In the 2015 Academic Year, our efforts to obtain external funding have continued in the same way so far.
Although there has been an increase in the number of cases from 52 cases (27,057 thousand yen) to 71 cases (17,864 thousand yen), the amount received decreased. On the other hand, research contracted in, etc. declined from 32 cases (122,095 thousand yen) in the previous academic year to 29 cases (138,487 thousand yen), with an increase in amount received.
In addition, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research has been managed while strengthening measures to improve the environment for researchers, and 14 new cases were adopted in the academic year 2015.
Additionally, in order to respond to the learning needs of Iwate Prefecture and in returning the research results to the community, we travelled to the Takizawa and Miyako campuses, and the Aiina campus which is located near the Morioka station West exit. We also visited two areas including Hiroto-cho in the academic year 2015. A total of 37 open courses were held, with 2,127 participants.

●Extensions for Academic Year 2015

◆Takizawa Campus Courses

Seven courses held with the central theme; "Tell me more! -The world and Japan, Iwate Prefectural now-"

Courses	Date	Instructors	Topics
Course1	July 18	IIwate Prefectural University President SUZUKI Atsuto	Defining the International Linear Collider (ILC) project
Course2	July 25	Center for the Advancement of Higher Education Professor UWE Richter	Communication of the Japanese and Chinese people -Learning from Confucius’s Rectification of Names and Manyoshu’s Ten Thousand Leaves-
Course3		Faculty of Policy Studies Associate Professor MIICHI Ken	Examination of Islam and its “Locality”
Course4	August 1	Iwate Medical University Hospital Dean, Faculty of Nursing MIURA Yukie	Taking Care of Others and Being Taken Care Of
Course5		Faculty of Software and Information Science Professor DOI Akio	Basic Principles and Application of 3D Printers -Structure and Functions of 3D Printers, Advantages,Disadvantages, and Fields of Future Application-
Course6	September 27	Faculty of Policy Studies Associate Professor ITOH Takehiro	Let’s Dive into Economics! -Seeing the World Through Economics-
Course7		Morioka Junior College Associate Professor KUMAMOTO Sanae	Thriving Women of the World -Learning New Found Female Influence from Environmental Justice-

◆Miyako Campus Lifelong Learning Course Content

Regional Creation Forum "Living in Miyako, Make a Future"

Courses	Date	Instructors	Topics
Keynote lecture	November 29	Iwate Prefectural University President SUZUKI Atsuto	Regional creation begins from Iwate Prefectural University
Panel discussion		Miyako mayor YAMAMOTO Masanori	Miyako begins with regional creation
		President SUZUKI Atsuto
		Vice-President and Dean, Regional Cooperation Head Office SHIBATA Yoshitaka
		Dean, Miyako Junior College and Director, Center for Regional Policy Studies UEDA Masahiro

◆District Course

Courses	Date	Instructors	Topics	Locations
In Takizawa Cooperation courses Mutsumi University	September 7	Faculty of Nursing Associate Professor CHIDA Mutsum	Coping with Dementia -Understanding and Preventing Dementia-	Takizawa City Community Center
Hirono townsfolk University cooperation courses	February 20	Faculty of Social Welfare Professor MIYAGI Yoshirou	Power of Preparation - A “Prep Course” on Preventing Your Own Needs for Elderly Care, and Living with Meaningfulness within Your Community	Hirono townspeople Cultural Center

The COC+ Program is a government aided program incepted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in which universities, local public entities, and companies cooperate to create attractive jobs for students. In addition, it supports universities that implement educational reforms in its curricula necessary in transforming individuals into highly desirable candidates for the community. Its aim is to attract people into the community, who will push forth regional revitalization.
In the 2015 Academic Year, our university adopted "Iwate’s Hometown Development Project" which was drawn up in collaboration with Iwate University. The same year, we received certification from the COC+ Program for the educational reforms we implemented, such as the establishment of an academic minor available to all departments to promote place-based education.
Along with the addition of "Iwate's Hometown Development Project" as an academic minor to the curriculum, other endeavors include programs such as "Retaining Local Youth and Women", "New Industries and Job Creation", "Sanriku Reconstruction & Leading Exemplary Model Creation" and "Cultivating Entrepreneurs", in order to create jobs in Iwate prefecture and appeal to the local people of the community to stay. By expanding internship programs and strengthening our cooperation with the Takizawa-city IPU Innovation Center, we are striving to improve employment rates of graduates in Iwate Prefecture and create new employment opportunities.

