2021.05.28

In 2021, Nagaoka University received The Award for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology for the ninth consecutive year.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) presents the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to individuals who have achieved outstanding results in research and development in science and technology, and the promotion of public understanding thereof. The three individuals below received the award on behalf of the Nagaoka University of Technology in recognition of its achievements in activities “Promoting public understanding and awareness of science and technology education aimed at fulfilling the SDGs.”

Awards for Science and Technology (Public Understanding Promotion Category)
“Promoting public understanding and awareness of science and technology education aimed at fulfilling the SDGs.”
YAMAGUCHI Takashi, Professor, Department of Science of Technology Innovation
KATSUMI Mami, UEA, Center for International Industry-Academia Collaboration
ICHITSUBO Makoto, Former professor, Department of General Education (currently Professor, Center for IT-Based Education, Toyohashi University of Technology)

Summary of the Award
As Nagaoka University of Technology that takes a spirit of VOS (Vitality, Originality, Services) as its motto, we are engaged in activities that emphasize “S (Services to society).” Through SDG games and lectures, we create opportunities for people to engage with the SDGs in a more approachable way, raising awareness of the SDGs in local communities (primary and secondary education, higher education, businesses, citizens, etc.) and promoting community service activities aimed at fulfilling the SDGs, such as encouraging local communities to think of the SDGs as something relevant to them personally.

STI-Gigaku, an international conference for discussing ways to solve global social issues, has been held every year since 2016, run by Nagaoka University of Technology’s students with support and cooperation from the National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College and other KOSEN (Colleges of technology) throughout Japan, companies, Nagaoka City and other local governments, UNESCO, and other organizations. The conference aims to promote education, research, information exchange, and awareness raising aimed at fulfilling the SDGs. The “SDG Educational Game” devised by our students, which won the Science Agora Award from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) in 2017, is provided free of charge to local governments, educational institutions, and companies for use in events and training. The GIGAKU SDG Institute was developed as an engineering education program that incorporates the SDGs into practical engineering education. In 2018, Nagaoka University of Technology’s “GIGAKU SDG Institute” was certified as a UNESCO Chair on Engineering Education for Sustainable Development, the first UNESCO Chair program at a Japanese engineering university. From a research standpoint, we are also playing a key role in the Nagaoka Water Innovation Hub, promoting an understanding of water resource use that contributes to the SDGs, technology development through industry–academia–government–finance collaboration, and human resource development.

Our activities, such as the ongoing hosting of international conferences, the provision of education for enhancing understanding of science and technology in cooperation with local governments, and the establishment of SDGs human resource development programs in collaboration with domestic and international organizations, have won high praise around the world, leading to our appointment in 2018 as the United Nations Academic Impact Hub for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). In addition, following the appointment, NUT was designated as a recipient of the SDGs Private Placement Bonds handled by Resona Holdings,Inc. and Kansai Mirai Financial Group,Inc. The funds will mainly be used for scholarships for international students (SDG Professional Course students) from developing countries, contributing to the improvement of the global standard of science and technology.
Taking encouragement from this award, we will continue to promote public understanding and awareness of science and technology education aimed at fulfilling the SDGs.