Graduate Student Testimonials | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Alongside my MBA courses and seminars, I worked as a System Assistant, Resident Assistant and also participated in various extracurricular activities. Thanks to all these experiences, I turned into a more confident and responsible leader. In 2005, I also started a volunteer group with students from fifty other countries called "Ai No Nami" (A Wave of Love) for the Sumatra earthquakes/tsunami disaster. From this experience, I also became a firm believer in "Tomo ni lkiru" (harmonious coexistence).

APU provides students with a state-of-the-art education and a congenial learning environment to further their creativity and knowledge. This multicultural setting also helps students learn how to adapt to different values and cultures while respecting diverse thoughts and philosophies. These attributes make it an exciting and attractive place for someone aspiring to contribute to society with their knowledge and wisdom.

Choosing APU means choosing a unique environment in which you will study, live and develop relationships with many talented students from across the world, in the beautiful natural setting of Beppu in southwestern Japan. APU's extensive connections with Japanese and international employers all across Japan and beyond offer excellent opportunities for students to pursue internships during semester breaks and post-graduation employment. This international APU experience has had an extremely influential role in my career path.

The truly international and multicultural environment of APU presents students with a plethora of opportunities to delve into different cultures, traditions and languages, creating lasting connections that transcend borders. The challenging academic environment enriches students' growth as individuals and citizens of the global commurn­ty, and the diverse faculty members, with expertise and passion in business and research, encourage students to develop real-world professional skills.

APU's MBA program experience was captivating. It allowed me to acquire in-depth knowledge of and cultivate an international approach to business issues. APU has also contributed to expanding my network, and the people that I met there became lifetime friends-personally and professionally. Thanks to APU, I am now connected to people from all continents.

The MBA program teaching style is interactive with weekly discussions, presentations and reports. Also, the optional Japanese language classes helped me adapt to a new environment. Overall, this knowledge helped me to quickly transition to my current role in the IT services sector in Tokyo. I am sure APU will continue to provide its students with the tools they need to create a brighter future for years to come.

My MBA classmates came from all walks of life, having various backgrounds ranging from engineering to hospitality management. This made brainstorming sessions quite interesting. APU offers an AACSB-accredited MBA program that is very interactive with many case studies and seminars. The alumni network is extensive, diversified and intemational.

The chance to experience different cultures with international students as well as with faculty members is invaluable. This is one of the strongest points for choosing to study at APU. The MBA program provides an insightful approach to addressing real life situations through analysis and discussions of case scenarios. I am truly thankful for all the enlightening advice and inspirational ideas provided by my fellow classmates and professors.

From APU's MBA program, I learned about Japanese culture and how business is conducted in Japan. I am now a consultant to Japanese companies conducting business in Africa, and I also work closely with the Embassy of Japan as Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe-Japan Alumni Association. The African continent is growing rapidly, and thanks to the skills I acquired at APU, I am one of the active members of this new development.

My time spent at APU was an unparalleled experience Through the multicultural environment, I was able to build a strong and extended international network. After getting my MBA degree, I started working as a business consultant in a firm in Tokyo and soon after established my own company, "LATIF INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD." Some of my current business clients are my former APU classmates.

From a European point of view, Japan is seen as an exotic study destination-but I quickly realized that moving to Japan and studying my MBA at APU was one of the best choices in my life. Through this program I was able to leam about Japanese management, intemational business and various cultures of Asian countries. My time spent in Japan gave me a deep understanding about the importance of quality, spirit of long-lasting relationships and collaboration with others.

At APU, my MBA professors provided me with extensive and in-depth knowledge of business administration. I gained not only professional skills but also an insight into practical business philosophies that have enabled me to make numerous contributions to society, while also keeping to the standards of business ethics. Furthermore, this program has cultivated my endurance under pressure, nurturing my confidence and leadership potential.

At APU, the coursework and research tasks encourage students to be active, interactive and teamwork-oriented. Combining a multicultural learning environment with a practical case-study based curriculum, the MBA program presents a unique and rewarding journey which enables students, myself included, to become future leaders of the business world.

I am extremely proud to be part of Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. It has always been one of my dreams to work at this company. To help me achieve this dream, I chose to get my MBA at APU, as one of the program's main focuses is the study of Japanese companies. The MBA program helped me develop the necessary business skills for our dynamic global society.

When I was looking for an MBA program, I found APU among the top twenty business schools in the field of international management in East Asia. With a background in Japanese language and prior experience living in Japan during my undergraduate study, I opted for APU’s MBA program because of the availability of English instruction and various scholarship opportunities provided to me.
With countless careers options emerging in the globalized world, APU prepared us —the future managers—to understand and appreciate different cultures. My classmates at APU come from all corners of the globe, which fosters a strong community that shares, discovers and learns together.

APU is a great place to study because of its distinguished scholars' support and guidance, highly-qualified faculty members and comprehensive IT support for research and study. The library and other facilities are modern, and the student dormitory, AP House, is very comfortable. After the completion of the MBA program, I decided to further my studies at APU and enrolled in the doctoral program in Asia Pacific Studies.

My top three reasons for choosing APU's MBA program were the active learning curriculum, the multicultural environment, and the ability to learn foundation Japanese at the same time. With enough determination to make the most of the two-year program, you can graduate from APU with a very strong profile: a global-minded MBA holder who can speak multiple languges.

The exceptional academic resources and conducive learning environment at APU helped me to strike a balance between theoretical study and practical application in real-life situations. The managerial prowess, analytical thinking, and research skills I developed fully prepared me for a Doctoral Program in Economics, which I now currently pursue at another outstanding university in Japan.