i-MOS was established on April 1st 2011 as a base of creating new innovations by integrating manufacture (Monodukuri)and software and has been working on promoting joint researches between Industry and Academia, providing technicians with sophisticated skills as well as supporting corporate prototype developments by opening up the facility equipments to participating companies.
i-MOS conducts researches with the aims of solving social challenges based on the regional characteristic in Iwate prefecture by utilizing manufacturing and software technologies, improving productivity and added value at companies related to manufacturing and expanding the business towards the automobile industry.

◆Academic Year 2016 Adoption Problem

No.	Research Topics	Research Representatives	Faculty
1	Research on the social implementation of the universal tourism security system	Professor ABE Akihiro	Faculty of Software and Information Science
2	Research and development of educational measuring devices	Lecturer MIURA Natsuko	Faculty of Nursing
3	Constructing a car accident prevention system in an aging society while considering health monitoring of elderly drivers	Professor FUJITA Hamido	Faculty of Software and Information Science
4	Support system for nursing students learning physical assessments	Professor MURATA Yoshitoshi	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
5	Relative position estimation between devices based on light intensity data in localized communication systems	Associate Professor ARAI Yoshikazu	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
6	Transceiver positioning by bluetooth low energy, assuming future industrial use	Associate Professor OKAMOTO Azuma	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
7	Development of automatic recording and notification system for farming and wildlife using person detecting sensor web cams	Associate Professor TAKAGI Masanori	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
8	Development of preoperative preparation support system equipped with catheterization simulation capability	Professor DOI Akio	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
9	Research for driver assistance system development: Recognition and modeling of individual driving behaviors based on automobile driving data	Professor BASABI Chakraborty	Faculty of Software and InformationScience
10	Utilization of specialists’ selective attention in machine learning for the actualization of self-driving cars	Professor GOUTAM Chakraborty	Faculty of Software and InformationScience

At Iwate Prefectural University, where one of our fundamental aims is “practical science and practice-oriented education and research”, we have set up the Center for Regional Policy Studies in order to further reinforce think-tank functionality for citizens.
Confronting the needs and challenges of the people of Iwate from a regional point of view, researchers from a variety of disciplines have been conducting researches to resolve local issues in collaboration with local governments as well as NPOs and business.

●Progressive Reconstruction and Recovery Project Research on the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

The Center for Regional Policy Studies is engaged in the most important subject of Iwate prefecture “Disaster Recovery”.
In order to deal with diversifying needs of disaster affected areas and solving various challenges, we shifted our focus towards “research which more directly contributes to the recovery of affected areas” in the 2014 academic year. We are working on the research on a large scale which will take many years.

◆The Great East Japan Earthquake Accelerated Reconstruction Project -List of selected tasks adopted in the 2005 Academic Year [Project period: June in 2015 to March in 2017]

No.	Research Topics	Research Representatives	Faculty
1	3D modeling of the Sanriku coast’s reconstruction plan and human resource development	Professor DOI Akio	Faculty of Software and Information Science

◆The Great East Japan Earthquake Accelerated Reconstruction Project -List of selected tasks adopted in the 2005 Academic Year [Project period: June in 2016 to March in 2018]

2	Preventing isolation by using ICT and creating a community based lifestyle support system—building upon the Kamaishi model and aiming to spread throughout Iwate prefecture	Professor OGAWA Akiko	Faculty of Social Welfare
3	Elucidating the effects of promoting reconstruction by strengthening the value chain of the seafood processing and distribution industry in the coastal area of Iwate Prefecture	Associate Professor NITTA Yoshinobu	Faculty of Policy Studies

●Regional Joint Research (Proposal type by faculty members)

Focusing on joint researches between faculty members (researchers) at IPU and local organizations (such as the prefectural and municipal governments, local organizations, NPO and companies), we conduct researches proposed by faculty members themselves that meet the local needs.

