President

With the term of the current President due to end as of the 31st of December 2026, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (henceforth referred to as “APU”) is issuing a call for applications for candidates for the position of President as outlined in the following guidelines.

1. Overview of APU

APU is a private university founded upon the core principles of “Freedom, Peace, and Humanity,” “International Mutual Understanding,” and “Creating the Future of the Asia Pacific” which, thanks to the support of the local community and cooperation of a broad network of partners both domestic and international, was established in April 2000 in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Last year APU celebrates its 25th anniversary, over which time APU has cultivated an unparalleled multicultural and multilingual learning environment dedicated to fostering global citizens. As of the Fall Semester of the 2025 Academic Year, there are 6,597 students from 119 countries and regions including Japan, —of whom international students constitute 49.9%—are studying together in an environment that places students’ learning and growth as the highest priority, overcoming differences in nationality, culture, religion, politics, and values to live together and work toward solving the global challenges facing the world. This learning environment on a multicultural co-learning campus cultivates students’ capacity to generate innovation through diversity and inclusion (D&I). Additionally, half of APU’s faculty members is of non-Japanese nationality, underscoring its status as one of the most distinctive global universities worldwide. The university currently comprises three colleges and two graduate schools: the College of Asia Pacific Studies, the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies, the College of International Management, the Graduate School of Management, and the College of Sustainability and Tourism.

APU has earned high acclaim both domestically and internationally. In 2014, APU was selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Top Global University Project (SGU),” and received the highest rating in the 2024 post-project evaluation. Furthermore, in 2024, APU was jointly selected alongside Kyushu Institute of Technology for the Ministry’s “Multicultural Campus Project Toward Social Impact”, an initiative that transcends the boundaries between public and private institutions, between regions, and between humanities and science, promoting interdisciplinary integration. APU is committed to developing highly skilled professionals in cutting-edge fields that will drive the future of society, such as the semiconductor and space sectors, through collaboration among industry, government, academia, and finance based in the Kyushu region. The College of Asia Pacific Studies is highly regarded for its strength in the field of international relations field among comparable domestic programs. The College of International Management and Graduate School of Management have gained AACSB accreditation for business education, while the Graduate School of Management also has AMBA accreditation for postgraduate-level management education, and the College of Sustainability and Tourism has received TedQual accreditation in the field of tourism studies. Furthermore, APU was ranked in the 2025 Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings[1] released in April 2025, placing fifth among private universities nationwide.

Meanwhile, in the domestic context, the management environment for universities is expected to face significant challenges in the future as the population of 18-year-olds declines and university enrollment rates are forecast to stagnate. Amid these circumstances, APU is currently undertaking initiatives under the banner of the APU2030 Vision and the latter phase plan of the Challenge Design, pursuing the expansion of diversity and the cultivation of advanced human resources across organizational and disciplinary boundaries, the practical implementation of D&I, the creation of social impact, and the development of a genuine research university aligned with these initiatives, embarking on new challenges as part of the New APU as we turn this vision into action. In this context, APU is issuing an open call for suitable individuals to serve as its next president and lead the university into this new era of advancement.

2. The APU President

The Opening Declaration of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University states the following:

“Given that the 21st century will see the emergence of a global society, we firmly believe that coexistence between mankind and nature, as well as between diverse cultures, will be indispensable for the peaceful and sustainable development of the Asia Pacific region. This is why we are now establishing a university here, to nurture the young talent and to create a new academic discipline which will help shape the region's future.”

Since its founding 25 years ago, our multicultural co-learning campus—where a diverse body of international students from countries and regions around the world gathers and, within Japan, students come from every prefecture—has attracted attention at home and abroad as students thrive in university life. From their first year, students acquire essential competencies and skills for studying at APU—such as communication, facilitation, coaching, and time-management—through seminar courses including the Student Success Workshop, Multicultural Collaboration Workshop, and Foundations of Global Leadership.

The APU President represents the University, appointing Vice-Presidents, faculty Deans and other key executives, overseeing matters concerning the management of the university and its academic affairs, and is expected to demonstrate leadership in the management of the university. The President also serves as a Trustee and Vice Chancellor of the Ritsumeikan Trust, bearing responsibility for governance of the Trust in accordance with the Ritsumeikan Charter.

The Ritsumeikan Trust, to which APU belongs, is a comprehensive academy comprising two universities (APU and Ritsumeikan University), four affiliated junior and senior high schools, and one elementary school. The President of APU serves as a Trustee in the Ritsumeikan Trust, concurrently assuming the position of Vice Chancellor responsible for APU. The President is charged with assisting the Chancellor and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and playing a leading role in the governance of the Ritsumeikan Trust.

The appointment for this position shall be a three-year term beginning January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2029.

3. Selection Process

Candidates selected by the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Presidential Candidate Selection Committee will be referred to the Chancellor and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for deliberation, who will then present the final candidate to the Board of Trustees of the Ritsumeikan Trust for approval and appointment as the President of APU. The current President may also be reappointed using this same process.

