Gifu University Information and Multimedia Center

"Enriching Education and Research Through Information and Multimedia"

The Information and Multimedia Center was established in April 2003 with the goals of maintaining highly secure information networks as tools for education and research activities as well to handle the administrative functions of the university. Further goals are strengthening support of research activities that require information network systems and academic computer systems, and enhancing the university’s educational systems and digital contents that rely on information networks. To implement these goals, the Center has the following operating principles:

1. Implement information-oriented systems related to education, research and administrative activities throughout the university.
2. Work to construct a secure, well integrated, safe and stable information communication infrastructure, and research and develop techniques utilizing academic computers and information network systems.
3. Develop and maintain methods of higher education at the university through research activities that utilize media, and promote web-based and distance learning techniques throughout the university.
4. Engage in information education for students and provide technical support for e-Learning materials and provide support for curriculum development for instructors.
5. Respond appropriately to changes in lifelong learning and promote research and development of specialized learning contents.

The Information and Multimedia Center is organized into the following five departments focused on research and administration:

1. Research Departments

Department for Advanced Information System Development

This department conducts research into applications of information networks to serve as future backbone infrastructure for education and research through the development of high-speed, secure, and stable advanced information networks. Additionally, the department conducts research into using networks to convey multimedia information among distant locations.

Department for Instructional Media Development

This department conducts mainly theoretical research on the maintenance and distribution of educational contents, the development of educational information database systems, the development of educational methods and teaching materials with digital media, and the development of educational information processing and multimedia information networks for e-Learning.

Department for Curriculum Research and Development

This department conducts research on curriculum and instruction using educational technology methods based on teaching and learning activities. Other research activities include theoretical and empirical research of the development of school-based curriculum through educational information database development. Through the development of information and communication technology related to teaching materials, educational methods, teaching and learning practices can be developed to respond to new issues in education.

Department for Lifelong Learning Research and Development

This department supports the collaboration between universities and communities in lifelong learning by conducting empirical investigative research into lifelong learning systems, providing information and consultation related to lifelong learning, the developing and training lifelong learning instructors, and planning and presenting open lectures for working people. With the aim of making lifelong learning opportunities more widely available and equitable, the department also conducts developmental research into lifelong learning systems that utilize information media and distance learning methods.

2. Administrative Department

Department for Information System Management

This department maintains and manages the Gifu University campus network. In addition, this department operates various services on the campus network and offers various workshops, usage guidance and information, and security information to network users.