different contexts. Initiatives like this dual degree program between ANU and Ritsumeikan will help equip you, our next generation of leaders, with the kind of skills and capacities needed to play a productive, successful, and positive role in society.”

With such a unique and desired combination of knowledge and skills acquired through their studies, we are excited to see and hear of the diverse and amazing careers these graduates pursue.

For more information on our undergraduate dual degree program, click here.