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Okayama University Releases J-PEAKS Monthly Digest Vol. 19

Okayama University, under the leadership of President Yasuto Nasu, has officially released the 19th volume of the "J-PEAKS Monthly Digest" on December 22, 2023. This release comes following the university's selection for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Regional Core and Distinctive Research University Strengthening Project" (J-PEAKS), backed by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

This significant initiative has allocated approximately 5.5 billion yen over five years to enhance the research capabilities of participating universities across Japan. Okayama University aims to realize its long-term vision for 2050, which emphasizes co-creating the future of both the region and the planet through research that contributes to global innovation.

The J-PEAKS initiative is essential for Okayama University as it seeks not only to establish itself as a research and development base but also to assert its prestige as a core university representing Japan's research landscape. To achieve this, the university is committed to reforming its organizational structure and system, breaking away from traditional norms. The goal is to foster a collaborative atmosphere that promotes research capability enhancement and innovation creation, engaging with a variety of stakeholders.

This volume of the digest continues to delve into topics closely tied to the J-PEAKS initiative. It features a special feature discussing the transformational impact of utilizing educational big data to facilitate societal change in education at the local level. Additionally, it showcases advanced research equipment with a focus on the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler, underlining the university's commitment to cutting-edge research.

Professor Takafumi Terazawa from Okayama University's Graduate School of Education remarked on the critical social challenges faced across Japan, ranging from poverty to the presence of foreign labor. He emphasized the potential for utilizing educational big data through the J-PEAKS initiative to tackle these regional issues. By integrating MSS— a core technology derived from innovative scheduling—the university aims to bridge gaps in knowledge and provide lasting solutions.

This volume also highlights a variety of topics:
1. The arrival of an era where human involvement in knowledge acquisition may no longer be essential, prompting significant changes in education and advertising.
2. Strengthened collaborations in hearing support with Oticon, a leading global hearing aid manufacturer.
3. The hosting of a comprehensive knowledge workshop by Okayama University in collaboration with Japan's Cabinet Office.
4. A recent exchange of information and site visit to Nagaoka University of Technology to observe remote control devices as part of inter-university collaboration.
5. The inaugural ceremony for the "Maniwa Satellite Campus," which aims to further strengthen local education and research efforts.

Furthermore, the digest mentions the establishment of the joint research course on carbohydrates and plant biochemistry with Nagase Vita, which addresses food security issues in the context of global warming.

Okayama University is committed to leading not just within academia but also in lifting the standards of research and innovation nationally and globally. Through the J-PEAKS initiative, the university invites everyone to follow their journey in building a formidable network of world-class research institutions, demonstrating that collaboration can redefine possibilities for the future.

For further insights, readers can download Volume 19 of the J-PEAKS Monthly Digest from this link.

As Okayama University continues to develop its role as a transformative research institution, all eyes are set on its progressive path toward creating a "mountain of distinguished research universities" on a global scale.