Gifu University Graduate School for Teaching Profession has been hosting workshops for new vice-principals (148 in total) in six locations within Gifu Prefecture from May 24 to August 5, 2019. On May 31, the school opened a workshop for newly assigned vice-principals at the Gifu Regional Education Center.

Gifu University Graduate School for Teaching Profession has been providing the nation's first programs to nurture school administrators in cooperation with the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education. In 2017, the school started the School Administrator Prepare Course and has been developing a wide range of training programs for school administrators. In 2018, the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education began a training seminar for new vice-principals before their appointment (first in Japan) by using the curriculum and system of the graduate school's programs. In 2019, it has been providing seminars for new vice-principals at each regional education office in Gifu, and developing systematic school administrator training programs before and after their appointments.

At the workshop on May 31, participants attended problem-solving sessions for issues that actually happened at schools (issues were pointed out in the questionnaires distributed prior to the workshop). With the teaching staff at the graduate school serving as facilitators, the participants discussed the following: 1) nature of problems, 2) essence of problems, 3) feasible solutions. Active opinion exchange continued for some time including reflection on their assignment.

They learned how to address problems pertaining to school administration as a vice-principal and they are now ready to put their knowledge into practice at schools.

The Graduate School for Teaching Profession will continue to develop effective training programs by referring to the outcomes of the workshops, and anticipating challenges which may arise in the future.