4. Role of the President

• Leading the organization as the person responsible for education, research, and management based on an understanding of the APU Opening Declaration and core ideals, in close coordination with the Vice-Presidents and other heads of internal bodies.
• Pursuing the realization of the APU2030 Vision and Challenge Design initiatives and deliberating on the future vision and medium- to long-term plans for the university looking ahead to 2040.
• Building a progressive, equitable and transparent university governance structure based on a profound understanding of APU’s diversity-rich environment and inclusive community while working to improve the wellbeing of all stakeholders including students, faculty and staff.
• Pursuing advancement of research, improvement of education and resolution of social issues in an integrated way in order to realize the APU2030 Vision and Challenge Design based on the APU Opening Declaration. Additionally, pursuing advancements in research systems and research environments so as to raise APU’s presence both domestically and internationally.
• Enhancing the quality of education and improving academic systems with an aim of nurturing and producing students in alignment with the APU 2030 Vision.
• Engaging in actively promoting APU throughout Japan and the world, leading the way as the embodiment of the ideals held by APU so as to attract students, faculty, and staff from around the world who identify with APU's core ideals.
• Establishing and maintaining excellent relationships with domestic and international stakeholders from relevant institutions such as universities, government agencies, companies, and local communities, and further expanding and strengthening APU’s education, research, and management networks. In addition, strengthening collaboration with alumni and parents active around the world, working together to build an international network.
• Taking responsibility for APU's fiscal management, and engaging in the integrated evaluation of operations and budgets.
• Contributing to the development of higher education in Japan and the world as the head of an international education and research institution.

5. Qualifications and Personal Characteristics

The following lists the desired qualifications and characteristics of the President, with the Committee to comprehensively select candidates based on their application documents and interviews.

• Possesses a doctoral degree or has completed a doctoral program, or possesses a master's degree or higher for those with management experience in an organization such as an international institution or business for a certain number of years. The following qualifications will also be comprehensively assessed by the committee:
  • International research achievements or outstanding research achievements in Japan.
  • Experience involving organizational management at a university or research institution in Japan or abroad.
  • A wealth of management experience in an organization such as an international institution or business.
• Possesses a deep understanding of APU’s unique features and organization as well as the determination required to realize the APU 2030 Vision. Also possesses the character and integrity required of a respectable university official.
• Possesses the ability to empathize with and listen to a diverse array of stakeholders as well as the strong leadership required to make decisions and deliver results for organizational change and growth.
• Possesses the ability to appropriately assess the many changes taking place in this era of unpredictability, to ability to pave the way for future possibilities and the agile crisis management skills required to respond to any situation.
• Possesses the advanced capabilities and flexibility to apply cutting-edge technologies to university reform.
• Possesses experience working in an environment that requires a deep appreciation of foreign cultures and diversity.
• In addition to the knowledge and insight required as the leader of education and research, the candidate should have keen insight into the trends and circumstances surrounding the international community and higher education.
• Has a social network that contributes to the development and increased recognition of the university, and has the ability to communicate not only within Japan but also around the world, and to negotiate with society and the world.
• Adequate proficiency in both English and Japanese is preferred.

6. Compensation

(1) Compensation will be determined in accordance with the regulations of the Ritsumeikan Trust and includes the following: executive allowance, commuting allowance, housing allowance (or housing expense subsidy), relocation travel expenses, relocation allowance, individual research funds, bonuses, and retirement allowance. Enrollment in social insurance is required.

(2) Because the President of APU is expected to dedicate themselves to the duties entailed by the position, they cannot hold a full-time position with another university, company, or other organization; however, concurrent appointment as a visiting professor is permitted. Restrictions on taking up roles as external board members of companies or part-time executives of non-profit corporations with ties to the Ritsumeikan Trust may apply as per the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Conflict of Interest Regulations. Please contact us with any concerns you may have on this point in advance.

(3) In principle, the place of residence of the President upon assuming office shall be in Oita Prefecture.

7. How to Apply

Please complete the required information and supplementary documents, referring to the information provided in Document A. Submission of publications or other works is optional; however, if you wish to submit them, please send three copies to the designated address at your own expense.

(1) In the case of self-nomination (items ①–⑪ are required fields):

1. Category of application (Self‑nomination)
2. Name
3. Date of birth
4. Contact address
5. Email Address
6. Highest level of education
7. Degree awarded
8. Professional experience
9. Native language
10. Language proficiency other than native language
11. Statement of Purpose (upload)
12. Additional notes
13. Supplementary documents (upload if necessary)

(2) In the case of nomination by others (items ①–⑫ are required fields)

1. Category of application (Nomination by Others)
2. Name of nominated candidate
3. Date of birth of nominated candidate
4. Contact address of nominated candidate
5. Email address of nominated candidate
6. Highest education level of nominated candidate
7. Degree awarded to nominated candidate
8. Professional experience of nominated candidate
9. Native language of nominated candidate
10. Language proficiency other than native language of nominated candidate
11. Document B: APU-designated Candidate Recommendation Form (including up to five recommenders and their recommendation statements)
12. Contact phone number of person making the nomination
13. Additional notes
14. Supplementary documents (upload if necessary)

NOTE: In the case of nomination by others, the applicant’s intention to apply will be confirmed after the document screening process

(3) Other:

• Additional documents may be requested as the selection process advances
• The application deadline for both self-nominations and nominations by others is

5pm (JST) on Friday May 22, 2026. Submissions must arrive by this date.

• For those candidates who successfully pass the document screening process, these candidates only will be contacted by email by early July.

Mailing address and inquiries

Attn: Secretariat of the Presidential Candidate Selection Committee

Office of Institutional Planning

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita 874-8577 Japan

Tel.: 0977-78-1112　From outside Japan: +81-(0)977-78-1112

E-mail: apupcscs@apu.ac.jp

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[1] This ranking is based on four indicators: Educational Resources, Educational Fulfillment, Educational Outcomes, and Internationalization. In this year’s results, APU was highly evaluated particularly for Internationalization (2nd place) and Educational Fulfillment (3rd place).