Supporters' GiiQ Project Wins Good Design Award for Innovative IT Talent Development

Supporters' GiiQ Project Earns Prestigious Good Design Award

Supporters Inc., a group company of CARTA HOLDINGS based in Tokyo, is proud to announce that its innovative initiative, the GiiQ Project, has received the esteemed Good Design Award 2025. This award underscores the project's significant contribution to alleviating Japan's IT staffing shortage while enhancing recruitment efficiency. The GiiQ Project is a community-driven recruitment service aimed at nurturing IT engineering talents across all academic years.

Overview of GiiQ Project

The GiiQ Project is an extensive career development program designed for students nationwide, regardless of their year of study. It focuses on cultivating engineers who think independently and innovate. The program involves over 150 activities per year, including study sessions and hackathons, providing diverse, hands-on experiences. This unique development cycle that combines both input and output enables participating students to enhance their technical skills and gain practical experience, preparing them to be effective contributors in the workforce.

Since its inception, the project has attracted over 55,000 participants and resulted in more than 2,000 projects. It caters to a broad spectrum of talent, transcending traditional academic boundaries. Notably, many successful cases have emerged, such as liberal arts students securing positions at companies they met during events and computer science students who became passionate about creating products through hackathons, later establishing their own manufacturing circles and mentoring juniors.

In response to the growing challenge of IT talent shortages, the GiiQ Project aims to achieve a win-win scenario for society, students, and companies. Starting in 2024, the project will launch offline events across various locations in Japan, with plans for further enhancements in 2025.

Evaluation from the Judging Committee

The project's establishment of a collaborative learning framework for students and companies in light of the pressing IT talent shortage has received high praise. The initiative's ability to offer a progressively structured program, supported by participating companies at no cost, creates an accessible learning environment for a wide range of participants. Through practical experiences like seminars and hackathons, students not only enhance their technical skills but also deepen their understanding of career development. Interaction with active engineers fosters cross-generational learning and contributes to sustainable recruitment strategies for companies. This innovative ecosystem connects people, companies, education, and society, marking its significance in the industry.

Remarks from Toshio Kuwahara, Project Head

Toshio Kuwahara, an executive officer at Supporters, expressed his gratitude for the recognition: “We are truly honored to receive the Good Design Award for the GiiQ Project. In tackling the pressing issue of the IT engineer talent shortage, we have been committed to creating a nurturing ground for future leaders in collaboration with our sponsoring companies. We are delighted that our unique approach has been valued as a significant contribution to society. Moving forward, we remain dedicated to believing in the potential of young IT engineers and supporting their growth.”

About Good Design Award

The Good Design Award, initiated in 1957, is a prestigious recognition that promotes activities aimed at improving our lives and society through design. It acknowledges various products, architectures, software, systems, and services that positively impact the user experience. The award, recognized by the iconic “G Mark,” evaluates and honors designs based on their quality and their ability to fulfill ideals or purposes.

For more details, visit the Good Design Award website: Good Design Award.

About Supporters Inc.

Established in April 2012 as a subsidiary of VOYAGE GROUP (now CARTA HOLDINGS), Supporters Inc. aspires to increase the number of “cool adults.” With a focus on graduate recruitment in engineering roles, it has supported recruitment efforts for around 1,000 companies and provided career assistance to approximately 70,000 student engineers, boasting the largest registered student engineer base in Japan. The company conducts over 200 events annually, fostering a vibrant community.