On March 1, 2017, Gifu University and Kanazawa Institute of Technology jointly hosted the 3^rd Student Exchange Meeting among Schools Selected for Chubu District COC (MEXT's Center of Communities) Project at Juroku Plaza in front of JR Gifu Station (12 universities attended: 11 universities last year).
Participating universities are: Gifu University, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Chubu University, Nagoya Gakuin University, Nihon Fukushi University, Mie University, Kogakkan University, Toyama Prefectural University, University of Fukui, Shizuoka University, the University of Shiga Prefecture and Kagawa University.^* A total of 100 people attended.
In the exchange meeting, students from each university made presentations about their activities and achievements for this year and exchanged information at a poster session.
Gifu University students introduced their research activities, information-gathering and planning of "Blossom Crown of Cyclamen Workshop" which was proposed by the students for "Local Specialty Agi Soba Buckwheat Noodle and Cyclamen Festival." The festival is held every year at Aki Region, Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture. These students took part in a class, "Regional Leader Training Advanced Class" of Next-Generation Regional Leader Fostering Program for one year.

Mr. Yoshihiko Narihara of Policy Planning and Human Resource Development Department of Hashima City Government delivered a speech as a guest speaker. Later Professor Keiichi Sato of Kanazawa Institute of Technology commented on special characteristics of each university. The meeting offered every participant a great opportunity to mingle with other students from different universities and get an insight into their activities. One of the students who made a presentation said, "I would definitely like to take part in a meeting next year because I was so impressed with other students' excellent presentations and many good, timely questions." This student exchange meeting will continue to be held from the next year onwards.

^*Kagawa University participated in the meeting as an observer