From March 30 to April 8, 2026, SSP OIC organized the “General Consultation Sessions” for incoming students at Ritsumeikan University’s Osaka Ibaraki Campus (OIC). These sessions aimed to ease various concerns and anxieties about university life, such as how to plan course schedules, something many new students struggle with at the beginning, as well as questions about clubs and part-time jobs. We were pleased to see that the event was once again very well received this year, with a total of 576 new students participating.
Although this is an annual event, the 2026 academic year marked a major transition as the university switched its primary platform from manaba+R to moodle+R. As a result, there were many updates in procedures such as how to check the syllabus and how to complete tentative course registration. Many peer supporters felt uncertain before the event due to these changes. Therefore, we held pre-event meetings to share updated information and prepare for questions from new students.
(Poster made by SSP peer supporter)
During the consultation sessions co-hosted with the Academic Affairs Office, we received many questions related to classes, such as how to apply for lottery-based courses and how to build a timetable. Many new students felt anxious about registering for courses for the first time, but we were able to support them by searching the syllabus together, helping them choose classes, and checking the number of required credits using the Academic Handbook. We received comments such as “I was able to make my schedule thanks to your help” and “I’m glad I came to consult!” which made us realize that we were able to support new students even in a small way. It also reminded us of the value and fulfillment of being SSP peer supporters. In addition, we were able to provide concrete advice based on our own experiences when asked about recommended clubs and how to spend free periods.
(Scene from the consultation session)
Approximately 200 students attended the consultation sessions hosted by SSP. By holding the event in Room 8, we were able to assist many students who happened to be passing by. The most frequent questions involved the difference between lottery-based courses, tentative registration, and final registration, as well as the overall timeline for finalizing schedules. We took the time to provide personalized support, helping students who were unsure how to plan their schedules, or those who did not get selected for lottery-based courses, to reconsider their course options. Specifically, in the sessions for the College of Business Administration, we noticed a high level of interest in bookkeeping certification courses. Beyond academic topics, we also answered questions about health checkup appointments and club activities. Rather than simply giving one-sided advice, we once again realized the importance of supporting new students in a way that helps them solve problems independently. Moving forward, we will continue to reflect on this experience and strive to organize even better consultation sessions to support new students.
This year, in order to answer as many questions as possible, we also collected questions through Google Forms on Instagram and responded to them. Although this initiative was conducted last year, we received even more questions this year, due to the increase in our Instagram follow. Also, we strongly felt that the reach of our information dissemination had expanded. As a result, we were able to support a wider range of students by helping address their concerns. We received many questions again this year, especially regarding course registration, such as “Where can I check lottery-based courses?” and “When does tentative registration start?” One reason why so many questions related to course registration were submitted may be that many students were confused by the change in platforms from manaba+R to moodle+R. We believe there was also steady demand from students who could not attend the in-person consultation session or who felt anxious about asking questions face-to-face. In the future, we would like to continue this initiative by preparing answers to frequently asked questions in advance and improving our support system, such as increasing the number of members available to respond.
(Online Support: Q&A via Instagram)
Through this year’s consultation sessions, we found that the transition from manaba+R to moodle+R caused confusion not only for new students but also for peer supporters while responding to questions. Since systems related to course registration and university platforms may continue to change, we felt it is essential for peer supporters to confirm and share updated information with each other beforehand. In addition, some faculty-specific consultation sessions were not able to fully accommodate the large number of students, which highlighted the need to improve our organizational system, including securing sufficient staff members. Furthermore, as we received many questions through Instagram in addition to the consultation sessions, we would like to work together not only with the Instagram team but with all peer supporters to respond to questions more quickly and efficiently.
Based on these experiences, we believe it is essential for the next academic year to prepare FAQs in advance, strengthen knowledge sharing among members, and expand our support system. In addition, we realized the importance of not only answering questions, but also identifying where students tend to struggle and using that understanding to provide clearer and more accessible information. Moving forward, we would like to continue peer support activities that meet diverse needs by making use of the advantages of both in-person and online support.
SSP provides essential university life tips, event info, and support tools via the STUDENT PORTAL and our Instagram (@ritsumeikan_ssp_oic). Check them out to make the most of your campus life!
Reported by:
Hara and Yokomi (SSP Peer Supporters, OIC)
Translated by:
Gao (SSP Peer Supporter, OIC)