◆2015 Academic Year Community Collaboration Research under the Regional Policy Research Center (by faculty proposal, second semester) [Research Period: November 2015 to October 2016]

No.	Issue of Research	Field of Research	Research Topics	Research Representatives	Faculty
1	General Issues	Local Community Research	Field survey on the care and structure of education on diabetic dialysis prevention in Iwate Prefecture	FUJISAWA Yuka	Faculty of Nursing
2	General Issues	Local Community Research	Re-evaluating the windbreaks in Sugo, Takizawa-shi as an industrial heritage and creating of health records	SHIMADA Naoaki	Faculty of Policy Studies
3	General Issues	Local Community Research	R&D of a system to support creation of test questions for the Local Expert Certification	TAKAGI Masonori	Faculty of Software Information
4	General Issues	Local Community Research	Exploring the process of value acquisition through making products utilizing Iwate’s local foods to create added value -Working towards revitalizing Iwate Prefectures, and building a business model for its companies-	KONDO Shinichi	Faculty of Policy Studies

◆2016 Academic Year Community Collaboration Research under the Regional Policy Research Center (by faculty proposal, first semester) [Research Period: June 2016 to March 2017]

1	General Issues	Regional Management Research	Gathering and sharing further knowledge and insight on the underground water-type artificial wetlands filter system (which is the regional management research division’s water purification method), in aims of promoting implementation within Iwate Prefecture	TSUJI Morio	Faculty of Policy Studies
2	General Issues	Local Community Research	Research regarding the strategic use of information in Sanriku tourism, with DMO formation in mind	ABE Akihiro	Faculty of Software and Information Science
3	General Issues	Local Community Research	Exploring conservation methods for the endangered Inversiunio Jokohamensis species in collaboration with the community	SUZUKI Masaki	Faculty of Policy Studies
4	General Issues	Regional Management Research	Researching measures to improve medical infrastructure for non-japanese women; giving birth and children’s doctor visits	ISHIBASHI Keitaro	Morioka Junior College

●Regional Cooperative Research(Local Community Proposition Type)

Targeting joint research carried out with local organizations (public bodies such as prefectural and municipal governments, community organizations, NPOs, businesses and so on), our faculty members (researchers) carry out research they propose themselves in response to local needs.

◆2016 Academic Year Community Collaboration Research under the Regional Policy Research Center (by Regional proposal, First semester) [Research Period: June 2016 to March 2017]

