Building Bridges: A KU Global Youth Academy
New for 2026...
KU International Short Programs has created the "Building Bridges: A KU Global Youth Academy," a 10-day immersive summer program for international and domestic high school students at the University of Kansas. Students from various backgrounds will come together to experience U.S. university life and gain real experience in multicultural environments.
We will build...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eligibility
Ages:
Any student aged 13 to 17 may participate.
English Ability:
Following the application, all participants will be required to participate in an English Assessment, to ensure participants can use English at least at a high-beginner level.
Cost
The program cost is $2,400 USD. This price includes:
- Housing for the entire program in an on-campus dormitory
- Includes bed linens
- Three meals a day, every day of the program
- Transportation to all program events
- All activity & program costs.
Safety
At KU
International Short Programs staff take the safety and security of all participants very seriously, and the Bridges program is no exception. All Bridges participants have access to a 24/7 emergency phone number that connects them immediately with program staff who are trained in various emergency procedures including illness, injury, and lost items. In addition, staff has strong contacts with other KU units that may provide assistance for other emergencies like early program departures due to emergencies at home.
While at KU, participants will have emergency contact cards with them at all times and be given emergency action information including how to access the most up-to-date information about any emergencies at KU, so they and their families can feel confident that participants will be able to handle most emergencies.
The dormitories on KU's campus are kept very secure all year, with required keycard access, monitored entrances, and security patrols standard. As part of the Bridges program, there will also be program staff chaperones staying in a separate room on the same floor near the participants for overnight concerns.
Getting to KU
Program staff is available to provide support with specific concerns before, during, and even after the program, and are happy to work with participants and their families to find the most comfortable travel process for them, whether a participant is coming from a block away from campus or flying internationally. Staff know in particular that international air travel can be stressful. There are many different ways for people under 18 to travel safely internationally, from communicating through airports to "Unaccompanied Minor" programs through major airlines like American, Delta, and United.
No matter what plan is decided on, Bridges program staff will be greeting participants at the airport or assigned on-campus drop-off points with water, snacks, and smiles!