JACK (Junior Associates with a Confidence in KIP): KIP Programs for High School Students
Background
The KIP High School Program was launched in response to feedback from university students and working professionals who, after participating in KIP discussions, often said, “I wish I had done this when I was younger”.
Purpose
The goal of this program is to cultivate “global and confident juniors who know their own country” through discussions with senior KIP members, both university students and young professionals. By attending forums and engaging in preparatory study sessions, participants learn about Japan from various perspectives and develop their ability to think critically. Participants can also gain practical experience in articulating their opinions logically, which is a skill especially valuable for students who wish to study abroad.
Characteristics
The program’s greatest feature is that high school students have an opportunity to join the discussions alongside university students and young professionals, which is not easily provided in ordinary environments.
Each high school participant is required to share their opinion at least once per session, ensuring active participation. While the program includes lectures to input new knowledge, a more crucial goal is to let participants practice output, brushing up skills to express opinions clearly and logically in various settings through experiential learning.
For high school students who plan to study abroad, this program offers early exposure to diverse perspectives through interaction with university students and young professionals. Forums cover a wide range of interdisciplinary topics and may also serve as a valuable opportunity to gain insights and information useful for participants’ future academic and career planning.
Activities
- Monthly forums
- The Shiwasukai meeting (year-end gathering)
JACK high school students’ online discussion sessions twice per year (themes decided by high school students themselves)
Membership Information
Activity Days: Generally Saturdays and Sundays (to make it easier for working young professionals to join the program)
Location: International House of Japan (https://ihj.global/) and online (for members living outside the Tokyo area)
Annual Fee: ¥5,000 (Third-year high school students may join either the first or second half of the year only, but the anual fee remains the same)
