NEWS

On Friday, September 19, the Fall 2025 Graduation Ceremony took place, and a total of 479 undergraduate and graduate students representing 47 countries successfully completed their degrees. The ceremony was held on campus, and guardians, faculty, and staff were on hand to celebrate the graduating students’ new beginnings.

At the ceremony, President Hiroshi Yoneyama sent the graduates off with the following message:
“Class of September 2025, you graduate not into uncertainty, but into possibility. The world doesn’t need you to solve everything, it needs you to contribute your unique piece to humanity’s greatest collaborative project: building a more peaceful, just, inclusive, and sustainable future. That work begins today.
Congratulations, Class of September 2025! We are immensely proud of you and excited to see the incredible impact you will make.”

―――You can read the rest of his message here.―――

A congratulatory message from Morse Caoagas Flores (College of Asia Pacific Studies, Class of 2006, representative of the Alumni Association, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Philippine) was delivered and warmly read on his behalf by Weineza Celine(College of Asia Pacific Studies, Class of 2022, Rwanda).

Representing the undergraduate students, this year’s Ando Momofuku Award-winner Felicia Angelica Hartono (College of International Management, Indonesia) reflected on her experience and expressed her gratitude: “One of those steps for me was building ORCA—a student organization that hosts international business case competitions and connects students with real-world challenges. It started as just an idea. I didn’t know if I could lead or if anyone would join. But I tried, and through it, I met some of the most inspiring people. ORCA gave me purpose, connection, and the courage to believe in myself. Seeing it give students the chance to participate, challenge themselves, and grow is something I’ll always be proud of.
By supporting others, I grew too. ORCA taught me that growth doesn’t come from confidence, it comes from trying. Even now, I still hesitate. But I’ve learned what matters most is the will to take that step. I’ve never regretted those choices. Even mistakes led me to people I now hold dear. None of this would’ve been possible without those who supported me.”

Representing the graduate students, Rustam Abduqayum (Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, Tajikistan) addressed the audience:
“Reflecting on our journey, I recall unwavering resilience and dedication to knowledge. Each of us had our own path and unique experiences, but what united us was our commitment to academic growth and self-improvement.
I remember when I first entered APU, the campus seemed isolated due to its location. At first, I thought Beppu was only famous for its hot springs, but I soon discovered that the real hot springs are the ideas bubbling in every classroom at APU. Over the years, I have realized that the heart of APU is its students from all over the world, who bring unique ideas, knowledge, and a strong desire to learn. Together, we created a space for discussion, friendship, and collaboration, and laid the foundation for building global bridges of development. APU has helped us discover our strengths while also encouraging us to transform our weaknesses into opportunities for growth.”

The ceremony ended with the traditional cap toss with many flying red caps and voices declaring, “We are APU!” The graduates left the venue with smiles on their faces as they set off on the next stage of their journeys.

You can watch the ceremony on APU’s official YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC9kY2p70_M