KDDI Agile Development Center Wins Excellence Award at HR's SDGs Awards 2026

KDDI Agile Development Center Recognized at HR's SDGs Awards 2026

The KDDI Agile Development Center (KAG), based in Minato, Tokyo, has proudly announced its receipt of an Excellence Award in the 'Work Responsibility and Work Freedom' category at the HR's SDGs Awards 2026, organized by One HR. This recognition highlights KDDI's dedication to innovative human resource practices that align with sustainable development goals.

About the HR's SDGs Awards

Established in 2017, the HR's SDGs Awards are spearheaded by the HR community known as One HR. This annual award celebrates exceptional human resource initiatives and systems that contribute to sustainable growth for individuals and organizations alike. The 2026 ceremony marks the third edition of this prestigious event, with the 'Work Responsibility and Work Freedom' category specifically focusing on balancing defined roles with individual freedoms.

KAG's Approach to New Graduate Recruiting

Since its establishment in May 2022, KAG has maintained a firm commitment to recruiting new graduates, despite a climate where many companies have reduced their intake due to the rise of generative AI. KAG positions new graduate recruitment as a top priority, emphasizing the growth of talent that not only possesses technical skills but also understands and embodies the company's culture and values. In total, KAG has successfully onboarded 67 new graduates across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 graduating classes, with 19, 26, and 22 hires, respectively.

To facilitate their development, KAG provides a comprehensive four-month training program for new employees. This program encompasses essential topics such as technology, agile methodologies, customer value, team development, and psychological safety. Following this initial training, continuous support is offered through HR consultations and ongoing follow-up sessions in the first year.

Additionally, KAG actively fosters opportunities for its new recruits to apply their learning in practical settings. This includes public speaking at internal and external events, contributions to Qiita for technical knowledge sharing, AI hackathons, and support for project-based learning at universities. By positioning new graduates as active contributors from their first year, rather than mere learners, KAG has established an innovative model for talent development that nurtures both technical abilities and cultural alignment within the organization.

Achievements and Contributions

The achievements of KAG’s new graduates in their inaugural year are impressive:

- Participation in over 20 internal and external activities
- Contributions to Qiita by 19 team members, resulting in 74 publications
- Presentations at the KAG AI WEEK with 7 representatives and 8 sessions in total
- Successful participation in company hackathons with 10 and 11 participants in the first and second events, respectively, leading to award-winning outcomes
- External recognitions such as an Outstanding Award at an AWS-hosted hackathon, a prize from the Qiita x Findy project, selection as AWS Community Builders, and conducting 350 user experience demonstrations at RSGT2026.

Remarks from the CHRO

In response to the award, KAG’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Takamitsu Dobashi, expressed pride in the company’s commitment to new graduate recruitment and development. He stated that fostering an environment that supports new employees' challenges has always been a top priority for KAG. Recognizing the proactive actions of each new recruit—who have taken the initiative to seize opportunities and create substantial contributions—was a significant factor in receiving this award.

Dobashi emphasized that KAG will continue to support individual challenges across the organization, aiming to align personal growth with the company's growth trajectory.

Future Initiatives

As we advance into a future shaped by AI, KAG reaffirms its belief that it is people who shape tomorrow. The organization is committed to maintaining an environment where new recruits can thrive as key players in addressing customer challenges from day one. KAG plans to continually align individual employee development with organizational success, marking its path forward in the ever-evolving landscape.