Introduction

2020 New Year's Greetings from the President

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and I hope you have an enjoyable and peaceful holiday season.
For the beginning of 2020, I would like to review the following five agendas: 1) Gifu University's 70th Anniversary events; 2) The Tokai National Higher Education and Research System; 3) Reinforcement of Academic Functions; 4) the Fiscal 2020 Budget; and 5) the "Engine 01" project.

20200106-2.jpg 1. Gifu University's 70th Anniversary events

Before I go any further, I want to express my deepest appreciation to everyone for their valuable contributions to Gifu University's 70th Anniversary events as they unfolded over the last year. Because of your kind support and assistance, all of these events were a huge success. When the 70th Anniversary Ceremony was held at Gifu University on June 1, 2019, we had the honor of inviting Dr. Toshio Kinjo, the ninth President of Gifu University, as a keynote speaker. In his speech, Dr. Kinjo recalled his unique experiences during the dynamic transition of Gifu University that took place in the two-decade period between the 50th and 70th anniversaries of the school.

At this time, please allow me to introduce some of the memorable events that occurred in 2019 with regard to our 70th Anniversary celebration. First, there was the archiving of the university's academic resources and then the opening of our realized "Campus Museum" concept. For example, with this open museum, people can now enjoy walking throughout the natural environment of the campus while gathering information about works of art with their smartphones. Next there was the commercialization of Gifu University's two new SAKE brands, Tabouno Haru Gizan and Tabouno Haru Kyokufu. These two SAKEs finally hit the market after a five-year testing process conducted by our faculties and students. Today, I am proud to announce that both brands are already sold out. Accordingly, I am looking forward to seeing an upgraded version of these beverages in 2020 as I heard that both faculties and students are working very hard to produce a new tasty, quality SAKE in a variety of excellent flavors.

I must also take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who kindly made donations to the Gifu University Fund. The contributions from our teachers, administrative staff, and university alumni as well as from people in the private sector were used for a wide range of activities and events in 2019. Notably, a large amount of the fund is still set aside for our continued educational, research, and students' job-seeking support activities--all of which will serve the original purposes of the fund.

2. The Tokai National Higher Education and Research System

The revised National University Corporation Act (NUCA) came into force in Japan on May 17, 2019, and it specified the integration of Nagoya University and Gifu University.

On October 21, 2019, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan officially appointed Dr. Seiichi Matsuo, President of Nagoya University, as the first president of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System. On April 1, 2020, Gifu University will make a fresh start under the new name, The Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, Gifu University. Now, let me introduce the schedule pertaining to the start of the new system;

  • Matters related to reforms in the organizations:
    - The realignment of departments/divisions and the revision of rules and regulations.
  • Matters related to reforms in education:
    - The establishment of an "Academic Central" to enhance English education in the university-wide core curriculum along with the reinforcement of mathematical data science education.
  • Organizations to be the next 4 hubs for research:
    - The Center for Highly Advanced Integration of Nano and Life Sciences (G-CHAIN), Intelligent Production Technology Research & Development Center for Aerospace, medical information interchangeability enhancement, and agricultural education research organization.
  • Potential sites to be considered as future research hubs (planned):
    - The Regional Environment Change Adaptation Center (tentative), Smart City Gifu, and the GU Composites Center.
  • Gifu University's education research hubs:
    - The Gifu Renewable Energy System Research Center, the Center for Advanced and Smart Die Engineering Technology (G-CADET), and the Regional Disaster Mitigation Research Center.

I am keenly aware of the importance of strengthening and expanding Gifu University's competitive presence. This will be accomplished by focusing on academic and research fields with strong advantages and unique aspects as an independent educational entity while working closely with Nagoya University.

3. Reinforcement of Academic Functions

The following are the planned reinforcements of the university's academic functions from 2020 to 2021:

  • The start of business management programs.
  • The beginning of the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) program.
  • The transformation of Gifu University-affiliated schools into compulsory education schools.

4. Fiscal 2020 Budget

The budgets for students' job-seeking support activities, renovation of the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences buildings, and the task of adapting to the new rules applied to the state subsidies for operating expenses have already been allocated from the fiscal 2020 university budget.

20200106-1.jpg

5. The Engine 01 project

The Engine 01 project is scheduled to be held in Gifu Prefecture from May 29 to May 31, 2020. Writers, musicians, painters, and other intellectuals will gather and give lectures on Gifu University campus. At night, attendees can join these individuals for drinks at restaurants, eateries, or stalls in Gifu.

In particular, the venue of the Engine 01 project on May 30 will be held in the Gifu University classroom. We are already preparing for this event which will be one of the biggest in scale in 2020.

We will also be busy preparing in 2020 for the start of the new Tokai National Higher Education and Research System in April.

As I conclude my 2020 New Year's message, I would like to ask for your continued support and cooperation as we keep moving forward with our significant development of Gifu University.

January 6, 2020
Hisataka Moriwaki
President of Gifu University

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