On Monday, September 23, the Ritsumeikan University Undergraduate?Graduate School Spring Graduation Ceremony 2013 was held at Suzaku Campus. There, 20 students from the College of International Relations and 20 students from the Graduate School of International Relations were awarded Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.
At the University-wide graduation ceremony, Ms. Erin Chandler (U.S.A) gave a speech as the graduate student representative. Ms. Isabel Cabana Rojas (Chile) also gave a speech as graduate/undergraduate student representative at the departmental ceremony. Many family members and friends of graduates, faculty and staff members were there to celebrate. Graduates will soon start their new careers here in Japan and around the world.

From July 23 to 27, visiting professor Yukio Takasu taught an intensive course for students in the Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR). The course entitled "International Organizations", targeted both international and Japanese students. Students studied the roles of International Organizations, functioning of UN system and global governance. The course was conducted with a wide range of students from  different cultural backgrounds including Japan, Canada, Ukraine, U.S.A., Djibouti, Laos, Vietnam and Korea. 

Professor TAKASU serves as Under-Secretary-General, United Nations. He has been teaching at the Graduate School of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University since 2011.

Please visit the GSIR website is here
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng

On Friday, July 12, a special lecture titled "An American Academic's View of Postwar U.S.-Japan Relations, with a Focus on Bilateral 'Territorial' Issues" with Professor Robert D. Eldridge was held on the Kinugasa Campus, co-hosted by the Graduate School of International Relations and the R-GIRO research program, "Towards New Peace Studies."

Dr. Robert D. Eldridge is a visiting researcher from Okinawa International University. His writings on the diplomatic history of American involvement in postwar bilateral "territorial issues" with Japan have been called "the gold standard" by a former U.S. diplomat and commentator.
 
Referring his very unique research projects, Professor Eldridge introduced some new, impressive historical revelations to analyze "territorial issues" with Japan. Lastly, he insisted that it is important to provide adequate time to scholars at universities because Japan's diplomatic challenges today arise in part from its weak intellectual presence on the world stage.

More than 30 students and faculty members filled the room. Listening attentively to his strong arguments, participants asked questions one after another and enjoyed the lively discussions.

Graduate School of International Relations
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng

R-GIRO research program "Towards New Peace Studies."
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/r-giro/eng/projects/peace/peace_studies.html/

On Tuesday, June 18, a workshop titled “Global Governance and NGO: Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) negotiations at the United Nations” was held on Kinugasa Campus, co-hosted by the Graduate School of International Relations and the R-GIRO research program, “Towards New Peace Studies.”

In the workshop, Ms. Midori Natsuki, Policy Officer for Arms Control and Humanitarian and Security Policy of Oxfam Japan, delivered a lecture which focused on the history of international arms trade control and the inside story of ATT negotiations at the U.N. where she participated.

The lecture provided insight on how national interests of member states affect negotiations and the difficulty of building consensus among members. The lecture also explained the role of NGOs and press reports during negotiations.

More than 30 students and faculty members filled the room. Listening attentively to Ms. Natsuki’s cutting-edge arguments, participants asked questions one after another and enjoyed the lively discussions.



Graduate School of International Relations 

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng

R-GIRO research program “Towards New Peace Studies.”

https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/r-giro/eng/projects/peace/peace_studies.html/

A special lecture titled “The UN and the environment” was held on Monday, June 10th at our Kinugasa Campus with Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Memon (Programme Officer at the International Environmental Technology Centre, United Nations Environment Programme). The event was, co-hosted by the Graduate School of International Relations, and the Institute of Humanities, Human and Social Science, Global Civil Society Research Group.

Dr. Memon holds a doctorate in Environmental and Resource Economics and Management and has been working for the UNDP’s International Environmental Technology Centre since 2005.  More than 30 students and faculty members from College/Graduate School of International Relations attended this special seminar. Q/A session was held at the end of the lecture.  

The College of International Relations and the Graduate School of International Relations have expanded the cooperation with International Organizations to enhance its research and educational program.   

Institute of Humanities, Human and Social Science
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/re/k-rsc/hss/english/

College of International Relations
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/ir/eng

Global Studies Major
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eng/ir/

Graduate School of International Relations
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng

From May 21 to 23, Ritsumeikan University's Graduate School of International Relations held the Oral Presentation of Thesis Proposal (1st year Master's students: 2nd semester) and the Interim Oral Presentation (2nd+ year Master's students: 4th semester). Faculty and graduate students join together to comment on and exchange various opinions regarding the students' research ideas. Through this, students can reconfirm their research goals and develop new ideas and concepts. This semester, 31 students presented their research topics. The oral presentations were a great success with many graduate students in attendance.

