Gifu University 76th Anniversary
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, Gifu University held a commemorative ceremony in the university auditorium to mark the 76th anniversary since its founding. Approximately 300 participants from on-and off campus attended the event.
The ceremony began with a performance by the university orchestra, followed by the conferment of honorary professor titles, appointments of industry-academia collaboration professors, presentation of certificates for research laboratories for industry-academia collaboration, staff and student commendations, and reports from the President and faculty deans.
In his report, President YOSHIDA Kazuhiro of Gifu University highlighted the university's achievements in education, research, international exchange, and community engagement, all aligned with the university's vision 'MLIE Concept' - Migration, Laboratory, Innovation, Education. He also emphasized the university's strengths in life sciences, manufacturing, and environmental and energy research - fields that have flourished in collaboration with the local community even before the university's incorporation. Additionally, he spoke about the advantages of having all faculties and research centers on a single campus and outlined plans to establish a "Tokai Life Science Hub" for regional revitalization centered around Gifu University, in cooperation with Gifu Prefecture and local governments. The establishment of this hub coincides with the opening of the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway Gifu Interchange.
Following the ceremony, the 57th Gifu University Forum was held. The keynote speaker was Professor IWAMI Taku from Kyoto University, a leading expert in preventive medicine and the pioneer of Japan's first "Healthy Campus Declaration" at Kyoto University. Under the theme "Rethinking Wellness in Universities," Professor Iwami emphasized that universities, as hubs of knowledge and diverse communities, should serve as creators of wellness and well-being. He also introduced Kyoto University's initiatives, including the implementation of healthy campus practices and the use of Personal Health Records (PHR) in collaboration with industry, academia, and government to promote community health.
After the keynote speech, Professor YAMAMOTO Mayumi from Gifu University's Health Administration Center, student representatives from the university co-op, and members of the American football team, PHANTOMS took the stage to present wellness initiatives at Gifu University.
This commemorative event provided an opportunity to reflect on Gifu University's journey and take a new step toward the future. We remain committed to contributing to a sustainable society and continue to grow as an academic hub in the region by working together with students, faculty, staff, and the local community for even greater progress.
Note: For this year's Gifu University Forum, AI-powered automatic translation was displayed on slides to make the event more accessible to international students. A video of the ceremony and forum is available via the [Related Links].
Event Details: Gifu University 76th Anniversary Ceremony and the 57th Gifu University Forum
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue: Gifu University Auditorium (on Gifu University campus)
Part I: Anniversary Ceremony
○ Orchestra Performance
○ Conferment of Honorary Professor Titles
○ Conferment of Industry-Academia Collaboration Professor Titles and Presentation of Certificates for Research Laboratories for
Industry-Academic Collaboration
○ Staff Commendations
○ Student Commendations
○ President's Report
○ Reports from Faculty Deans and Representatives
Part II: The 57th Gifu University Forum - Keynote Lectures
○ Theme: Rethinking Wellness in Universities
Speaker: Professor IWAMI Taku (Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University)
Speaker: Professor YAMAMOTO Mayumi (Director, Health Administration Center, Gifu University)
