At the Ministry of the Environment's 12th Good Life Awards, the activities of the Ryukoku University Faculty of Policy Studies Sumoto Project won the Minister of the Environment Award in the Schools category.
The Good Life Awards aims to create an environmentally friendly society, and solicits, introduces and recognizes activities and initiatives related to "living a life that is good for the environment and society" that are being carried out all over Japan.
The Faculty of Policy Studies Sumoto Project, which won the award this time, has been ongoing for 2013 years since 11, in collaboration with the city hall of Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture, local businesses, local residents and university students. So far, a small hydroelectric power generation system (storage capacity 3kWh) has been installed in Chigusa Takehara, the "Toshigashinike Reservoir Solar Power Plant" (output 50kW) has been installed at Toshigashinike in Ayuhara Toshiga, Goshiki Town, and the "Ryukoku Float Solar Park Sumoto" (output 1,500kW) at Mikita Oike in Nakagawara Town. PS Sumoto Co., Ltd., established by faculty members of the Faculty of Policy Studies, operates the two float solar power plants, and the profits from selling electricity are used to solve local issues and create local businesses, such as solving the problem of abandoned bamboo forests, renovating old houses in the area, and revitalizing depopulated villages.
The award was given in recognition of four collaborative activities between the university and the local community: "4. Building a small-scale hydroelectric power generation system that utilizes existing waterways, a float solar power plant that utilizes an agricultural reservoir, and activities to revitalize the local area through the profits from selling electricity," "XNUMX. Renovating vacant houses in small communities, developing local base facilities, and working to resolve the issue of abandoned bamboo forests," "XNUMX. Creating a renewable energy business that contributes to the local community by utilizing local resources such as rivers and agricultural reservoirs to generate electricity while seeking coexistence with agriculture," and "XNUMX. Actively developing activities that can be carried out by university students in various locations within Sumoto City."
Through the 11-year collaboration between Ryukoku University and Sumoto City, some students who have been involved with Sumoto City have continued to attend after graduation and have deepened their ties with local residents, while some graduates have decided to become leaders in the local community and have even moved there. Ryukoku University will continue to promote regional academic cooperation with Sumoto City in order to realize a sustainable society.
