“Ritsumeikan will pursue the creation of universal values based on academic freedom and search for solutions to the pressing issues facing humankind, with its educational endeavors based on its founding spirit and educational ideals, bearing in mind ‘to believe in the future, to live for the future.’” - The Ritsumeikan Charter

We compiled the ideals and mission of the academy as the Ritsumeikan Charter in July 2006, and we have presented the charter to society while engaging in academy development based on it. Of late, the role we are called on to play as an education and research institution has increased together with the expectations by society of that role. It is in this context that we have engaged in discussions towards the completion of “Academy Vision R2020.” These have been discussions to clarify both the role Ritsumeikan ought to play in the world and community of 2020 and the form the academy will take to realize that role. We have focused on the future based on our long history and our principles, including the founding spirit of Ritsumeikan, education philosophy, the guiding principles of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), and the Ritsumeikan Charter. We present Academy Vision R2020 to everyone concerned with the academy as the fruits of our discussions.

“This is the vision we will pursue towards 2020. We will build a world free of conflict, with stronger connections between people and people, people and society and people and nature.”

In pursuit of this vision, the academy will engage in the fostering of human resources and education and research that will create the future, while overcoming the many boundaries around us, including those of countries and regions, organizations and systems as well as the boundaries within us. Through education and research, we will develop the academy to address the issues confronting humans, communities, the world and the earth.

“Participation” has been the keyword in the formulation of the academy vision. We have determined our course by gathering together the ideas of individuals involved with the academy and discussing those ideas together. The importance of participation was highlighted for us when we looked back at our previous academy development. Work on this 1st draft began in May 2009, and it was created primarily by the Academy Vision Formulation Committee, made up of academy faculty and staff members, through initiatives including the collection of proposals from faculty and staff and discussion sessions at the university, school and office level. Through opinion exchange with the people who form the backbone of the academy, including students and their guardians, graduates and faculty/staff members, the draft will be further developed before being compiled into the Academy Vision.

Along with the formulation of the final Academy Vision, we will begin considering the new mid-term plan for 2011.

With 2020 in mind, we will work together with everyone associated with the academy to create the future Ritsumeikan Academy. We ask for your cooperation in the formulation of Academy Vision R2020.