About International Student Conferences, Inc.
What is ISC?
International Student Conferences, Inc. (ISC) is a non-profit organization located in Washington, DC. It facilitates three academic and cultural exchange programs organized by university students: the Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) launched in 1934 and the Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) launched in 2008. In 2012, it launched the US-Japan-Korea Trilateral Forum, a week-long program for its JASC/KASC Executive Committee Members, and the China-America Student Conference (ChASC) launched in 2020.. To learn more about ISC please visit our about page
Each conference invites students with diverse backgrounds from each of the two countries to spend an intense month living, traveling, and studying together. These delegates will collaborate with leaders in business, academia, and government on contemporary social, economic, and political issues that face both of their countries and the world as a whole.
Each conference is managed by Executive Committee members (students who were elected by their peers from the previous conference) from both countries who work in collaboration with ISC, Inc. in Washington, DC. JASC also works in partnership with the International Education Center in Tokyo.
What goes on at the Conference?
During the Conference, delegates will participate in both Online and In-Person Progamming including academic roundtable discussions, cultural and social events, lectures and panel presentations. These experiences will provide a foundation for mutual understanding, social awareness, cultural sensitivity, and exchange of ideas. More importantly, the bonds that will form as a result of the students living and working together will offer the basis for life-long friendships that will further strengthen the ties between the countries.
ChASC: The China-America Student Conference is hosted in the U.S. The 2023 Conference will take place from June 5th to June 17th in Washington, DC and New York.
KASC: Delegates visit both South Korea and the U.S. The 2023 Conference will take place from July 11th to July 30th in Washington DC, Seoul, and Boryeong.
JASC: Japan and the U.S. alternate hosting the Conference each year. The 2023 conference will take place in Japan from July 30th to August 26th. The sites chosen are Kyoto, Nagasaki, and Tokyo.
Who are the delegates, and how are they selected?
Delegates are college students (undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. programs) from a diverse range of majors and backgrounds. All conferences are conducted in English, so students must be proficient in the language. Each year, the Executive Committee (students who were elected by their peers from the previous year’s conference) reviews applications and selects students based on their application materials. The selection process may differ slightly every year due to new Executive Committees being elected after each conference.
Can I still apply to JASC/KASC/ChASC if…
- I do not have a Japanese/Korean/Chinese/American background —Yes! JASC/KASC/ChASC does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, marital status or sexual orientation.
- I am not fluent in Japanese/Korean/Mandarin/Cantonese —Yes. The official Conference language is English.
- I am a graduate student/Ph.D. candidate —Yes! All students attending an accredited university during the 2021-2022 academic year are eligible.
- I am a college senior about to graduate —Yes! As long as you are enrolled as a university student at the time of application, you are eligible.
- I am a JASC/KASC/ChASC alumni —Yes! You can either apply for the same conference again or another conference as long as you are still enrolled as a student.
- I was previously applied and was not accepted? —Yes!
- I am not an American citizen —Yes. However, you must have a visa that allows you to travel in the host country for the duration of the program. ISC cannot sponsor visas. For further questions, please contact ISC as well as your country’s respective consulate or embassy.
For JASC: If you are a Japanese citizen enrolled full-time in an American university, please apply through ISC’s website (see below for more information). If you are a Japanese citizen enrolled in a Japanese university, please apply through International Education Center (IEC) in Tokyo at https://kjass.net/jasc-japan/. - I am a student who is taking part in an one-year exchange program to an American University/College
Yes, as long as you have a visa that allows you to travel in the host country for the duration of the program. ISC cannot sponsor visas.
JASC: A Japanese student who is currently studying in an American institution as part of an exchange program is qualified to apply as an American delegate. However, the duration of the exchange program should last one year or longer, and the student is required to be enrolled as a full-time student.
Japanese applicants who meets the above criteria will be reviewed alongside American applicants with the same standards set by the American Executive Committee. Please note that JASC is a rigorous academic program conducted in English, and that all delegates are expected to write essays and engage in academic discussions at a level equivalent to American college students. You will at least need an English ability equivalent of TOEFL iBT 102-108 or IELTS 7.5.
Can I miss part of the Conference? Short answer: no.
For KASC: If you are accepted as an American delegate you are required to arrive at the selected U.S. destination on July 11th and fully participate in the Conference until July 30th, 2023. If you are accepted as a Korean delegate, you are required to depart from Seoul on July 11th, 2023 and participate in the Conference until July 30th.
For JASC: If you are accepted as an American delegate, you are required to participate in all programming during American Orientation and the Conference. There will also be pre-conference programming and activities including roundtable meetings. For the In-Person Conference, you are required to arrive at Los Angeles for American Orientation on July 29, 2023 and participate in the Conference until August 26, 2023.
For ChASC: If you are accepted as a delegate you are required to arrive in the first site by the Conference start date and participate in the Conference until July 17th, 2023.
Can you accommodate disabilities?
International Student Conferences, Inc. (ISC) prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any applicant or delegate because of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status (special disabled veterans, disabled veterans and Vietnam-era veterans), or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law. All persons who are responsible for reviewing and accepting applicants are charged to support this effort and to respond promptly and appropriately to any concerns that are brought to their attention. You may contact the ISC office directly with any questions or concerns, or to report a problem.
