Financial Education
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Citi's philosophy provides that, with financial education, everyone has the chance to make their dreams come true. In light of increased deregulation in Japan, consumers are being encouraged to take more personal responsibility and initiative in the financial sector. Citi feels that this creates a need for learning materials and support for financial education programs, so that the next generation of children can learn not just about money and the economy, but also how to think effectively, and ultimately plan their careers and lives in order to realize their dreams.
As part of Citi's financial education programs, the "Travel to the Future" web site was set up jointly with National Institute on Consumer Education. Its aim is for users, mainly junior high school students, to gain a basic understanding of financial matters and the economy, as well as to acquire the capability to make proper judgments in their respective personal lives.
Travel to the Future, which uses animation, consists of three sections (the Lecture Room, the License Test Room and the Simulation Room) that allows users to learn in a fun and easy-to-understand way. After studying and passing an exam to gain their travel license, in the Simulation Room, the user can map out their future "financial life" with their customized personal character, by choosing a variety of life events and scenarios.
"Travel to the Future" can also be used for social studies, civics or homemaking classes as well as preparations or reviews of work experience activities at junior high schools. Furthermore, this is useful as a tool to discuss family budget, choice of occupation, and in designing one's personal life between parents and children at home.
Move to Travel to the Future (Japanese only)
Related press release (PDF:81KB)
This is a program developed by Junior Achievement for learning by experience through virtual "cities" constructed in elementary schools. The objective is to give students an understanding of the formation of society and their role within it, and thereby instill a public consciousness and sense of responsibility. This program was first introduced in Japan in 2003, the first country where it was implemented outside of the United States. After advanced study in the classroom, children take part in firsthand learning under the program for an entire day and acquire knowledge about the economy while taking turns playing the roles of worker and consumer. The program was first staged in elementary schools in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward in May 2003.
Student City opened at a new location within the ward on June 11, 2011.The Citibank branch was also reborn as a Smart Banking branch, featuring touch panels and the latest in banking technology, providing the children with a fun learning environment.
Citi in Japan, in cooperation with the National Institute on Consumer Education ("NICE"), launched a new financial education program, "Financial Life Skills and Money Management for Women", commencing October 2011. The classes are part of the financial and economic education assistance which Citi provides as a contribution to society worldwide, and for 2011, have targeted members of regional women's organizations that are part of the National Federation of Regional Women's Organizations. This is the first time for Citi in Japan to implement a financial and economic education program specifically for middle-aged and elderly women.
Related press release (PDF:53KB)
MESE (Management & Economic Simulation Exercise) is a computer-simulated program, in which teams of students make production and marketing decisions about an imaginary product. During the simulation, students decide on pricing, production amounts, marketing budgets, capital investment and R&D spending. The most successful teams are those that best balance supply and demand at the highest levels of production and price. Since 1998, Citi has supported the program and championship competitions have been held at Citi in Tokyo.
315 teams, comprising a total of 1,002 students from 75 middle schools, high schools, and universities from all over Japan, participated in the most recent contest. Eight teams from seven schools from all over the country qualified for the final round gathered at Citigroup Japan Holdings in Tokyo.
Further details are available on the Junior Achievement Japan website.
Move to the website of Junior Achievement Japan (Japanese only)
Citi supports for the National Economics Quiz Tournament (Economics Koshien) as the educational sponsor. This program has been conducted by the Association for the Promotion of Financial Literacy since 2006 and is designed for high school students to aim to acquire the knowledge of economy and finance in a fun way. In the most recent tournament, 1,068 students from 201 schools across Japan took part.
Move to the website of Association for the Promotion of Financial Literacy (Japanese only)
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