KDDI Agile Development Center Wins Excellence Award at HR's SDGs Award 2026 in the 'Work Responsibility, Work Freedom' Category

KDDI Agile Development Center (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Keiichi Kogure; hereinafter 'KAG') is pleased to announce that it has received the Excellence Award in the 'Work Responsibility, Work Freedom' category at the HR's SDGs Award 2026, hosted by the HR community 'One HR'.

About the HR's SDGs Award

The HR's SDGs Award is hosted by 'One HR', an HR-focused community established in 2017. The award recognizes unique HR policies and systems that support the sustainable growth of individuals and companies, and 2026 marks its third iteration. The 'Work Responsibility, Work Freedom' category highlights initiatives that successfully balance clearly defined roles with individual freedom.

Overview of the Award-Winning Initiative

Since its founding in 2022, while some companies have reduced new graduate hiring due to the spread of generative AI, KAG has positioned new graduate recruitment as a top management priority. Emphasizing the self-cultivation of talent that inherits KAG's culture and values, the company has hired a total of 67 individuals across the 24, 25, and 26 graduation classes (19, 26, and 22, respectively).

Upon joining, employees undergo a 4-month training program. This program systematically covers technology, agile methodology, customer value, team development, psychological safety, and KAG’s unique working style. Following assignment, the company provides continuous support through HR interviews and follow-up training for first-year employees.

Furthermore, KAG intentionally creates opportunities for new hires to apply what they have learned and contribute back to the community, such as speaking at internal and external events, publishing technical articles on Qiita, participating in AI hackathons, and supporting university-level Problem-Based Learning (PBL). By positioning new employees not merely as 'individuals being trained', but as 'key players who build KAG’s future from their first year', the company practices a talent development model that cultivates both technical skills and culture in-house.

Specific Achievements

- External and internal activities participated in by first-year '25 graduates: Over 20 - Technical articles published on Qiita: 74 in total by 19 employees - Appearances at KAG AI WEEK: 7 employees across 8 sessions - Internal AI Hackathon: 10 participants in the first round, 11 in the second, with award winners produced - External achievements: Excellence Award at an AWS-hosted hackathon, awards in Qiita x Findy projects, selection as an AWS Community Builder, and conducting a 350-person experience demo at RSGT2026

Comment from the CHRO

Since our establishment, we have positioned new graduate recruitment and development as key management initiatives, working as an entire company to create an environment that supports the challenges taken on by our new graduates.

We believe this award recognizes not only our training design and support system but, above all, the fact that each individual new hire acted independently, seized opportunities, and produced various results. I am extremely proud of our new employees who have been sharing their knowledge internally and externally, turning learning into practice, and spreading a positive influence since their first year.

KAG will continue to be a company that supports each employee's challenges and intertwines individual growth with organizational growth.

Takayuki Dobashi, CHRO, KDDI Agile Development Center

Future Outlook

Even in the age of AI, it is people who create the future. KAG will continue to provide an environment where new employees can actively engage as 'key players who solve customer problems' immediately upon joining, and will continue to align individual growth with organizational development.