Waseda University's Smart SE DX Course to Launch in October / DX Exchange Forum and Information Session on July 18

Waseda University (headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Aiji Tanaka, hereinafter 'Waseda') has been selected for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) FY2025 Supplementary Budget's 'Industry-Academia Re-skilling Ecosystem Construction Project*1' with its proposal titled 'Smart SE Agentive Transformation.' This initiative integrates generative AI and AI agents based on generative AI (hereinafter 'generative AI agents') not only into educational content but also into teaching methods, learning support, assessment, and operations, earning high recognition as a 'DX Leadership Development Program'.

Following this selection, Smart SE will launch a next-generation educational model that integrates generative AI agents into curricula and learning support systems. Moreover, Smart SE will go beyond merely providing a learning environment with generative AI agents. To serve industry needs, it will continue to pursue new value creation by supporting enterprise DX implementation, skill visualization, and integration into internal evaluation systems aligned with organizational growth models.

[Features of the Smart SE Program]

Feature 1: Learning Support via Generative AI Agents

Introduces lecture Q&A support, group work TA functions, and self-study material generation tools to help learners achieve high educational outcomes within limited time.

Feature 2: Digital Skill Certification

Graduates will receive 'Open Badges' to objectively demonstrate their acquired skills and knowledge both within and outside their organizations.

Feature 3: Cyclical Ecosystem Beyond Completion

Establishes communities (e.g., via Slack) for alumni, provides career support, and fosters a network with pathways to becoming future practitioner-instructors (educational advisors).

[Smart SE DX Course: October Launch and Enrollment]

The DX Course aims to cultivate talent capable of driving value enhancement across enterprises and stakeholders by addressing new challenges arising from technological evolution. Each subject integrates topics related to generative AI and generative AI agents, while also incorporating practical applications of generative AI tools during lectures. As the capstone of the DX Course, participants will tackle real-world challenges through seminar-style guidance led directly by university faculty and practitioner-instructors, fully leveraging knowledge gained across all program modules. This includes planning digital transformation (DX) initiatives—such as business transformation and new digital business model development through data and digital technologies—as well as analysis, demand forecasting, and prototyping for such plans.

● Target Learner Profile

Individuals who understand the essence of digital domains and DX, and who can lead new business creation and operational transformation through DX.

· For details, visit the URL below:

https://www.waseda.jp/inst/smartse/curriculum_dx/certificate

● Target Participants

Corporate Strategy: Professionals aiming to enhance data and digital capabilities, develop future-oriented visions and business designs, and promote agility by leveraging their business experience.

Sales/Marketing: Individuals seeking to strengthen data analytics and digital skills, design customer-centric businesses, adapt to market changes, and improve operational efficiency by leveraging customer insights.

Information Systems: Technically experienced professionals aiming to enhance digital application and conceptualization skills to design and implement valuable digital business solutions.

Other Business Units: Individuals seeking to systematically understand DX, automate and transform their own roles, and scale these improvements across the organization.

● Smart SE DX Course Overview

Duration

October 3, 2026 (Sat) – March 13, 2027 (Sat)

Capacity

30 participants

Subjects Offered

12 subjects

Format

Online (Zoom)

Partially hybrid (in-person at Nishi-Waseda Campus + Zoom)

Eligibility

Must possess university entrance qualifications and have practical business experience.

Selection Process

Document review and interviews

※ Interviews will only be conducted for candidates deemed necessary during the selection process.

Application Period

July 9, 2026 (Thu) – August 29, 2026 (Sat) [Notification of acceptance: September 1, 2026 (Tue)]

Details and Registration

For more information and to apply, visit the website below:

https://www.waseda.jp/inst/smartse/curriculum_dx/guideline

Tuition Fee

495,000 JPY (tax included)

Completion Requirements

Completion of 60+ hours, including 24 hours of mandatory courses

Certificate

Issuance of Waseda University Certificate of Completion (can be listed on resumes)

Training Allowance Program

Designated as a 'Specific General Training Program' (eligible for up to 50% reimbursement of tuition fees)

[DX Technology Exchange Forum and Information Session – Now Accepting Participants]

With the rapid adoption of generative AI, advancing DX within enterprises and cultivating highly skilled DX professionals have become urgent priorities. This forum will share success stories of practical transformation demonstrated by program graduates, along with collaborative achievements from the 'Ishikawa School,' which drives regional revitalization. Featuring the latest insights and case studies, the forum will focus on how learning can be directly linked to corporate profitability, showcasing how this program can contribute to solving organizational challenges and generating tangible business outcomes.

Additionally, the information session for the next 'DX Course' will be held concurrently during the forum.

Event Overview

Date and Time: July 18, 2026 (Sat) 15:00–17:30

(※ Networking session for attendees will be held at the same venue after the event – optional participation)

Format: Hybrid Event

[In-person attendance] Komatsu 100th Anniversary Hall, B1F, Research and Innovation Center, Waseda University (Building 121)

[Online attendance] Zoom

Participation Fee: Free

Target Audience: Corporate DX leaders, HR/training managers, business professionals considering enrollment

Application Deadline: July 17, 2026 (Fri) 15:00

Details and Registration URL: https://www.waseda.jp/inst/smartse/news/7990

Key Program Agenda

① Invited Lecture

· Masato Ogawa (Representative, Akatsuki Connect / IT Coordinator)

"What Truly Works for DX in Regional SME Manufacturing in the AI Era"

~ Skills and Mindset Required for the 'Translator' Bridging Field Operations, Management, and IT ~

② Practical Case Presentations by Graduates

· Tomohiro Okamoto (Nitto Denko Micro Devices Corporation)

"Practicing Caregiving DX Starting from Excretion Data – Validating a Concept Developed in Smart SE at a Care Facility via PoC"

· Shunsuke Suda (Canon Imaging Systems Corporation)

"Transforming Smart SE Learning into Organizational AX Advancement – Practical Transformation through Generative AI Utilization and AI Talent Development"

③ Panel Discussion

"Accelerating 'Organizational DX' by Learning from Graduate Practices – Turning Individual Growth into Corporate Profit through Practical Transformation and ROI"

[About Smart SE]

Smart SE*2 is a recurrent education program launched in 2018 as a subsidized project under MEXT's five-year 'Establishment of IT Talent Development Hubs for Growth Fields (enPiT) enPiT-Pro' initiative (2017–2021), designed to cultivate innovative and DX-ready talent in AI, IoT, and big data technologies.