Welcome to the Student Voice Series. The series interviews students in our English-medium programs. Once a month, the International Admissions Office releases an interview with our students. We hope these interviews can be helpful to you when thinking about choosing to come to Ritsumeikan University.
Post by International Admissions Office
College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA)
Before graduating from high school, I did not have a clear academic interest or career path in mind. But one thing I knew for certain was that I wanted to pursue higher education outside of Hong Kong, not only because I was looking to experience a new environment, but also because I wanted to challenge myself to make my own way for a future I am responsible for.
At first, I was drawn to Japan through my love for its popular culture. Yet as I looked beyond the captivating world of manga and games, I discovered something deeper: Japan's remarkable ability to honor its traditions while staying open to innovation and ideas from around the world. This balance reflects a spirit of ongoing self-discovery, which resonated deeply with me. That same spirit is what ultimately led me to the dual degree program offered by the College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA), which encourages both intellectual and personal exploration through a diverse curriculum offered by Ritsumeikan University (RU) and The Australian National University (ANU).
Now in my third year of study, I continue to appreciate how GLA encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and explore unfamiliar disciplines. This openness has allowed me to locate the academic field that intrigued me the most, through plenty of trial and error.
Beyond academics, I believe the true strength of GLA lies in how it fosters a global perspective. We are given the chance to study in both Japan and Australia, and to begin taking ANU courses from our second year, which offers an incredibly immersive experience. Living and studying in two cultural environments, neither of them my home countries, has helped me understand different societal norms and the histories behind them. It has taught me to think beyond the boundaries of my upbringing and to see the world with an open, unbiased mindset. While my future career prospects have certainly improved with this dual degree, what matters even more to me is the ability I have gained to connect with and appreciate people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
I believe GLA is a truly transformative space that supports each student's journey of growth and discovery.
Matriculation ceremony with my family
In my first year of study, I focused on taking courses from various fields to broaden my perspective. In addition to the compulsory courses designed to build essential academic skills, I took classes such as Japanese Cultural Studies, Kyoto Art Scenery, International Relations, Anthropology, and Global History. While I was partly drawn to these courses by their intriguing titles, my main goal was to explore subjects across the humanities and social sciences to discover what interested me the most. Although the first year was challenging for me, it was crucial in helping me identifying my strengths and academic interests.
In my second year, I refined my approach by narrowing my course selections to areas that aligned closely with my personal interests, and I was offered a lot of options as we started to take ANU classes. For RU, Global Media Culture, Globalization in Japanese Society and Culture, and Issues in Ethics stood out to me. They were not only intellectually stimulating, but also addressed factors that are crucial in shaping today's society. For ANU, the compulsory courses focused on Asia-Pacific affairs, ranging from historical perspectives on the political order to the social sciences such as conflict assessment and international relations. The first year of ANU studies gave me a strong foundation for critically analyzing the region beyond the traditional power dynamics, but also by considering how historical narratives shift depending on the perspective of often-overlooked stakeholders.
Now in my third year, as I continue my studies at ANU’s Canberra campus, I have grown more confident in taking on academically challenging courses. I am able to continue my Japanese language courses here in Australia, while also deepening my understanding of the Asia-Pacific region through courses such as Colonial/Postcolonial Predicaments of Mainland Southeast Asia and Pacific Politics. One course I find particularly interesting is Chinese Politics, as we systematically examine the power dynamics within China from its governmental structures to local-level operations. ANU courses can be hard, but I have come to enjoy its learning environment and found the seminar discussions especially thought-provoking.
A photo taken with my Japanese teacher after a new year event held by the Ibaraki Japanese Association (Jitsuyo Nihongo Gakushukai)
Find out more about the GLA curriculum
Among the many engaging courses I have taken, Issues in Ethics, taught by Professor Christopher Johnson, stands out as the most intriguing. The course focused on evaluating modern ethical dilemmas through three philosophical lenses: utilitarianism, Rawlsianism, and Nozickianism. Rather than simply comparing these schools of thought, we are encouraged to apply them to real-world issues such as cancel culture, wealth tax, and resource distribution through many discussions. As my first philosophy-related course, I appreciated how different schools of thought were woven together to form a cohesive network for understanding complex issues.
Professor Johnson’s interactive teaching style made the course academically rigorous and personally impactful. He encourages open discussions on controversial topics and created a space where everybody's perspective was valued but also challenged. What I appreciated most was that the course was not about winning arguments or becoming a better debater, but about developing critical thinking skills that are much needed to navigate today's complex world. Hence, I found it incredibly rewarding, not only because I learned to apply different ethical lenses to social issues, but also because I learned how to listen to and respect viewpoints in order to reach more constructive discussions.
