1. Campus Development
Lab 1 is operating at full capacity, and Lab 2 was progressively occupied from completion in June 2012, with 90% of space now allocated. The Auditorium was used regularly for both internal and external events. Lab 3’s detailed design was completed and construction bidding carried out.
The first phase of Campus Village housing was completed in September 2012, with the occupancy rate now above 90%. The second phase of the Campus Village will be completed in June 2013. Leasing and/or fit-out of facilities in the Collaboration Center was completed. The temporary Child Development Center (CDC) completed and put into operation from January 2013, with enrolment applications already exceeding capacity.
Pre- and post-contract information was disclosed in accordance with legal requirements.
2. University Community and Education/Childcare Services
(1) Developing the University Community
The Welcome Club complemented the OIST Relocation Section's activity for OIST employees families, in connection with local communities, with particular care to help crossing the language and cultural barrier. The club organized events like outings including kayaking, diving, BBQ etc., and other events were co-organized with the Committee for the promotion of Onna Village, such as cooking classes, Halloween, flea market. Each of these events attracted 50 to 100.
With the support of the OPG, the Welcome Club established a network to help the spouses of OIST members with their job searches.
The Welcome Club launched its own Facebook page and a Website to share useful information on life in Okinawa to complement OIST’s TIDA site (CDC, Japanese driving license, job hunting, shopping, etc) - http://www.oistwelcomeclub.com/wordpress/.
(2) Education and Childcare Services for OIST Families
As a result of coordination with OPG, the Prefectural Board of Education, and the Onna Village Board of Education, an “International Classroom” has been established at the Onna Elementary and Junior High School, and it has begun to provide English-language instruction in core subjects with a bilingual teacher. In addition, with support from OPG, after-school English courses, both Beginners’ and Advanced, were provided for OIST and local children at Onna schools.
Based on the results of demand surveys and analysis of the childcare requirement for OIST faculty, staff and students, the Child Development Center Establishing Board was created and adopted a plan for building a tentative childcare facility on the premises of the OIST campus. OIST CDC named Tedako opened on January 7, 2013. The OIST CDC offers the following services for the children of OIST employees and students:
- Tedako Pre-School: Full-time care for children 2 months to 6 years of age and part-time care for children attending local kindergarten. Hours are from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday through Friday.
- After-School: Part-time care for children 6 years of age and above. Hours are from 15:00 to 18:00, Monday through Friday.
- Holiday Program: Full-time care for children on OIST work days during school holidays.
- Buses: OIST will provide transportation for children from local schools and kindergartens to the CDC where possible.
(3) Student Support
3. Safety and Environment Protection
An appropriate structure for safety management on campus was developed and put into effect. A consultant was engaged to carry out a comprehensive risk analysis study.
Facility Management staff underwent disaster prevention training and obtained the necessary qualifications for safety management on the campus. Drills and training for all staff were held in evacuation, fire-fighting and earthquake and other emergency response procedures.
Safety and Health Committee was held every month and discussed any risks in the safety and health. The committee performed monthly workplace review to check for any potential dangers in the facility and its operation. Research Safety Section organized "Hiyari-Hatto," or "nearly accident", reporting project to share experiences of dangers among OIST staff and students.
Discussions with Onna-son were held concerning use of the campus as a refuge center.
OIST-developed technology was selected by the OPG Commerce and Labor Division for a field trial. This technology, called Microbial Fuel Cell, combines selection of microbial population with elaborated design of electrolytic cells to develop new approach to sewage treatment by which water purification generates electricity and improves the energy balance of the process. The pilot system is installed in a local Awamori brewery to clean the waste water from the Awamori Plant. It is planned for expansion to other plants producing high level of biological wastes, in particular food processing plants which are of particular importance for Okinawa economy.
All categories of garbage and lab wastes were strictly separated and each type of waste material was treated, sent offsite for recycling or disposed of in accordance with statutory requirements.
Energy use was monitored and continuing efforts made to optimize operations in order to minimize consumption. The total floor area of buildings in operation increased during the year from 30,000sqm to 59,000sqm (95%), but primary energy consumption only increased by 27% over the previous year.
All water used in the buildings was treated on site and recycled, with the treated grey water used in lavatories and for irrigation. Continual monitoring of the water quality was carried out to ensure there was no detrimental impact on the environment.
Construction operations were strictly monitored and necessary countermeasures, including use of catchment ponds and turbid water treatment plants to prevent red-soil run-off.
An extensive program of planting was carried out around the buildings, maximizing the use of indigenous species to preserve the natural balance and ensure maximum resistance against typhoons.