In April 2026, Kanagawa Prefectural Odawara Johoku Technical High School and Kanagawa Prefectural Oi High School—both partner institutions of the university—will be reorganized and integrated to form Kanagawa Prefectural Odawara Kita High School. Taking this opportunity, a new consortium, the “Odakita Regional Industry Human Resource Development Consortium,” has been established to promote the sustainable development of regional industries and the cultivation of next-generation talent.

This initiative aims to create a virtuous cycle by integrating three key elements: the educational foundation of high schools, the technical expertise and practical know-how of industry, and the advanced academic research of universities. The consortium brings together local construction company Katsumata Corporation, home builder Ichijo Co., Ltd., and Kanagawa Institute of Technology as a higher education institution.

To mark the launch of this new collaborative framework, a signing ceremony for the partnership agreement was held on February 5 at Odawara Johoku Technical High School, attended by representatives from the two high schools, the two companies, and the university.

From Kanagawa Institute of Technology, President Satoru Inoue was present and delivered remarks, stating: “By leveraging the broad range of research achievements and educational resources in engineering at our university for early career education among high school students, we aim to establish a foundation for nurturing future engineers and researchers who will support Japan’s science and technology. We are committed to serving as a bridge that stimulates students’ intellectual curiosity and guides them toward more advanced learning.”