On January 29, 2017, the Center for Collaborative Study with Community of Gifu University closed a "Space Engineering Seminar for 2016"
"Space Engineering Seminar" sessions are conducted jointly by Gifu University, Gifu Prefectural Government and Kakamigahara City, (also in Gifu Prefecture) as part of "Senior High School & University Partnership Program" of COC+^*1. These seminars aim to offer senior high school students an opportunity to experience Gifu University's education and research activities, to introduce dynamics of the aerospace business operating within Gifu Prefecture to the students who will become a core of the next generation, and to inspire them to engage in the aerospace business in the near future.

During the Space Engineering Seminar for 2016, students attended classes via the teleconference system at their schools and were also invited to visit the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Toyo.

In the closing ceremony, first, President Hisataka Moriwaki of Gifu University gave a speech. Then, senior high school students and technical junior college students reported on their participation in the seminars.

Professor Shinichi Nakasuka of the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, a lead researcher of nano-satellite, was invited to the ceremony as a guest speaker and delivered a speech titled, "Challenge for New Space Exploration by Nano-Satellite Initiated by Universities." Professor Nakasuka spoke about development of nano-satellites as well as educational activities in the field of space engineering through CanSat^*2. Senior high school students and technical junior college students who were in the ceremony were all listening to his speech with great attention.

A panel discussion followed (Theme: Regional Collaboration in Space Education) attended by the following panelists:
- Professor Shinichi Nakasuka of the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo
- Mr. Nozomu Sakuraba, Senior Chief Officer of Fundamental Technology for Space Science, JAXA
- Mr. Go of the Department of Commerce, Labor and Industry of Gifu Prefectural Government
- Mr. Yoshihito Ito, President of National Institute of Technology, Gifu College
They actively exchanged opinions about how to advance space education for students through close cooperation among schools and organizations within Gifu Prefecture.

Besides these events, an observation tour for the radio telescope and exhibition site of space technology classes at Gifu University was offered to the students. Some of them joined a "Mission Competition for Future Use of Nano-Satellite in Space." All participants deepened their understanding about the latest space technology through these events and activities.

Lastly, the participants were given their certificates of completion and the "Space Engineering Seminar for 2016" was officially closed.

^*1 COC (Center of Community) projects:
projects of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Their objectives include reinforcing university functions to be a core of local communities where people, information and technology are brought together for problem-solving. To achieve these objectives, universities are expected to promote regional-based education, research and social contribution.

^{*2 CanSat:}
a very small and simple satellite but has similar functions with satellites and is maneuvered in the far distance from the human operators. This fact makes the CanSat-based education very effective first step training towards real satellite development.