Gifu University hosted the 'First Training Session for Coordinators of School and Community Collaboration 2024' online on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The session is part of the programs undertaken by the Gifu Center for collaborative activities between communities and schools (GIFU CCCS).

The GIFU CCCS was jointly established by the Gifu Prefectural Government and Gifu University to support and promote collaboration between local schools and the community. Its mission is to foster the healthy growth of children and contribute to the revitalization of the community. The Center focuses on three specific objectives:

1. Develop and secure human resources: Through collaboration with municipalities and social education groups, the Center provides training opportunities for coordinators of school and community collaboration and educates and secures student volunteers.

2. Conduct survey and research: The Center collaborates with municipalities and social education groups to carry out survey and research programs, studying actual cases of collaboration between local schools and the community. It pioneers exemplary cases found in education at home and makes presentations.

3. Promotion: The Center continues to support municipal governments by hosting open lectures, workshops, and sending the Center officials to these events.

The first training session on June 25 focused on the development and secure human resources.

In 2024, a total of four training sessions are scheduled, with 55 applicants already expressing interest. The target participants are individuals who hold key roles in social education, public facilities, schools, and the community across various parts of Gifu Prefecture. They bring their own agendas to address during these sessions.

The first session began with an overview of the GIFU CCCS and the training's objectives, presented by MASUKAWA Koichi, the director of the Center. Following this, Dr. HIROSE Takahito, a board member of the Tochigi Citizen Collaboration Research Meeting and former professor at Utsunomiya University, Tochigi Prefecture, delivered a lecture. Titled, "Introduction to Coordinators of School and Community Collaboration Training: National Trends and Activity Summary," Dr. Hirose discussed the current landscape in communities, schools, and the environment surrounding children. Additionally, he shared his insights on 'Community-building with schools at its center,' the dynamics of school and community collaboration, and the 'Community School' system- a platform for collaboration among citizens, parents and coordinators.

Following Dr. Hirose's lecture, groups of participants engaged in an opinion exchange and a Q&A session. Participants discussed their community activities and shared their hopes and expectations as future coordinators. During the Q&A, Dr. Hirose and the participants actively discussed a variety of topics.

Dr. Hirose emphasized to the participants, "As long as adults are enjoying their activities, these activities truly represent school and community collaboration." When asked about promoting their activities and attracting more participants, Dr. Hirose drew from his own experiences: "The most effective way to promote collaboration is by demonstrating how much coordinators enjoy their work. Words alone won't suffice." He concluded his lecture with this statement: "School and community collaboration activities mirror community-building. Rather than solely addressing the needs of children or schools, let's consider what adults want to achieve first." His words inspired the participants in their future roles as coordinators bridging school and community collaboration.

The next training session is scheduled on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. We eagerly anticipate the participants' active engagement both at school and within the community, drawing from the insights gained during the first session.