We believe leadership is the practice of identifying what is important and needed, working effectively with others, and taking purposeful action to create positive change.
• Identify what is most important and needed
• Take action in the face of discomfort
• Use diversity as a strength
• Support others in this practice
Students develop five leadership skills: Awareness, Connecting, Action-Taking, Self-Discipline, and Creativity.
These skills underpin the ISAK Leadership Model and are developed through the Leadership and Innovation program, academic coursework, community engagement, and student-led initiatives throughout Grades 10–12.
Within the UWC movement, ISAK is distinctive for its emphasis on developing the mindset and skills needed to innovate and lead positive change in the community. Through human-centered design, students learn to understand people’s needs, gather evidence, challenge assumptions, and identify opportunities for meaningful impact. They learn to see problems as opportunities, move from insight to action, and build the communication and collaborative skills that make ideas viable. It is a framework for engaging seriously with the world.
Students need more than technical knowledge to navigate a society being reshaped by artificial intelligence. They need the ability to use emerging technologies thoughtfully, ethically, and purposefully.
Students learn to work alongside AI to strengthen research, challenge assumptions, explore ideas, and improve decision-making while keeping human needs and values at the center of the process. By developing this capacity, students learn to use AI as a tool for learning, creativity, and positive impact rather than simply a source of answers.
Leadership development begins with the Grade 10 Leadership and Innovation course, where students develop human-centered solutions to real problems in the school, the local community, and beyond. The journey continues through the IB years via Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), student-led clubs and initiatives, and the many opportunities students have to shape life at ISAK. Many students carry their Grade 10 projects forward into increasingly ambitious initiatives throughout the IB Diploma Programme.
Leadership extends far beyond the classroom. Students take their learning into Karuizawa and the surrounding region through community partnerships, cultural engagement, service initiatives, and student-led projects.
Whether participating in local activities, collaborating with community organizations, or creating opportunities for others to learn and connect, students are encouraged to identify opportunities, take initiative, and contribute positively to the communities of which they are a part. These experiences provide authentic opportunities for students to apply the leadership skills they have developed and demonstrate the ISAK Leadership Model in practice.
To see how ISAK students and alumni are applying these principles beyond campus, visit the ISAK Impact Hub.
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