Ritsumeikan University
University of Ritsumeikan (Rits) located in Kyoto is one of the most famous private universities in Japan.
The Univesity Campus
Ritsumeikan was first founded as a private academy in 1869 by Prince Saionji Kinmochi – an eminent statesman of modern Japan. In 1900, Kojuro Nakagawa - the former secretary of Prince Saionji established the Kyoto Hosei School, a law school that eventually adopted the Ritsumeikan name (with the prince's permission) and was awarded full university status in 1922.
The University library
Today, the university is known as one of the four leading private universities in western Japan. KAN-KAN-DO-RITS (Kwansei Gakuin University, Kansai University, Doshisha University, and Ritsumeikan University) is the abbreviation that many people refer to when talking about the four leading private universities in the region.
Ritsumeikan has exchange programs with many schools throughout the world, including The University of British Columbia, The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney, and University of Hong Kong. The school also has a graduate dual degree program and dual masters' degree program offered in collaboration with American University, The University of British Columbia.
Art research center 2 (Kinugasa campus)The school is a member of European Association for International Education (EAIE), International Network of Universities (INU) and International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP).
Ritsumeikan University is ranked highly among universities in Japan. In an annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to private companies in Japan, Ritsumeikan University ranked in the 1st position in Industry-Academia-Government collaboration activities for 2 years in a row (2004, 2005).
Zonshinkan Hall - Kinugasa campus
In July 2009, RU was selected by the Ministry of Education for the "Global 30" program which aims to develop international centers of education in Japan.
In addition, the university has also gained significant achievements in international rankings as 528th in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement Ranking of World Universities, 112th in the 2009 QS.com Asian University Rankings. And in the Times Higher Education Supplement Ranking of World Universities, University of Ritsumeikan held positions of 501- 550 in 2010, 601+ in 2011.