The FY 2026 First Meeting of the Tokai-Hokuriku Regional Chapter of the Japan Association of National Universities
On April 22, 2026, the First FY 2026 Meeting of the Tokai-Hokuriku Regional Chapter of the Japan Association of National Universities was held at a hotel in Gifu City. Gifu University served as the host institution for this meeting, which brought together national universities from across the Tokai-Hokuriku region1.
At the opening of the meeting, greetings were delivered by MATSUO Seiichi, Chancellor of the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, who serves as the regional chapter representative, as well as by the President of Gifu University, YOSHIDA Kazuhiro.
During the meeting, participants shared information on the status of deliberations and challenges at their respective universities regarding the Fifth Medium-Term Goals and Medium-Term Plans of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). In particular, the meeting focused on the theme of "Education and Human Resource Development," with lively discussions on restructuring human resource development across the entire educational continuum--from undergraduate programs through graduate education--and on initiatives aimed at strengthening university functions.
Following the meeting, Director General SENZAKI Takuho of the Minister's Secretariat, MEXT, and Director KITANO Makoto of the National University Corporation Support Division, MEXT provided briefings on national policies and future strategies surrounding higher education. This was followed by an active exchange of views among participants on future approaches to collaboration with local communities and municipal governments.
1) A part of central Japan that includes the Tokai area (such as Aichi, Gifu, and Shizuoka Prefectures) and the Hokuriku area (such as Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui Prefectures).
