Okinawa was the site of the final battle of the Pacific War, which resulted in the loss of a great number of lives as well as heavy destruction to its nature and cultural heritage. To this day, vast US bases still remain in Okinawa. For these reasons, the University of the Ryukyus has followed its guiding principles of "Freedom and Equality, Tolerance and Peace" since its founding. The quest for truth, and the desire to make a meaningful contribution to both our immediate region and to global society more broadly continue to be our primary objectives.

The world continues to change dramatically in the 21st Century. Global warming has become a serious threat. The wasteful use of resources for development primarily benefiting advanced countries has and continues to lead to the depletion of natural resources and regional conflicts.

As such, it becomes important for our modern societies to put an emphasis on our abundant wisdom and nice, flexible mind of the south, as alternatives to the theories that benefit the advanced countries in the north, and we must pay particular attention to the vital importance of ecological and environmental issues.

The University of the Ryukyus, established under the guidance of Michigan State University, has developed its own traditions of contributing to and advancing along with the local community, of conducting international exchange, of broadening our knowledge base through academic and educational activities, particularly on a regional level with other Asian countries with whom we share many commonalities, but also to make a global intellectual contribution in exchange with Europe and America. Furthermore, we enhance development of human resources, regardless of gender and nationality.

Our university vision can be summed as follows:

1. Contribute to society both locally and globally through education and research.
2. Promote the advancement of knowledge with other Asian countries through international exchange.
3. Conduct high-quality education and research as a global knowledge hub.

The mission of the University of the Ryukyus is to send promising individuals out into society with a high-quality education. We aim to cultivate individuals with the following qualities:

1. Those who can make contributions at the local level as well as on a larger societal scale
2. Those who can take an active role both nationally and globally
3. Those who will strive to accomplish their dreams
4. Those who possess drive and are open-minded
5. Those who can learn from Okinawan history and the university's guiding principles and take advantage of them

Our university strives to make contributions to both local and global society based on our founding traditions and principles. In order to develop our university as a knowledge hub to the world, it is necessary to have dedication and nurturing young individuals is of vital importance.

We have played our role over the years in developing leaders who are active in areas such as science, fine arts, as well as politics and economics. Although we will continue to develop high quality individuals in these areas, our university must also respond to emerging trends that will have both a local and global impact, such as social change as a result of globalization and population shifts.

We need to look at academic development in new areas, as well as in fields of an interdisciplinary nature. With these matters in mind, we have established the following goals:

1. Conduct education which focuses on continual improvement in the quality of graduates
2. Improve the environment in which the potential of young researchers and new academic fields is developed
3. Promote basic research and research utilizing Okinawa's regional characteristics
4. Strive to be a university which makes intellectual contributions to society at large, which passes on learning and generates new learning

In order for the University of the Ryukyus to aim towards future expansion and the achievement of its goals, it is necessary to have high-caliber faculty and students with drive, along with a sound financial basis and flexible management. We have high hopes for and expectations of our strongly-motivated students.