No.	Field of Research	Joint Researchers (Name of Proposer's Organization)	Research Topic Name (Topic name after the research planning decision)	Research Representative	Faculty
1	Joboji aria in Ninohe Esashi aria in Osyu Futago aria in Kitakami	Iwate Prefecture Agriculture Forestry and Fishery Department, Agriculture and Forestry Planning Division	On The Ripple Effects of Agricultural Production Activities on the Valley Areas	YOSHINO Hideki	Faculty of Policy Studies
2	Morioka in Iwate Kamakura in Kanagawa	JTB TOHOKU inc.	Research on How to Utilize the “Ingenious IT System” to Contribute to the Regional Economics While Ensuring the Increase in Customer Satisfaction Levels and Increasing Focus on Attracting Foreign Tourists in to the Iwate Prefecture	SAI Dai	Faculty of Software and Information Science
3	Iwatemachi Miyako	Kawaguchi junior high school	Constructing a Regional Disaster Reduction System by Reforming "Community Connection" Centered Around Junior High School Student Activities	ITOU Hideyuki	Faculty of Policy Studies
4	Iwate Around Morioka aria Around Ichinoseki aria	Iwate Prefecture Health and Welfare Department Iwate Prefecture Council of Social Welfare	Research on Optimizing Childcare by Use of ICT	INOUE Takayuki	Faculty of Social Welfare
5	Morioka	Morioka Hachiman Neighborhood Town development planning TOKU PCM Corporation	Exploring the Idea of Creating a 3D Database of Idle Real Estate Including Vacant Houses in Morioka City and Its Use of the Created Database for Regional Regeneration	KURAHARA Munetaka	Faculty of Policy Studies
6	All over Iwate	Iwate Prefectural Environmental Health Research Center	Research on the Assessment of New Nurse Training in Iwate Prefecture	IWABUCHI Mitsuko	Faculty of Nursing
7	Yamagata in Kuji	Kuji City Yamagata General Branch Industry Construction Division	Regeneration of the White Birch Forest In Hiraniwa Highlands, Kuji City	SHIMADA Naoaki	Faculty of Policy Studies
8	Fukuoka Jonouchi in Ninohe	Karumai Town Health and Welfare Division	Research on Visualizing the Kunohe Castle Ruins Using Virtual Reality	PRIMA Oky Dicky Ardiansyah	Faculty of Software and Information Science
9	Morioka	Morioka City Health and Welfare Department Longevity Social Division Morioka City Elderly Club Association	An Empirical Study on the Rejuvenation Plans of Elderly Clubs and Activities	KANNO Michio	Faculty of Social Welfare
10	Morioka	Morioka city Board of education	Utilization of Stored Records by the Media System of the Cultural Asset Garden and Application in Town Planning	DOI Akio	Faculty of Software and Information Science
11	Takizawa	Takizawa Environment Partner Conference	Research On Rare Organisms Living in the Tokusa River Detention Basin in Takizawa city, Including Its Protection	TOYOSHIMA Masayuki	Faculty of Policy Studies
12	All over Iwate Prefecture Hiraizumi aria Hachinohe aria	Iwate Prefecture Health and Welfare Department Regional Welfare Section	Application Trials of Universal Design In Tourism	KANO Toru	Faculty of Social Welfare
13	Miyako area/ Shimohei aria	Iwate Prefecture coast wide area promotion bureau	Evaluation of "Fundamental Miyako · Shimohei Watershed Plan (Watershed Vision)” and Proposal of the "New Fundamental Watershed Plan (Miyako · Shimohei Watershed Vision)" in Accordance with the Current Forest, River and Ocean Conditions of the Coastal Watersheds After the	IZUMI Keiko	Faculty of Policy Studies
14	In Iwate Prefecture (Community health as well as Occupational health agencies)	Iwate Prefecture Stroke Prevention Prefectural Conference	Examination of Health and Prevention Framework in the Workplace -Research on the Health System for Working Generations to Prevent Stroke and Other Lifestyle Diseases-	MATSUKAWA Kumiko	Faculty of Nursing
15	Morioka,Hanamaki	Limited liability partnership Editorial office of town	A Study on Measures to Carry on the Home Spinning Culture in Iwate	KIKUCHI Naoko	Morioka Junior College
16	Miyako,Yamada, Ozuchi,Kamaishi	Iwate women's history spinning party	Learning from History "Women and Reconstruction" – Showa era Sanriku Great Tsunami and Families, as One - Omnibus II	UEDA Masahiro	Miyako Junior College
17	Sanriku coast wide area	Regional Development Office of Iwate Prefecture Policy Area	Building a Simple Tourism Marketing Method for the Sanriku Coastal Area	KANAZAWA Yusuke	Faculty of Policy Studies
18	Morioka	Morioka citizen division gender equality youth department	Examination of Recovery Processes of the Social Reclus, and Creating Role Models	KAWANORI Yoshiya	Faculty of Social Welfare
19	Iwatecho	Iwate Town Ishigami Hill Museum	Information Analysis to Improve the Allure of the Ishigami-no-Oka Museum of Art Outdoor Exhibition Space	ABE Akihiro	Faculty of Software and Information Science
20	Morioka,Tokyo etc	Morioka City Board of Education History Culture	On the Historic Restoration of Morioka Castle Ruins	KURAHARA Munetaka	Faculty of Policy Studies

In order to prevent isolated death and suicide in the disaster area, a number of remote monitoring systems with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) were installed immediately after the earthquake. However, due to the lack of strong coordination with the neighborhood watch, many were short-lived.
With this background, " The Great East Japan Earthquake Accelerated Reconstruction Research Project" begun in the 2004 academic year and lasted two years.
A research team lead by Professor Akiko Ogawa, faculty of Social Welfare, proved the effectiveness of a monitoring portal site combining both human-operated watch groups and ICT monitoring in a field study conducted in Kamaishi city.
We will continue to operate as a new project from the 2016 Academic Year, and we are working to spread this exemplary approach throughout Iwate Prefecture.
We aim for a society with a comprehensive community support system, by building a supportive community and addressing irregularities among elderly people through reliable detection, and preventing isolated death and suicide.