JET Programme

This article is about the Japanese government initiative. For the Joint European Torus, see Joint European Torus.
JET Programme
Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme
Founded1987
Merger ofMonbusho English Fellows Program & British English Teachers Scheme
TypeTeaching English as a foreign language
Location
Membership (2024)
5,861[a]
AffiliationsAssociation for Japan Exchange and Teaching (AJET)
Websitejetprogramme.org/en/ Edit this at Wikidata

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (外国語青年招致事業, Gaikokugo Seinen Shōchi Jigyō), shortly as JET Programme (JETプログラム, Jetto Puroguramu), is a teaching program sponsored by the Japanese government that brings university graduates to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), Sports Education Advisors (SEAs) or as Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) in local governments and boards of education.[1][2]

JET is one of the world's largest international exchange programmes.[3][4] Since 1987, more than 77,000 people from 77 countries have participated in JET.[5] As of July 1, 2024, 5,861 participants from 51 countries were employed on the programme.[6]

Holders of Japanese passports may participate in the programme, but must renounce their Japanese citizenship to do so. The focus of the programme as stated on the JET Programme website is "to promote internationalization in Japan's local communities by improving foreign language education and fostering international exchange at the community level." The JET Programme is not looking and/or hiring teachers but rather looking for cultural ambassadors to assist in foreign language education taught by Japanese Teachers of English. About 90% of the participants on the programme are ALTs;[7] the remaining 10% are divided between CIRs and SEAs. The number of alumni totalled over 57,000 from 54 countries in 2013.[8]


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  1. ^ "Youth Exchange: JET Programme". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ "The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)". Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ^ McCrostie, James (3 May 2017). "As Japan's JET Programme hits its 30s, the jury's still out". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. ^ "About the JET Programme". Japan Local Government Center (CLAIR, New York). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Introduction". JET Programme. 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Participating Countries". Jet Programme. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  7. ^ Hendrickx, Chelsea (2023). "What is the JET Program (Japan Exchange & Teaching Program)?". International TEFL Academy. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  8. ^ "JET Programme History". Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.