DX Next Certification Now Compliant with Digital Skill Standard ver.2.0: Rapid Response to New National Standards Designing DX by "Role"

Next Education Think Co., Ltd. (NET), an educational service venture specializing in scientific skill and competency assessment, education and training, and organizational HR analysis consulting (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Tomoya Sasage), announced that starting from the 17th DX Next Certification™ (to be held in July 2026), the exam will be conducted in compliance with the 'Digital Skill Standard ver.2.0' (hereinafter 'DSS ver.2.0') published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) on April 16, 2026. The company previously announced on April 1, 2026, that it would fully align its 'DX Certification', which boasts over 80,000 cumulative examinees and adoption by more than 1,500 companies and local governments, with the 'Digital Skill Standard (DSS)' and significantly relaunch it as the 'DX Next Certification™' starting this July. The company is now rapidly responding to the major version update to DSS ver.2.0. Organizations can utilize this certification to objectively measure and evaluate the 'DX human resource requirements' demanded by companies against the latest national standards. Additionally, official e-learning purchasers will be provided with video content explaining the overview of DSS ver.2.0. 'DX Next Certification™' Official Site: https://www.nextet.net/netkentei/dx-next/

■ Background: The Turning Point Signaled by DSS ver.2.0 The 'DSS ver.2.0' published on April 16, 2026, marks the first major version update in approximately three and a half years since its formulation in December 2022. Key changes include the reorganization from 'Human Resource Types' required for DX promotion to 'Types (Role Groups)', as well as the restructuring of the 'Data Preparation and Utilization' domain and the creation of a new 'Data Management' type. With the expanding use of AI, visualizing capabilities—including data preparation, quality, and governance, which are prerequisites for value creation—has become a crucial theme in corporate talent development. ■ Key Points of DX Next Certification's Compliance with DSS ver.2.0 [Point 1] Exam Syllabus Fully Compliant with National Standard 'DSS ver.2.0' The exam scope has been redesigned based on the learning item examples in the DSS ver.2.0 common skill list. [Point 2] Result Reports Updated to Match DSS ver.2.0 The exam results report will be updated to visualize an individual's strengths and areas for growth from the perspective of DSS ver.2.0 categories. [Point 3] Free 'Company-wide Aggregate Report' for Corporate Applicants For companies applying for corporate group exams, exam results will be aggregated by company and provided in a format that can be used for training plans and placement considerations. [Point 4] 'DSS ver.2.0' Learning Videos Provided to Official E-learning Purchasers Video content will be provided to efficiently learn the overview of DSS ver.2.0 and the changes from ver.1.2. In addition to the overall picture of common skill items, it includes explanations of key terms newly added to the learning item examples from DSS ver.2.0. ■ About the NET Certification Series The 'DX Next Certification™' is the core test of the 'NET Certification Series', which aims to guide all business professionals living in the era of DX and Generative AI to become DX-capable human resources. - Cumulative examinees: Over 80,000 - Adopting companies and local governments: Over 1,500 - Utilized across a wide range of industries and job types The lineup also includes the 'DX Business Certification™'. ■ DX Next Certification™ Overview [Exam Name] DX Next Certification™ [Compliance Standard] 'Digital Skill Standard (DSS) V2.0' formulated by METI/IPA [Exam Format] Online exam (CBT method) [Exam Duration] 60 minutes [Exam Fee] 6,600 yen (tax included) [Next Exam Date] *17th Exam - Corporate Exam: Thursday, July 9, 2026, 11:00-12:00 / 13:00-14:00 - Individual Exam: Sunday, July 26, 2026, 13:00-14:00 [Group Exam] Individual scheduling available for groups of 50 or more [Official Study Material] 'DX Study™ e-learning' (Exam-compliant learning material equipped with certificate issuance and assessment features. Discount applies when purchased simultaneously with the exam application. Purchasers receive DSS ver.2.0 learning videos.) [Details/Application] https://www.nextet.net/netkentei/dx-next/ [Inquiries] https://www.nextet.net/netkentei/contact-faq/dx-next/ ■ Company Profile Name: Next Education Think Co., Ltd. CEO: Tomoya Sasage Location: Hongo Shintoku Bldg. 7F, 3-38-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Established: October 25, 1999 Business: HR assessment, organizational analysis, HR consulting business, education and training business, HR development-related system development business, etc. Capital: 30 million yen Affiliations: JUAS, JCSSA, JTAG Foundation, Japan Association for Research on Testing, Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, iCDA ★ Features and Track Record of Next Education Think's Assessment Business Under the ideal that 'a company is its people,' Next Education Think leverages highly accurate cloud-based assessments in the vital field of 'human resource development' during this era of human capital management. Just as modern medicine digitally and scientifically grasps symptoms before accurately diagnosing and prescribing for individuals, the company has developed unique, effective DX-utilized talent analysis and training methods. These methods objectively and quantitatively visualize individual skills and competencies (behavioral traits that yield results) using digital technology, focusing on the fact that each person has a different way of developing their abilities, to provide optimal, scientific education and training for diverse talent. Over the past 10 years, the company has conducted diagnoses and analyses for over 4 million people across 1,500 companies, including major and mid-sized enterprises. By utilizing statistical data, big data, AI, and more, they support corporate management through swift and scientific hiring, optimal placement, evaluation, training, leader 'human power' development, linkage with talent management systems, and consulting for discovering and training DX and innovative talent.