If you are applying for JASC/KASC/ChASC and have a disability that requires accommodations (wheelchair accessible housing, need for sign language translator, etc.) or questions regarding accommodations, please contact ISC directly as soon as possible to discuss options.
When will I know the results of my application?
Both JASC and KASC are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified within two weeks of sending their completed applications on whether they have been selected for a short (up to 30 minutes) interview. From there, applicants will be notified within two weeks of whether they have been accepted.
Due to the large amount of applications, we recommend completing your application as early as possible.
I’m having problems with my application – what can I do?
You can reach the Executive Committee of JASC at jasc@iscdc.org, for KASC at kasc@iscdc.org and for ChASC at chasc@iscdc.org.
Summer 2023
What is the impact of the Coronavirus on Summer 2023 Conferences?
At this time, International Student Conferences, Inc. (ISC), International Education Center (IEC) in Tokyo, and the JASC75 Executive Committee Members plan to have the 75th Japan-America Student Conference in person in Japan. It is thus extremely important for prospective applicants and delegates to be mindful of COVID-19 entry and quarantine restrictions, as well as COVID mitigation measures.
For Japan: As of October 11, 2022, travelers to Japan are required to show either a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate of three doses of vaccines prescribed on the Emergency Use List of World Health Organization (WHO), or a certificate of negative test result of pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to departure from the original country/region (if unvaccinated). For the JCOVDEN intramuscular injection/Janssenand CONVIDECIA/CanSinoBiologics only in case of primary series, one dose is considered equivalent to two doses. Current JASC procedures require prospective delegates and delegates to submit up-to-date vaccinations of three doses or medical exemptions before the conference. Face masks are worn almost everywhere in Japan, and it is recommended to wash your hands or apply hand sanitizer frequently. The U.S. Embassy in Japan maintains a COVID-19 information page with comprehensive information and updates on COVID-19-related travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for U.S. citizens. We also strongly recommend all prospective delegates to carefully review the information on Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s (MOFA) website, which provides official guidance. Please note this guidance is subject to change with little notice.
For KASC: Non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants must show proof of being fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine before boarding a flight to the United States. You are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart*
Effective January 5, 2023 at 12:01AM ET, there are new requirements for air passengers traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 10 days. These passengers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before their flight departs. Those who had COVID-19 in the 90 days before their travel to the United States can instead show documentation of recovery from COVID-19.
For any further questions, please contact ISC at info@iscdc.org or at (202) 289-9088.
What is the participation fee, and what does it cover?
The following fees are for Conferences taking place in 2023.
JASC (American Delegates): $3,500
This fee covers transportation between sites during the Conference, accommodations, food, and programming. Delegates are responsible for personal expenses (extra food, gifts, etc.) as well as transportation to Los Angeles for American Orientation (AO), and transportation home from Los Angeles when we return from Japan.
KASC (American Delegates): $3,500
This fee covers online programming two international flights, costs, ground transportation during the In-Person Conference, accommodation, food, and programming. Delegates are responsible for personal expenses (extra food, gifts, etc.) as well as domestic transportation to Washington DC and from final location of your international return flight (Washington, DC).
KASC (Korean Delegates): $3,500
This fee covers, online orientation costs, two international flights and ground transportation during the conference, accommodation, food, and programming. Delegates are responsible for personal expenses (extra food, gifts, etc.) and for domestic transportation to Seoul and from Boryeong.
ChASC Delegates: $2,000
This fee covers all ground transportation during the conference, accommodation, food, and programming. Delegates are responsible for personal expenses (extra food, gifts, etc.) and for transportation to the first site and from the final site.
Does ISC provide any financial aid?
Since 2022, ISC has provided one scholarship for each of its facilitated Conferences through the Plant a Diplomatic “Tree” Scholarship Fund. This scholarship will cover the full $3,500 participation fee (but does not cover domestic delegate transport at the start and end of JASC and KASC). This scholarship is needs-based and only supports one delegate per conference, so ISC encourages you to also look into other funding options. For more information regarding finances and a list of potential scholarships, please click here. Please contact ISC at info@iscdc.org or any of the individual Conferences for any financial inquiries.
What is PayPal Giving Fund (PPGF) and why is it used for online payment?
PayPal Giving Fund (PPGF) is a 501(c)3 public charity that uses PayPal technology to financially support nonprofits, without charging donors or charities for our services. Through PPGF, PayPal covers all fees meaning, 100% of your payment goes directly to Conference expenses and 0% to fees.
How can I stay in touch with ISC?
ISC can be reached at info@iscdc.org. Additionally, our events page lists all upcoming events for those interested in staying involved. Please also check out our social media accounts for updates on alumni events, fundraisers, job-hunting resources and more!
ChASC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChASC2020
KASC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaAmericaStudentConference
KASC Instagram: @kasc_usofficial
JASC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JASCUSA
JASC Instagram: @jasc_official.us
ISC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISCDC
ISC Instagram:@isc_dc
ISC Twitter:@isc_dc
How else can I contribute to ISC?
Please consider donating to ISC to support our student leaders and programming for future conferences. More information about what donations are used for can be found here. If you are interested in housing our delegates or hosting events during conferences, please contact the ISC office directly