Last October, Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto, President Mikio Yoshida) signed a dual degree agreement with The Australian National University (ANU), and both parties have been holding discussions in preparation for the establishment of a new college. Having submitted the notification of establishment to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Ritsumeikan University (RU) hereby announces that the decision to establish the College of Global Liberal Arts on Osaka Ibaraki Campus is now official.

The College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA) at RU is the 16th undergraduate college, where the students will learn a new kind of liberal arts that RU has developed for the global age together with the world-class Asia Pacific-centered learning that ANU College of Asia & the Pacific is known for. Over the course of four years, students will study in both Australia and Japan and graduate with degrees from both universities. This will be the first such undergraduate college in Japan whose curriculum is entirely designed around a dual degree program. All classes will be offered in English, and some of the ANU classes will be taught by ANU faculty on Osaka Ibaraki Campus.

RU has actively pursued a policy to globalize its education and research ever since establishing the College of International Relations in 1988. ANU is Australia's leading university, and the College of Asia & the Pacific boasts the largest number of regional experts in the English-speaking world. By virtue of its involvement in the Asia Pacific, the College plays a vital role in enhancing the understanding of the region. In light of RU's achievements to date, the establishment of GLA is a new attempt at providing a global standard of education.

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