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International Student Organisations

Students have a wide variety of International organisations, and while they do not greatly affect the life of the average N.Z. student, it is worthwhile to understand what they are and what they are trying to do. Those most commonly encountered are Cosec, I.S.C., W.U.S., and I.U.S.

Cosec is an abbreviation of Co-ordinating Secretariat of National Unions of Students. It is the permanent administrative agency of the International Student Conference (I.S.C.). This is a non-Communist counterpart to the International Union of Students, which was originally the sole International student body. In 1952 N.Z.U.S.A. and many other non-Communist student organisations withdrew from the I.U.S. and formed the I.S.C.

The principal function of Cosec lies in its formation services, research activities, and similar international student co-ordination. Individual students travelling overseas can obtain considerable discounts in transport and accommodation costs. Information is available in the first instance through N.Z.U.S.A.

The World University Service is an international body concerned with the promotion of understanding between students of different nationalities and different cultures, and the provision of a channel by which wealthier universities can assist academic communities existing in less benign conditions.

Requests for assistance arrive in Geneva, headquarters of W.U.S. International. In Algeria recent political upheavals have left many students destitute, without homes, food, books, or a place to study. In South Africa a non-white student is not allowed by the government to attend a reputable university and is forced to do his course by correspondence, finding tutoring where he can. Asian universities often need health centres and text books.

New Guinea, due soon for a university, will need Union buildings and facilities for students. Victoria is a contributing rather than a receiving university.

However, it would be wrong to think of W.U.S. as a charitable organisation for which Victoria is continually shelling out money. By virtue of our geographical remoteness we need such international channels to keep us in touch with the main-streams of student life. While we may not need channels of financial assistance, we do need channels of communication.

All New Zealand University students are automatically members of World University Service. Apart from the student relief programmes outlined above, W.U.S.'s student committees also organise study tours, the exchange of student opinion, the solving of student problems and associated matters.

A particular feature of the international student picture is the proliferation of magazines and newspapers written by or aimed at students. The I.S.C. publishes a monthly magazine, The Student,' and its I.U.S. equivalent is 'World Student News.' The subscription rates for both publications are modest.

Nearer to home, the National Union of Australian University Students is the Australian equivalent of our own N.Z.U.S.A. It is useful to know of this organisation, for it can give useful help to New Zealand students thinking of travelling in Australia.

The most recent manifestation of the international student movement within New Zealand was the holding of the 11th International Student Conference in Christchurch last year. This was not only an honour for the New Zealand student organisations who acted as hosts, for, since then, it has promoted a new interest in and awareness of student affairs overseas.