The Center for Collaborative Study with Community (CCSC), Gifu University and Giken Group signed "Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Fostering Next-Generation Regional Leaders." Under this MoU, the two institutions work together to cultivate young leaders who can address regional challenges and create vibrant community full of dreams and hopes of people.

As an implementation body of COC* and COC+*, CCSC has been playing an active role for regional revitalization by cultivating next-generation leaders who know their community well, seek challenges and tackle problems.

Giken Group has also been playing a crucial role for regional revitalization by actively involving in maintenance and operations of public facilities over the years. In celebration of the 60^th anniversary next year, "Co-Working Space" in its new headquarters building opens to facilitate close collaboration with Gifu University for the benefits of local communities. With the conclusion of MoU, the two institutions agreed to implement and support a wide-range of programs/projects to produce next-generation regional leaders.

At the signing ceremony on Thursday, February 17, 2022, President Yasuyuki Tanahashi of Giken Group made the following statement: "I sincerely hope that our company can devote itself to producing more entrepreneurs and regional leaders, contribute to regional revitalization and reciprocate great support we received from local communities."

On behalf of CCSC, Director Koichi Masukawa stated, "Gifu University and Giken Group have been actively promoting collaboration for years and the latest conclusion of MoU will serve as a huge momentum to advance our cooperation. We would like to best utilize the "Co-Working Space" as a new center for practical training for our students outside of campus. We have renewed our commitment to fostering next-generation regional leaders for the prosperities of local communities.

Under the new MoU, both institutions pledge to continue deepening the relationship in nurturing next-generation leaders whose problem-solving abilities are expected to be used for the promotion of well-being of local citizens.

* 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.

*COC+ (Center of Community Program for Local Revitalization) projects: projects of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Their objectives include assembling people together to regions for revitalization by: - offering attractive job opportunities to students in collaboration with universities, local governments and businesses and, - supporting university's curriculum reform efforts necessary to cultivate personnel sought by regions.