Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences [IAMAS]

In 1996, Gifu Prefecture established the Gifu Prefectural International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences as a European-type vocational school, based on its policy of advanced information technology and the concept of research and educational institution as a base for fostering leaders of industrial culture together with Softopia Japan.

The Art and Media Laboratory Department produced media masters, and the Multimedia Studio Department educated information specialists. The Art and Media Laboratory Department had produced students from all over Japan who had finished their undergraduate and were aiming to start their own businesses or engage in expressive activities in a new cross-disciplinary research field. While the Multimedia Studio Department produced many students from local high schools and the general public from various fields to learn expressive techniques using information technology. In addition, many students who had graduated from the studio course then moved onto the laboratory courses.

In 2001, the Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences was established as a unique educational and research institution with one major and one graduate school for a small number of students (capacity of 20). The following year in 2002 the Art and Media Laboratory Department was abolished.

The name IAMAS is an acronym taken from the English names of both schools “Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences” and “International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences”. Students came from all over Japan to attend IAMAS.

At the time of the Institute’s opening, the Cultural Media Center (CMC) was established as a subsidiary organization to engage in publishing and holding exhibitions both inside and outside IAMAS. Media Design became the school's driving focus. In 2010, it was decided that IAMAS’ goals should include promotion of local Industries, and the name of the CMC was changed to the Research Center for Industrial Culture (RCIC). While tackling activities both creative and industrial, IAMAS continues to transmit new media creation to the region and the nation.

In 2011, the International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences was shut down as part of Gifu Prefecture’s "Action Plan," closing the doors on the school’s 16 year history.

The Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences Department of Media Creation, while using cutting-edge media to get the region involved in our activities and striving to propose and implement new shapes of future society and culture, has taken the first steps on its new path as IAMAS.

History

1996: International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS) is founded.
Art and Media Laboratory Department and Multimedia Studio Department established.
Itsuo Sakane is appointed first Academy president.
Artist in residence program is started.
Construction finished on the Multi-media Workshop.
Logo created (designed by Yasuhito Nagahara).
1997: Construction completed on the IAMAS student dormitory (RIST)
2000: New school building completed in Ryoukecho.
Four course multimedia studio laboratory system introduced.
2001: Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences, Media Creation Department graduate course established.
Media Creation Department four studio system begins.
Cultural Media Center established.
2002: Closure of the International Academy of Media Art and Science's Multimedia Laboratory Department.
2003: Tadashi Yokoyama is appointed 2nd President of Institute and Academy.
2005: Exchange student agreement made with The University of Art and Design Linz.
2006: Ceremony held to commemorate the school's 10th anniversary.
Media Creation Department four studio system changed to five studio system.
2009: Atsuhito Sekiguchi is appointed third president of Institute and Academy.
Artist in residence system discontinued.
2010: Cultural Media Center reorganized into Research Center for Industrial Cultures.
2011: Agreement concluded with National Institute of Technology Gifu College.
2012: Media Creation Department changed from studio system to research field system.
International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences shut down as part of Gifu Prefecture’s "Action Plan."
2013: Shigeki Yoshida is appointed fourth president of IAMAS.
2014: School relocated to Softopia Japan complex.
Research field system absorbed into Project system.
RCIC annex shut down due to relocation.
2017: Ceremony held to commemorate the school's 20th anniversary.
Mashiro Miwa is appointed fifth president of IAMAS.
2021: Doctoral Program Establishment.
Sixth School President, Nobuya Suzuki.

Companies that have partnered with IAMAS

2004: Gifu Metalworking Industrial Park Association.
2005: Three-party partnership agreement between IAMAS, Ogaki city, and Gifu Prefecture Print Industry Association Seino Branch.
2006: Three-party agreement between IAMAS, Gifu Prefecture, and Microsoft Corporation.
2013: Juroku Bank, Ltd.
2014: Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd.
2014: Gifu Industries' Association