APU is a university that can open new windows of opportunity in your career. Thanks to the unique education I received, I acquired important academic and professional skills that allowed me to understand and conduct business from a global point of view.

My time at APU was the best two years of my life. I met many amazing people and made friends from all over the world that I am still connected with today. My current position as the director of IITE institute at SIMAD University and the work I am doing in Somalia was inspired by Japan and the unique and multicultural environment of APU. Our institute's mandate is to prepare the human capital necessary for the recovery of Somalia, and we do this by helping the youth to start their own businesses. By targeting the priority sectors and areas in the country we are working to build a different future for Somalia. This work is possible due to ideas that began to develop at APU.

APU’s multicultural environment provides the perfect opportunity to learn about the business standards of other countries, as well as multiple opportunities for collaboration and discussion with classmates through small class sizes. This has given me new insights and knowledge from different cultural perspectives while also allowing me to share my own point of view. At APU, I was constantly being challenged to be a better version of myself all while preparing to become a leader with global values.

It is a wonderful and unique experience studying in Japan, precisely as a graduate student of APU. The MBA program here provides me with a global understanding of business as well as in-depth study of the Japanese Management style. My study focuses on innovation and operation management and I am confident that the knowledge I acquire in this program will equip me with an alternative set of skills and the creativity necessary to solve world business concerns.
The campus provides an amazing environment with modern facilities and a diverse student body from over eighty countries. There are also numerous opportunities for interaction that support both academic and social life with fellow students and faculty. During my studies, I have also enjoyed traveling around Japan and this has greatly helped me in becoming a well-rounded person.

Despite coming from a mechanical engineering background, I was provided with a pool of opportunities at APU—from exposure to diverse cultures and learning from faculty with world-class expertise to gaining an entrepreneurial mindset. Thanks to APU's unique programs, such as short internships at family-run businesses and meeting with exchange students like those from Norway who shared their knowledge of fast-paced technological growth in Scandinavia, my time at APU also enabled me to expand my network within Japan and worldwide. Thanks to these experiences and the inspiring professors that supported me, I gained the practical knowledge needed to help me follow my passions and dreams.

I traveled halfway across the world to study at APU, and it turned out to be an amazing journey. While studying for my MBA, I learned about organizational structures, business strategies, ethics, innovation, and operations management, but at the same time I learned how to interact with people from other cultures. At APU, I had the liberty to focus on subjects I am interested in, such as how companies stay innovative and motivate employees to create through goal setting. The knowledge and experience I gained helped prepare me to take on leadership positions in global, innovative companies.

By joining APU’s MBA program, I have received more recognition than I ever imagined. My professors are immensely helpful and through the connections I am creating I was able to begin working as a part-time Research Assistant. I am learning a lot through this work that will be invaluable in the academic career I am pursuing. Right at this moment, I am applying for Ph.D. programs and have chosen several prestigious universities in Japan, including APU. When you pursue your passion at APU and step out to connect with people, there will be countless opportunities waiting for you to attain.

I had been wanting to pursue higher studies in Japan for quite some time. As a former employee of Ritsumeikan University in India, I chose to go for APU’s AACSB- and AMBA-accredited MBA program. And it was the best place to be! The small, compact class room sizes at APU’s graduate school create an efficient study environment. Being one of the most diverse universities in Japan, surrounded by students and faculty from all around the globe, my time at APU taught me the value of cultural differences. Last but not the least, at APU I had plenty of opportunities to network with various organisations globally.

Getting my doctorate at APU allowed me to conduct field work both within Japan and throughout Southeast Asia. This research that culminated in my dissertation also lead to additional peer-reviewed publications and my own book. I was fortunate to also work with my supervisor on JICA international development projects, which gave me practical skills in training, evaluation, and program design needed for my career. This experience helped me learn about emergent leadership and gain the global perspective necessary to start my own evaluation and organization development consultancy.”

The Ph.D. program at APU provided me with outstanding doctoral training. Having access to high tech learning materials and equipment helped me conduct highly productive research. In addition, I was given both the encouragement and the financial support to focus on publishing and presenting my research at several conferences held in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. I was very impressed with the Ph.D. curriculum, research subsidies, and annual AP Conference—an event held on campus that provides invaluable opportunities for Ph.D. students to gain greater expertise in their fields and create worldwide academic networks. Thanks to APU’s diverse community, I also had the opportunity to exchange academic ideas and perspectives with highly-respected professors from all over the world throughout my journey.

After finishing the APU’s dual degree program and half a year of working in Beijing, I returned to APU to embark on the Ph.D. endeavor. My research focuses on understanding and evaluating sustainable urban development models such as eco-cities, low-carbon cities and smart cities in Asia. APU offers a great platform for my research and provides useful database access and abundant literature collections. I have excellent working relationships with supervising faculty and research support staff, which greatly boosts my academic performance and results. I enjoy the multicultural campus here at APU, and constantly get inspired by conversing with my fellow colleagues from different disciplines. This has been a valuable experience for me both as a student and a researcher.

APU’s Master of Asia Pacific Studies is a unique learning platform that enabled me to effectively communicate, cooperate, and collaborate with my international peers on academic and creative projects. I not only learned in depth about my specialization (International Relations), but I also learned lessons that will be invaluable throughout my academic journey from the courses packed with assignments, presentations, and academic writing tasks. APU’s outstanding faculty and my inspiring supervisors challenged me to prove my mettle and relentlessly pursue my dreams, and so I decided to continue into APU’s Ph.D. program. Furthermore, how the university provided us with adequate academic, logistical, and financial support even during the pandemic to ensure unhindered learning was truly commendable and heartening.