Fiscal year 2007 was the school's third year as a public university corporation; with the administrative system that had previously been established as the basis, we worked on many issues such as strategies in light of the school's 10th anniversary, realization of IT industry integration, evaluation based on certification and attitude that promotes renovation and improvement, consideration of the personnel system, and promotion of international exchanges. We especially made efforts and progress in the following areas:

1. Making the School More Appealing and Drawing Motivated Students

• We have expanded the variety of certification curricula, such as: teaching certificate program in the Faculty of Social Welfare; certification acquisition support in the Faculty of Policy Studies; cancer nursing CNS course for the Cancer Professionals Training Plan established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT), in the Faculty of Nursing.
• We have strived to make the school more appealing through efforts such as: promoting lesson improvements; expanding the international students support fund; strengthening student support by setting up the Volunteer Center, etc.; and strengthening employment support by hiring business professionals as lecturers.
• As a result of earnest efforts to publicize the appeal of the school, such as building a network with high schools by holding admission information sessions in the northern and coastal areas, and giving lectures on demand, we were able to meet the enrollment standard for the 2008 admission.

	Peer Supporter		Student Volunteer Center

2. Further Strengthening of General Education

• Aiming to establish a system of providing a variety of liberal arts courses, we have made efforts to nurture diverse and comprehensive points of view and interpersonal relations, by organizing a system of common courses for the 4 undergraduate faculties, and promoting teamwork-oriented small-class teaching in information literacy classes.

3. Enrichment of Practical Professional Education

• 	International Exchange GP

  Through Project Seminars, which involve students from all years, and accreditation of two of the embedded system courses, we have built a training curriculum which meets the social needs (Faculty of Software and Information Science).
• By creating new practical training classes in the administration and management course, and hence providing hands-on learning opportunities in all of the courses, we have established a system for a more practical education (Faculty of Policy Studies).
• Through efforts such as the Support Program for Distinctive University Education (Distinctive GP) by MEXT, Community Vitalization Program with a Focus on Food, Clothing, and Housing, and multicultural exchange projects and forums with professors from our partner schools abroad, we have contributed to the globalization and vitalization of the local community.
• By opening seminars for the second term of the first year, we have established a comprehensive seminar education system which provides more opportunities to learn about local community issues.

4. Returning the Benefits of Researches to the Community and Obtaining Outside Research Funding

	Iwate Community-Building University Kanegasaki School

As we promote original and distinctive researches, we have also put our research results to practical use in various ways: setting up a new researchers information system; building a network with industries; practical use of intellectual property rights; 10 patent applications; Iwate Community-Building University Kanegasaki School, a collaborative project with the community by the Faculty of Policy Studies; Iwate Food Map by the Faculty of Software and Information Science and Morioka Junior College; and a joint development of frozen foods for the elderly.

We also made efforts to obtain outside research funding; as a result, the number of grant applications, the number of successful grant applications, and the grant amount increased from the previous year. (number of applications: 83 in 2007, to 88 in 2008; number of successful applications: 17 in 2007, to 25 in 2008; grant amount: 56,700,000 yen in 2007, to 74,470,000 yen in 2008)

The construction of the Takizawa Village IPU Innovation Center (tentatively named), which was being discussed with Takizawa Village for the embodiment of the school's IT industry integration scheme in concert with the prefectural strategy for industrial growth, has been decided upon, with a subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Efforts like this were made to establish a system of returning research benefits to the community.

5. Enrichment of Education Programs for Working Adults as a Means of Community Contribution

	Relearning GP

We have enjoyed an increase in the number of working adult applicants, as a result of efforts to meet the environmental needs of working students, such as: introduction of extended registration system; utilization of the education and training benefits system established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; and opening of night and weekend classes.

We also promoted measures to support career enhancement for working adults, such as: the embedded system engineer training program and the IPU Information System School in the Faculty of Software and Information Science; and courses for nurse-teachers authorized by the Educational Personnel Certification Law in the Faculty of Nursing. In the Faculty of Social Welfare, the skill-building program for local welfare and childcare commissioners was selected by MEXT for Education Promotion Program to Meet the Relearning Needs of Working Adults.