　　On Friday, April 12, a special lecture titled “The Remaking of Asia – What does the Shift of Power from the West to the East Portend?” featuring Pankaj Mishra, a world famous Indian essayist and Prof. Jeff Kingston, Temple University Japan was held at Kinugasa Campus, co-hosted by Graduate School of International Relations and R-GIRO research program “Towards New Peace Studies”.
    In the lecture, several issues were discussed such as the twentieth century being defined by the political and intellectual awakening of Asia, the spotlight on China and India following Japan as rising powers in recent years, the idea that these Asian countries are not necessarily aspiring to be the “next” United States, but rather  determined to make their mark in the global arena without succumbing to powerful Western influences, and the rise of Asian powers calling into question the notion that development and modernization are equated with Westernization.
    About 60 participants, including students and teachers, attended the lecture. Participants actively discussed the question raised by Mr. Pankaj, “What does the Shift of Power from the West to the East Portend?”

On April 2, 2013, African Development Bank (AfDB) staff members visited Ritsumeikan University.
Masahiro Kan, Japanese Executive Director of AfDB and other staff members met with our faculty members of International Relations and also participated in a special discussion session for graduate students from China, Japan and African countries.      
During the session, graduate students and AfDB staff members enjoyed discussion on career development, students’ research areas and AfDB’s activities.
The Graduate School of International Relations offers “International Organizations Workshop” for students who seek a career in international cooperation and development. 
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng/education/first/feature.html/

African Development Bank (AfDB)
http://www.afdb.org/en/

On Tuesday, December 25, 2012, Graduate School of International Relations invited　HAYASHI, Nobumitsu, former Executive Director for Japan, World Bank and held a special lecture, “Evolving Role of the World Bank Group and Japan's Partnership.”  Undergraduate and Graduate students, including many international students and faculty members, attended to the seminar.  At the end of the seminar, a Q/A session was held and both undergraduate and graduate students actively participated.

The International Organization Seminar was established for students who aspire to work in international organizations and international cooperation, special lectures are held by guest lecturers who are currently working in international organizations and active in the field. Special seminar is also open to undergraduate students. The English-based “International Organization Seminar” started from this semester.

 International Organization Seminar  https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng/education/first/feature.html/

 

Our office will be closed from December 26, 2012 to January 6, 2013 for winter holidays.
We will be back in the office on Monday, January 7, 2013.

We are sorry for the inconvenience we may cause.

The International Studies Association of Ritsumeikan University has started the bi-weekly “IR Brown Bag Seminar” in English for its undergraduate and graduate students.

The new IR Brown Bag seminar offers International Relations students the opportunity to discuss current international affairs in an informal setting. Held every second week during lunch time, these seminars are a student-led initiative aimed at providing:

・an avenue for students to discuss and learn more about IR current affairs

・a new forum for students to meet other international/Japanese IR students

・an informal platform for students to practice debating skills


During each seminar, one student will briefly prepare and present the main topic of discussion and then lead the discussion. In this fall semester, students are discussing topics such as “Environmental Sustainability in Japan: A Post 3.11 Analysis”, “Mali Crisis: Mali Crisis: A new base for Islamic terrorists?” and “Training for Torture: The School of the America” The Graduate School of International Relations started its English-based program, GCP in 2003. In addition, the College of International Relations’ recently established the English-based “Global Studies Major” in 2011.

Many of our Japanese and international students are now studying in global environments. In the next Brown bag Seminar, students will discuss on following topic, “The Media and the Right to Privacy: How far should the Media go?”


Link: College of International Relations, Global Studies Major
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eng/ir/

Link: Graduate School of International Relations
  https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng/

On Tuesday, December 11, the Graduate School of International Relations held the "Field Research Report Session."
Since the establishment of the Graduate School of International Relations, we have emphasized internship, study and research and starting in 2009, began Field Research as a part of the Graduate School GP Program "to develop ready-to-work human resources in global cooperation." Along with developing the GP program, we established the "Field Research・Study Activity Promotion" to provide positive support for graduate students who conduct their research in the field.  
In the field research report session, four graduate students who conducted field research in Philippines, Ireland, Thailand and Cambodia, reported each of their research characteristics and results, tasks and advice for their junior fellows. In addition to Prof. Masahiko Koyama, Asso. Prof. Masahiko Matsuda, faculty members from the Graduate School of International Relations, Ms. Miwa Okura who is the instructor of the Field Research class, and each presenter's academic advisors, many graduate students and graduate students also exchanged comments and shared their research results. The Graduate School of International Relations will continue to support Field Research Study in the future.   

Field Research Support
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsir/eng/education/first/feature.html/

On Friday, December 7, the Graduate School of International held the "workshop on Research Database" for graduate students. (Instructor: Asso. Prof. Ritsuko Kawamura)
At this workshop, Students learned the usage of the"RUNNERS." RUNNERS Discovery is the library collection of Ritsumeikan University Library and　Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Library, students can search for e-Journals, e-Book together. Appropriate usage of the academic database/ articles is essential for all researchers, so participants worked hard on the workshop.  　 

Ritsumeikan University Library
https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/mr/lib/index_e.html