Paiza Establishes Educational Partnership with Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School to Bridge Gender Gap in IT

Paiza Partners with Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School

In a landmark collaboration, Paiza Co., Ltd., which operates the programming employment and learning platform "paiza," has entered into an educational partnership with Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School. Located in Nakagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture, this initiative aims to accelerate the development of female students poised to take on roles in the IT industry. Paiza adheres to the educational policy of "Enjoy the Challenge," aligning with the school's philosophy under Principal Shota Shibayama.

As part of this agreement, Paiza will enhance its support for ongoing programming education through the "Paiza Learning School Free Pass," enabling students to gain valuable skills. Additionally, the initiative will provide crucial information to aid in career choices, contributing to closing the gender gap in the IT field and addressing the regional shortage of IT talent.

Responding to Industry Challenges

The current landscape in the IT industry predicts a shortage of up to 790,000 personnel by 2030, with over 72.9% of companies in Kyushu, including Fukuoka, indicating a lack of IT engineers. This stark shortage emphasizes the urgent need for skilled professionals, particularly women, who currently make up only 20% of the workforce in IT engineering.

Paiza's mission is to create a unique platform that consistently facilitates growth for both individuals and businesses. With educational institutions across Japan benefiting from the "Paiza Learning School Free Pass," which surpassed 200,000 coupon issuances in the 2024 fiscal year and involves 648 schools, the company is committed to nurturing the next generation of engineers.

This partnership builds on existing collaborations, where Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School has previously implemented the "Paiza Learning School Free Pass." The formalization of this agreement will strengthen their cooperative efforts, actively working towards resolving the challenges facing the IT sector. By encouraging female students to explore the possibilities of IT, the partnership aims to inspire them to consider careers in the technology field.

The Third IT Talent Development Event: "IT Expands My Future"

The first tangible outcome following the partnership is the hosting of the third edition of the IT talent development event titled "IT Expands My Future," scheduled for July 16, 2025. This event is targeted toward female students and follows similar successful events held at Kyoto Women’s University and Yamagata Nishihigh School.

Event Overview:

- Time: 13:30 - 17:00
- Activities include a lecture, programming workshop, breaks, and a discussion session with students from Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School’s AI club.

During the opening lecture, Paiza's CEO Ryohei Katayama talked about the realities of working in the IT sector, sharing insights on potential career paths and the culture within tech workplaces. Engaging guest speaker Makoto Shinda, an engineering manager at LayerX's Bakuraku division, discussed her journey as a female engineer and the challenges she faced.

The students showed great enthusiasm while participating in a programming workshop, where they gained hands-on experience writing code. Many expressed a newfound interest in learning more about programming. Positive feedback highlighted moments of realization as students witnessed their code come to life, stating, "It was challenging, but I felt exhilarated when it worked!" and "I now want to learn more about programming!"

A discussion panel featuring fellow students and AI club members allowed participants to share experiences and aspirations, further inspiring younger students.

Date: July 16, 2025

Feedback from attendees captures the essence of the event:

- "I had never considered a career in IT until I learned how much I didn’t know. I want to explore more professions in the future." (1st Year, Special Advancement Course)
- "I always thought engineers were just super smart people working with computers, but now I see it as a fun profession! I realize it’s not as distant as I thought." (2nd Year, Information Course)
- "Given how crucial tech evolved, pursuing a career in an advancing IT company sounds appealing now." (2nd Year, Business Beauty Course)

Future Prospects

Paiza is committed to fostering growth in skills and opportunities for women in tech. This educational partnership with Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School is a critical step towards addressing gender disparity in the tech sector while enhancing community IT capabilities. As part of their broader vision, both Paiza and Fukuoka Women's Commercial High School aim to empower the next generation of female tech leaders.

About Paiza

Established in February 2012, Paiza serves as a learning and job placement platform tailored to IT engineers, promoting the maximization of human potential. With nearly 890,000 registered users and partnerships with over 4,700 companies, Paiza is providing vital support in cultivating a thriving ecosystem for IT engineers in Japan.

For further insights into this partnership, visit Tech Team Journal (TTJ): Tech Team Journal Event Coverage.