KOKUYO Launches New Programs for "KOKUYO DIGITAL ACADEMY" to Accelerate Digital Talent Development

KOKUYO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka; President: Hidekuni Kuroda) is pleased to announce the launch of new programs for its digital talent cultivation initiative, "KOKUYO DIGITAL ACADEMY" (KDA). The updated curriculum was unveiled during a kickoff event held on May 27.

Under its "Long-term Vision CCC2030," KOKUYO aims to realize an "Autonomous Collaborative Society." As part of "KOKUYO Academia," the central human resource development institution, KDA was established in June 2023. KDA's philosophy focuses on "bottom-up transformation," where frontline employees use digital strengths to change mindsets and organizational culture, rather than just acquiring technical skills.

As of May 2026, over 1,800 employees have completed KDA programs. Since 2025, selected programs have been opened to partner companies. Moving forward, KDA will implement the following expansions:

1. Expansion of Partner Programs While Standard-level AI and IT courses have been available to partners since 2025, the Standard-level Data Driven (DD) course will be added in July 2026. This makes all Standard-level lectures accessible to external partners.

2. New Advanced Level Courses Two new specialized courses have been established: "AI Advanced (Liberal Arts AI Development)" and "DD Advanced (Data Science)."

Program Structure: KDA features a systematic path across three categories: AI (Artificial Intelligence), IT (Information Technology), and DD (Data Driven). Each offers "Standard" (Lectures and Practice) and "Advanced" (Lectures) levels.

- AI Advanced: Focuses on an "AI-native" workflow, training talent to automate back-office operations and lead AI-driven business transformation. - DD Advanced: Focuses on the mathematical background of analysis, enabling talent to make data-driven decisions and structure complex business contexts logically.

2026 Kickoff Event Highlights: The event featured a keynote by Zenichiro Uragami (Itochu Corporation) on "Grounded AIX" and stories from KDA graduates illustrating behavioral changes in the workplace. KOKUYO aims to foster an organizational culture where every individual serves as a starting point for innovation.