Advising & Collaboration | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

EDLSC, in collaboration with the Admissions Office as part of its high school–university partnership initiatives, offers educational programs for high school students.
The BEGIN Program, held twice a year (from Summer 2018 to Summer 2026), has provided high-quality learning opportunities with Student Assistants (SAs) serving as role models. The high level of SA-led sessions, their passion, and their skills in fostering student growth have made them inspiring figures for participating high school students.
The ACE Program, conducted in English, is an online program that attracts participants from around the world. Bringing together students from diverse countries, it serves as a pre-enrollment program that deepens intercultural understanding in a way that reflects APU’s distinctive educational environment.

As part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)’s 2024 initiative supporting the creation of social impact through university internationalization, we are engaged in an educational partnership to develop multicultural collaborative learning courses at Kyushu Institute of Technology.
By sharing APU’s educational methodologies and experience, we are jointly advancing multicultural collaborative learning and strengthening global education design.

Drawing on the expertise of EDLSC faculty and APU’s extensive experience in multicultural collaborative learning, we provide training programs for external organizations.
Together with participants, we explore diversity awareness, intercultural collaboration skills, and the educational approaches that foster such competencies—thereby sharing and returning the global skills cultivated at APU to society.

For Japanese-basis domestic students, earning 20 credits from courses conducted in English (including liberal arts and specialized subjects) is part of the graduation requirements. However, understanding lectures and assignments delivered in English—and engaging in discussions and group work alongside English-basis students—can be challenging.
To address this, volunteer faculty members from EDLSC have developed the Learning Buddy Program, in which enrolled students are paired to support one another’s learning within the classroom.
Unlike paid Student Assistants (SAs), participants in this program join on a voluntary, unpaid basis. By signing up voluntarily, students experience increased motivation, mutual encouragement, and a greater sense of security in their academic journey.

APU offers a wide range of international learning opportunities, including student exchange programs with overseas partner universities and various field study programs. With so many options available, students are encouraged to explore pathways that align with their interests and goals.
To help students maximize these opportunities, EDLSC offers a credited course, *Designing Overseas Study*, which supports students in clarifying their objectives and preparing effectively for international experiences.
In addition, EDLSC provides workshops for outbound exchange students, equipping them with the mindset needed to learn meaningfully from their host environments and experiences abroad.

APU brings together students from diverse countries and regions. The transition from high school to university—and, for many, from overseas to life in Japan—involves significant change and adjustment.
The Transition Project seeks to document and share students’ personal stories, fostering empathy, acceptance, and mutual support within the university community. By articulating and reflecting on these experiences, the project also aims to transform individual growth into meaningful learning.

Explore the outcomes of the Transition Project here.