Youth program participant raising their hand in class.

Building Bridges: KU Global Youth Academy

One campus. One world.

A Summer Program of a Lifetime

The Building Bridges program is an immersive summer program for international and domestic high school students at the University of Kansas. Students from various backgrounds come together to experience U.S. university life and gain real experience in multicultural environments.
A youth program participant smiling at other participants in class.

We Build...

Participants dancing in a talent show

Connections

Bridges participants will meet and develop relationships with others around their age from all around the world. Gaining and maintaining these connections and relationships will be valuable not only during the program, but afterwards as a potential collegiate, professional, or friendly network that spans the globe.
A youth participant climbing a rock wall

Leadership

One of the main goals of university is to develop the next generation of leaders. Leadership skills are cross-disciplinary and buildable. The Bridges program provides an opportunity for participants to discover their leadership potential in a supportive environment of their peers.
Youth participants doing a teamwork challenge.

Teamwork

No matter what career someone goes into, being able to work on a team will be important. The Bridges program allows participants to work together on projects and in workshops, but will develop the ability to work on teams with people who speak different languages and from different cultures.
An ISP participant giving a speech.

Confidence

For young people looking to travel to other countries or cultures, whether for pleasure, business, or school, confidence will be key. Participating in an international program as a young person helps that confidence grow and flourish early, making cross-cultural experiences more likely to be successful and enjoyable.

Apply Now!

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