NEWS

Happy New Year, everyone!

Unfortunately, I spent 2021 undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, causing you all worry. I feel blessed to receive so many warm messages of encouragement. Though I cannot say I’ve made a complete recovery, I will be returning to some of my duties this month thanks to your support.

I cannot express how sorry I am to see that COVID-19 continues to take hold of our daily lives. Even though we now have vaccines, students are still unable to enter the country, learn with their peers on campus, and enjoy the student lives they expected. However, thanks to former and current students around the world, APU faculty and staff, as well as the citizens of Beppu and Oita, we have been able to continue multicultural exchange and collaboration, even if it is online. I sincerely appreciate all of you.

Beginning with the start of construction of the new academic building and AP House, the year of 2022 will be in preparation for the New APU, which includes the opening of the College of Sustainability and Tourism as well as reforms of the other two colleges. Based on all our research and education up until now, the APU faculty and staff would like to work together to present an APU that is more exciting than ever. Also, through One APU, we will be putting in all our effort so that all students may study together on campus as soon as possible. We ask for your continued support.

We hope that 2022 will see an innovatively hybrid world where people can both utilize the convenience of the internet to reach across the globe and physically cross borders to interact with others from around the world.

In April, I plan to return to Beppu and resume my work on campus. I am looking forward to seeing all of you then!

Haruaki Deguchi
President
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University