The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Association is a member of the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE Travel Confederation), a not-for-profit organisation which brings together world-leading specialists in student and youth travel services.
The ISIC Association's main product is the ISIC card, the only internationally accepted proof of full-time student status. It is endorsed by organisations such as UNESCO, the European Council on Culture and the Andean Community of Nations. The card is recognised by universities, academic institutions, student organisations, national governments and ministries of education around the world.
The ISIC card is used by over 4.5 million full-time students in 120 countries every year. It gives students access to tens of thousands of student services and benefits worldwide.
The ISIC Association also manages two alternative cards, with similar benefits. The International Youth Travel Card (IYTC card) is for anyone aged under 26. Full-time teachers and professors can get an International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC card).
The ISIC card accounts for approximately 95% of the ISIC Association's card sales.
ISIC cards are distributed in 120 countries through a network of Licensed Authorities, which are usually leading student travel organisations or student unions.
In each country, these Licensed Authorities are exclusively responsible for ISIC card sales, distribution and marketing, as well as for building and managing the portfolio of benefits in that country. ISIC cards are issued through Licensed Authorities' own branches, and through distribution partnerships with other organisations (Appointed Offices) such as universities and banks.
In countries without a Licensed Authority, the ISIC card is distributed through Appointed Offices only, which are directly managed by the ISIC Global Office (IGO).
Each country has a fixed retail price for the ISIC card, which varies between €4 and €20.
In early 2008 the ISIC card was redesigned, to make it easier to incorporate logos of brand co-partners while retaining the familiar ISIC card identity.
A new and stronger logo was designed to make it easier to use online, where branding space is minimal.
Find out more about the new ISIC design and brand
Find out more about becoming a brand co-partner
The ISIC Association is a membership organisation Its members are the 52 Licensed Authorities worldwide. The members come together once a year in an annual general meeting (AGM). At the AGM the members vote on changes to the constitution, convention, association budget and other important matters that relate to the ISIC Association.
Each year at the AGM the members elect 5 new board members on the 10 member board (terms are for two years) The Board meets four times per year. At the first board meeting after the AGM, the chair of the board meeting is elected by the board members.
The
ISIC Association is the sole shareholder of the legal entity 'ISIC Global
Office BV' (IGO). IGO
manages and administers the ISIC Association from its office seat in Amsterdam. The
General Manager of the ISIC Association reports to the board in the board
meetings and together with the ISIC Board to the members in the AGM.
The
IGO is a not-for-profit organisation. Positive surpluses made are gifted to the
ISIC Association. The ISIC Association uses these funds build strong reserves
aimed at the organisation's continuity, and to invest back into projects
related to the ISIC card or to education in general.
The
ISIC Association is a founding and longstanding member of the World Youth
Student and Educational Travel Confederation. In addition, the ISIC Association
is currently candidate-affiliate member in the World Tourism Organisation
(UNWTO) and has an endorsement agreement with the UNESCO.
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