The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme

The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme is operated by local governments in cooperation with the three ministries, namely the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, alongside CLAIR.

The purpose of the Programme is to increase mutual understanding between Japan and the people of other nations as well as to promote the internationalization of Japan's local communities by helping to improve foreign language education and developing international exchange at the community level.

Participants are assigned to be either Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) who work in local communities on international exchange activities, Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) who provide language instructions in junior and senior high school classrooms, or Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs) who promote international exchange through sports. Participants are placed by local governments throughout the nation in every imaginable kind of community from large cities to small towns and villages.

The Role of CLAIR in the JET Programme

To ensure the smooth implementation of the JET Programme, the three ministries, local governments, and CLAIR have specific roles. CLAIR facilitates communications between the three ministries, determines participant placement with Contracting Organizations, and provides assistance and guidance to Contracting Organizations. CLAIR is responsible for conferences and seminars, counselling for participants, and promotional activities for the Programme.

For more information on the JET Programme, please visit the official JET Programme web site at http://www.jetprogramme.org/index.html.