On August 28, Okayama University acquired a new Kurumin next-generation certification logo, provided to enterprises that actively support their employees’ working life compatible with child care. This is the third time the university has acquired the certificate following the second time in 2015. Among national university corporations, Okayama University is the third university to receive the Kurumin certification three times, and second such organization in Okayama Prefecture.

The university’s Organization for Diversity Management formulated its 5th Phase General Employer Action Plan (April 2015 to March 2018) in accordance with the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children. Among other changes, the plan reviewed and revised the child nursing care system and admission criteria, aiming to improve the university’s childcare facilities and encourage use of the facilities. Moreover, to further encourage employees to taking childcare leaves, the university issued a leaflet introducing Okayama University’s childcare support system; experience notes of male faculty members, “Okayama University Daddies’ Child-Care Essays Vol. 3”; and other materials. In AY2015, the university established the Okayama Diversity Promotion Executive Committee jointly with Okayama Prefecture and the Okayama Association of Corporate Executives. The university also has strived to disseminate information for wider society by holding a joint industry-academia-government event titled “Symposium on Matchmaking between Students and Companies Aiming for Gender Equality.” On the same day, Izumi Yamada, Director of the Employment Environment and Equal Employment Department of the Okayama Labor Bureau visited the university to give the Notification of Certificate for General Employer Conforming to Standards to Executive Vice President Kayo Takahashi of Okayama University.