RU and ANU have their own academic philosophies. Based on my observation, RU/GLA takes an interdisciplinary approach, aiming to cultivate students' knowledge in various disciplines. For example, in the Global Media Culture course, my group's final project was praised for incorporating analytical methods I had learned in history and cultural studies courses. This academic flexibility was encouraged and built into GLA's program design, allowing students to explore a wide range of subjects before narrowing their focus.
As students start taking ANU courses from their second year, they will realize that the classes adopt a more depth-oriented approach, aiming to develop students into experts within their chosen disciplines. As a student in ANU’s College of Asia and the Pacific, most of my electives centered around political science in the region, guided by leading experts who challenge students to think and engage deeply. While RU emphasizes breadth, ANU emphasized depth, and these approaches together complement each other.
In terms of study environment, ANU reflects a more free-spirited, Western approach to learning. Most lectures do not require attendance and students are free to decide how to manage their time. Nonetheless, students are still expected to actively engage in course materials and tutorial discussions. At RU, there is a stronger emphasis on attendance and class participation to encourage preparation and active engagement. Classes are much smaller compared to ANU, which can go up to as many as 150+ people, which allowed me to build closer connections with lecturers and receive more personalized feedback. While I personally prefer ANU's emphasis on student autonomy, RU/GLA’s smaller class sizes have been invaluable for my growth with consistent feedback and opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with professors.
A photo with a professor after an end-of-semester tutorial lesson for ANU courses
My long-term goal is to pursue higher education in archaeology. One of GLA’s greatest strengths lies in its many academic opportunities which expose students to a wide range of fields and encourages self-discovery. Over the past semesters, I gradually realized that my interests align most strongly with humanities and social science, particularly Mesopotamian history and material culture.
Although I have been intrigued by this field from a young age, my passion crystallized during my first two years at GLA through coursework in Linguistics and Global History. Their investigative approaches helped me recognized what truly fascinates me, which is understanding the relationship between material artifacts and the ancient people who created and used them. The process of piecing together fragmentary evidence and slowly discovering how objects functioned within their societies and what they reveal about human experience has been incredibly fulfilling.
Following this discovery, I actively reached out to experts at both RU and ANU, who provided valuable insights into possible academic pathways. However, after consulting with RU's career center and my family, I have decided to first pursue a more pragmatic path. I plan to gain professional experience at a gaishikei (foreign-affiliated company operating in Japan), leveraging the unique advantage of holding Japanese and Australian academic credentials in the international job market. This experience will allow me to develop professional maturity, cultivate a global perspective and build financial stability before advancing to graduate studies in archaeology.
I believe this plan provides a strong and flexible foundation for my future. Even if my direction shifts over time, the cross-cultural work experience I gain in Japan will be a lasting and transferable asset in both the global job market and academia.
Dinner at an izakaya with the teacher and other members from my local art class
I joined the GLA student council in my third semester. During regular meetings, I was responsible for offering suggestions on how to make the GLA environment more inclusive. For example, alongside fellow members, I helped finalize the decision to prioritize lift access for GLA students attending classes on high floors, which ensured quicker access during busy hours. I learned how to assess all potential outcomes when initiating change, as well as how to work with people who hold different opinions and reach common ground.
Apart from that, I was involved in the RU 2024 OIC Festival, where I helped prepare and generate ideas for the College's booths. Since the theme of our booth was internationalism, I suggested introducing foreign games such as Jenga to connect local children with different cultures in a fun way. On the day of the event, I also helped run the booth and greatly enjoyed interacting with members of the local community. Although the festival took place close to midterm exams, I do not regret participating, as so many good memories were made.
Overall, despite my relatively short time as a member of the student council, I thoroughly enjoyed the activities I took part in and greatly benefited from the communication skills I developed.
Chatting with classmates
One of the best memories so far was when my friend and I participated as official volunteers for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. We noticed a recruiting poster for volunteer positions at the university cafeteria and immediately thought of it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We applied and were thrilled to be accepted as official helpers.
Our volunteer work involved providing guidance and answering questions from both local and international tourists at major train stations. I found great satisfaction in helping others and collaborating with Japanese volunteers of different ages.
We also had the chance to visit different pavilions at the Expo, where we saw a wide range of displays and cutting-edge innovations. I absolutely loved the vibrant energy that the Expo offered, and it was a truly unforgettable experience that combined meaningful service, language practice and a unique cultural adventure.
A photo taken after volunteer activity at the Healthcare Pavillion at 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo
Enjoy your time at RU and ANU to the fullest! Both universities offer a wealth of high-quality resources in academics, language support, cultural exchanges, and career development that can truly be life-changing. University life passes by quickly, so make the most of every moment inside and outside of the classroom.
University is a time for self-exploration and gaining experiences, and it is these experiences that will significantly navigate you in adulthood. Cherish every opportunity to grow as a student, a friend, and a person!