APU’s History and Alumni

APU’s History

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) first opened its doors in 2000 thanks to a collaboration between the Ritsumeikan Trust, Oita Prefecture, and Beppu City. With an entirely new multicultural learning environment consisting of half international students and half Japanese/domestic students, APU’s aim was to provide an international education that lead to the development of global leaders, working in a diverse range of fields and industries. In these past eighteen years, this goal has not only been reached but exceeded as APU now has over 10,000 alumni from over one hundred thirty countries and regions. Keep reading to learn more about the stories of APU alumni.

Countries/Regions Represented by APU Alumni

（Countries and regions represented by students Countries and regions represented by alumni）

EUROPE

Armenia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia
Lithuania
Moldova
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovak Republic
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
UK
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Portugal
Slovenia

MIDDLE EAST

Afghanistan
Bahrain
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Oman
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

OCEANIA

Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu

AMERICAS

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Ecuador
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Peru
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela

AFRICA

Angola
Benin
Botswana
Cameroon
Comoros
Cote d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Ethiopia
Gabonese Republic
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Morocco
Mozambique
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

ASIA

Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Philippines
Republic of Korea
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Viet Nam

APU Alumni Stories

Morse Caoagas Flores

APS, graduated in 2006
Nationality: Filipino
Lives in: Geneva, Switzerland
Technical Secretariat, United Nations Indigenous Peoples Partnership (UNIPP), International Labor Office (ILO)

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams. I come from a small community where going to university is more of a luxury than a right. However, thanks to generous scholarships and the goodness of others, I was able to attend APU. I can say with absolute certainty that it was my four years of studies there that best prepared me for my career with the UN, a dream I held since high school. Taking courses on current and emerging global issues taught by reputable professors as well as living with students from all over the world profoundly influenced my career and perspective. I now coordinate the overall implementation and monitoring of UNIPP projects and represent UNIPP in coordination, donor relations and cluster meetings in the UN system. APU is a community that encourages you to dream big and reminds you that it is within your reach.
Mirei Sakamoto

APS, graduated in 2010
Nationality: Japanese
Lives in: Tokyo, Japan
Working in the Overseas Consultant Department of O.P.C. Corporation

My interest in social development in developing countries started when I was a student at APU. The courses challenged and inspired me to employ critical thinking in solving problems, and I was surrounded by highly motivated individuals. Additionally, I took part in volunteer activities in Thailand organized by ‘PRENGO’, APU’s largest student volunteer organization, which applies good practices from Oita Prefecture’s development program ‘One Village One Product Movement’ among others. Upon graduation, I spent two years in the Leyte province of the Philippines to implement a livelihood improvement project for farmers. Upon my return to Japan, I joined O.P.C. Corporation in order to gain more specialized knowledge in the field. This company provides consulting services for Japanese government institutions in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) implementation projects. I am currently a Project Administrating Coordinator for a technical cooperation project in Nigeria. The job comes with many challenges, but I feel extremely fulfilled when the final results bring about positive changes for others.
Jun Hu (David)

APS, graduated in 2005
Nationality: Chinese
Lives in: Chicago, USA
Assistant Professor, Northwestern University

After APU, I continued my studies, ultimately completing my Ph.D. in art history from Princeton University. I currently teach and research the history of visual arts in East Asia at Northwestern University and am finalizing a book manuscript on the religious architecture in this region predating the 9th century. I learned Japanese and Korean languages at APU, which have been a great asset as I often use them when conducting research. However, the ability to delve into and identify with different cultures is the most valuable skill I acquired at APU and has helped me to adapt to many situations. Whenever I think back on those years, I feel gratification and gratitude in equal measure. My encounters and experiences at APU led me to a number of important life decisions. I am thankful that I got to share that path with some of the most inspiring people I have ever met in my life.
Kylie Pearce

APS, graduated in 2007
Nationality: Australian
Lives in: Juba, South Sudan
Human Rights Officer, United Nations Volunteers Program, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

APU helped me to understand what it truly means to be a global citizen. Daily interactions with students and instructors from all over the globe made me connect with the issues affecting our world on a personal level. Even after graduation, this network of friends has been a continual and invaluable source of support and encouragement. After APU, I pursued a Master of Law (Juris Doctor) degree at Monash University in Australia and a Master of Law in International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law at the Geneva Academy in Switzerland. I am currently employed under the United Nations Volunteers program as a Human Rights Officer deployed in South Sudan to serve under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). My role is to monitor, investigate and report on violations of human rights and humanitarian law in the country. My message to you is to engage in your experience at APU with an open heart and an open mind as it can create infinite opportunities for your future.
John Mungai

APM, graduated in 2009
Nationality: Kenyan
Lives in: Tokyo, Japan
Senior Financial Analyst at Abbvie Pharmaceutical

The company I work for specializes in creating ground-breaking medicines for difficult to treat illnesses. My job as a commercial finance lead is to facilitate the sales planning process between marketing directors, sales head and the wholesale group that distributes our products. It is my task to ensure that the financial assumptions made are sound and analytically defendable. I also troubleshoot computer models on which the marketing team bases their forecasting and demand management. From Japanese language, which I use on a daily basis, to the business courses I took, I use 100% of what I learned at APU in my current work