University of Kitakyushu and WingArc1st sign industry-academia collaboration agreement

The University of Kitakyushu and WingArc1st Inc. signed an industry-academia collaboration agreement on 4 December, 2024, with the aim of collaborating in education and research, promoting the exchange of human and material resources, and contributing to human resource development and economic development in the local community.

The two organizations will collaborate on education at the University of Kitakyushu's Faculty of Information Innovation (tentative name, currently under construction), which is scheduled to open in April 2027. The faculty aims to produce highly skilled professionals with the ability to utilize cutting-edge information engineering technology, as well as digital talent who will contribute to promoting GX and resolving issues in local communities.

１．Background and purpose of this initiative
In response to the growing demand for digital talent, the University of Kitakyushu will open a new faculty, the Faculty of Information Innovation, in April 2027. It aims to provide practical education in collaboration with companies in the city and to produce highly skilled digital talent. To achieve this goal, the university will incorporate Project Based Learning (PBL) in collaboration with many companies, as well as building a new campus in Kokura, where IT companies are concentrated, and creating an environment that makes it easy to conduct education in collaboration with industry.

WingArc1st is a professional data utilization company that has been helping many companies and government agencies improve their business efficiency and performance for over 20 years. Its vision is to "Empower Data, Innovate the Business, Shape the Future - Add value to information, bring transformation to companies, and create a future for society."

In 2020, WingArc1st signed a partnership agreement with Giravanz Kitakyushu, and in 2023 we signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Kitakyushu City to promote DX and GX in local companies, support startups, attract companies, and promote digital administration. In July 2024, we will establish a regional revitalization lab at BIZIA Kokura.

The industry-academia collaboration agreement builds on these future-oriented efforts by both parties, and aims to create the ready-to-work talent that the local community needs, equipped with the problem-solving skills required in real business situations.

WingArc 1st will provide scholarship support that will cover up to the full tuition fees for the Faculty of Information Innovation. Additionally, we plan to incorporate collaborative education into the curriculum, including fieldwork to collect and analyze real data, as well as entrepreneurial education. The purpose of this program is to develop students' practical skills and equip them with the basic skills necessary for working life.

２．Agreement signed: December 4, 2024 (Wednesday)

【Image of PBL in industry-academia collaboration】