   thumb|right|ritsumeikan asia pacific university , or apu, is a private institution inaugurated april 2000 in beppu, Åita, japan. apu was made possible through the collaboration of three parties from the public and private sectors: Åita prefecture, beppu city and the ritsumeikan academy. as of 1 november 2013, the university has an enrollment of 5,272, including approximately 3,000 domestic, and 2,300 international students (a 56-44 domestic-international ratio) originating from 84 countries and regions. half of the 162 full-time faculty members are foreign nationals who come from 27 countries and regions. ==location== apu is at jumonjibaru in the city of beppu, Åita prefecture on the island of kyushu. beppu is geographically closer to busan (korea) than tokyo (japan). ==background== ritsumeikan asia pacific university is a member of the greater ritsumeikan academy which includes apu, ritsumeikan university in kyoto and lake biwa and primary, junior and senior high schools throughout japan. in the early 1990s the concept of creating an international university in the city of beppu was first raised by the governor of Åita prefecture, morihiko hiramatsu, with the then chancellor of the ritsumeikan trust in kyoto, mr kawamoto. a chief proponent of the concept and design was professor makitaro hotta. the university opened at jumonjibaru, above beppu city in april 2000. ==campus features== ===programs=== there are two four-month semesters in one academic year. one semester is divided into two quarters lasting for seven weeks. most of the classes in apu are carried out on a quarter system.student handbook 2011 unlike many other universities, students are accepted for enrollment and graduate twice a year, in spring and fall. apu offers undergraduate studies in subjects including liberal arts such as media studies, language subjects, and ja
Beppu,_Aita Kyushu_region Private_universities_and_colleges_in_Japan