Contribution to the Community
Since its establishment, Osaka City University has contributed to the development of the local community in its role as the academic institution for the citizens of Osaka City. In response to various demands, OCU has offered special lectures on a wide variety of subjects and aspires to be a "University Accessible to Everyone."
Open Classes
The university opens some classes to the public, providing opportunities for local citizens to receive higher education. This program has been carried out since 1994.
Internet Seminar
As a trial use of multi-media, 10 on-line classes including all faculties have been presented, with participation by 726 students, as of 2006. The contents of the lectures are revised once a month and the courses last for one year.
Free Legal Aid Service
Free legal aid service has been provided since 1951 in order to help members of the public with legal problems and to provide opportunities for students to gain practical experience. The hours of operation are from 15:00 to 17:00 on Wednesdays.
Free Consulting Service for Family & Child Development Problems
Academic members of the Graduate School of Human Life Science have engaged in consultation and guidance for those who have questions and problems concerning child and family development.
Seminar for the Public
This project was started in 1972 to satisfy the public desire to learn and to share with the public the results of academic research conducted by university faculty members. In 2006, a six-day seminar on common sense was held, drawing an audience of 658.
Medical Seminar for the Public
Taking advantage of the occasion of the establishment of the Medical Information Center's, the Medical Seminar program was initiated in 1996 in order to deepen public knowledge regarding the treatment and prevention of diseases. In 2006, 10 seminar sessions were held, attracting a total 1,840 participants.
Academic Extension Center
The Center is responsible for disseminating the results of research conducted at the University through extra-mural lectures. Lectures are given on a wide variety of subjects by University staff, former staff members and other specialists. For this purpose, the Center is located in a convenient central part of the City.
Osaka City University Business Incubator
The Business Incubator was established in October 2002 for local entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to create new venture businesses or develop new products by making the most of the results of research conducted by university researchers.
Currently, full-time industry-university coordinators are assisting the 12 occupants of the Business Incubator laboratories by matching their 'needs' with the 'seeds' of university research, as well as advising and supporting them on
management and financial issues.
Research Center for Industry Innovation
In October 2003, the university reinforced its overall capabilities for industry-university cooperation by setting up the Research Center for Industry Innovation (Sugimoto Campus) to vitalize the local economy through the creation of new businesses. This was a constructive and innovative approach aimed at developing industry-university joint research projects to make use of the university's characteristics and to meet the needs of industry.
In March 2004, the Research Center for Industry Innovation established the Laboratories for Research of Health & Preventive Medicine (Abeno Campus). This was part of the university's venture to create a center of excellence for the research and development of health and preventive medicine such as R&D of nutrition and protective foods, and health-related services, which are expected to become a growth industry in the next generation.