留学生の生活・活動—大学生協はいつも留学生のパートナー—


What is University Co-op?

University co-operatives all across Japan have four missions. They are cooperation of undergraduates, postgraduates, international students and faculty; collaboration for the realization of university philosophies and goals; independence of organization; and participation of members.
Co-op service that is often used by students is the co-op store. University co-ops do not only offer services used on a daily basis such as bookstore and cafeteria, but also services such as housing, mutual aid and ticket sales. A university co-op helps its members to lead a better college life. In addition, the members are deeply involved in a university co-op’s operational activities.
Members themselves decided on the course of the university co-op in order to build a better co-op for its members. Foreign students are also actively involved in a co-op’s activities. University co-ops have been providing convenient services for foreign students. University co-ops also provide a forum for exchanges among its members. Through these activities, the co-op members will not only gain rich experience; but also the university itself will be more attractive to its students.

What is the International Student Committee (ISC)?

It is a committee established in the university co-op to connect the co-op with international students who are co-op members, and to encourage participation in co-op management. We aim to promote international exchange and provide a safer and more fulfilling life for international students.
The activities are student-centered. There are committees run by international students, as well as committees run by Japanese students. The type of activities varies with each university.
Currently, ISC have been established in six university co-ops. With the increase and diversification of international students in Japanese universities, further expansion of our activities is expected.

What is All-Japan International Students Committee (NFUCA ISC)?

The All-Japan International Students Committee (AJISC) or National Federation of University Co-op Associations International Students Committee (NFUCA ISC) is made up of representatives of the International Student Committee, located in a university co-op nationwide, and currently consists of six members and a chairperson.


All-Japan Graduate Students Committee in March 2019


National conference of university co-ops in Dec 2019

Our Aim

Co-operation of Japanese and international students.

Encouraging active participation from international student members of the co-op.

Increase the extent and depth of international exchange.

Our Activities

【Meetings, 4 times in a year】
 


Representatives come from all over Japan

【Organizing the annual International Exchange Workshop】

【Activities in 2019】
Publishing the Disaster Prevention Handbook for international students
International Workshop 2019 in Kyoto and Osaka

Our History


1996
The first ISC was established in Kyoto University. Activities of the ISC included international exchange events, language classes, a campaign for Japanese language courses for international students.

1998
All-Japan International Students Network was established in the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations.

2009
The organization was renamed to All-Japan International Students Committee and gained the same position as students, graduate students, faculty committee.

In the Meeting

1. Each university will report their own co-op activities. We learn ideas and know-how from other university activities and try to apply them in our own university.

2. We organize an international workshop.
 
 
 

In 2019 ...

1. At the 1st and 2nd committees meeting, we also interacted with the graduate student committee.
In addition, we held the deep discussions about each other's activities and various themes such us social issues and multicultural coexistence.

2. The chairman of student committees and co-op staffs were also present in the meetings.

What is International Workshop?

International Workshop is an event to learn about international students, held by All-Japan International Students Committee.
This workshop is held every year, targeting co-op students committee members all over Japan. The contents are different every time.
We promote our activities to students all over Japan. Furthermore, through fieldwork, discussion, and lectures, participants themselves think out activities targeting international students they can do in their universities.

International Workshop 2018

Date:
August 23rd & 24th, 2018
Place:
Kyoto Municipal Disaster Prevention Center, Co-op inn Kyoto, Kyoto Univ.

On day 1, we visited the disaster prevention center and discussed about the disaster prevention of international students.
On day 2, we introduced ISC activities in each university. Next, along with the participants, we analyzed each activity, such as its aim, important points, and unique points. We exchanged opinions, and finally, we made an idea of activities in our own university.


Earthquake experience in disaster center


Group discussion in Kyoto Univ. Co-op Yoshida Shop 2F

International Workshop 2019

Date:
Nov 23th & 24th, 2019
Place:
Osaka Ikuno Korea Town, Co-op Inn Kyoto

The theme is multicultural coexistence. We held the workshop to discuss about how to face and co-operate beyond the difference of culture between international students and Japanese students.


Fieldwork in Ikuno Koreatown
(Held by Korea NGO Center)


International students’ discussion about cultural theory
(Panel discussion to hear deeply about international students’ experience)

International Workshop 2020 (canceled)

Alternative event:
International students exchange (online)
Date:
November 7th, 2020
Place:
Zoom

We exchanged our different thoughts on various themes such as which do you prefer, dogs or cats, do you let other people know when you are about to be late for 10 minutes for your appointment. In this event, we deepened our understanding to different values.

International Workshop 2021 (online)

Date:
November 6th or 7th, 2021 (to be announced)
Place:
Zoom

We are going to discuss future international exchange and support for international students by considering various online events conducted by International Students Committee during the pandemic.

Links to Member ISCs

Hiroshima University 広島大学: HUCISC (Co-op International Students Committee)

E-mail :

Facebook : Hiroshima University Co-op International Student Committee
https://www.facebook.com/HUCISC

Instagram : https://instagram.com/huc.isc

Kyoto University 京都大学: KUISC (International Students Committee)

http://www.s-coop.net/about_seikyo/committee/international/
E-mail :

Twitter : 京大生協留学生委員会(KUISC) @Kyodai_ISC
https://twitter.com/kyodai_isc

Facebook : Kyoto University International Students’ Community - KUISC
@KyotoUniversityISC
https://www.facebook.com/KyotoUniversityISC

Tokyo Gakugei University: ISC (International Student Committee)

Coop’s page of ISC: https://www.univcoop.jp/gakugei/info/info_28.html

Facebook : 東京学芸大学生協留学生委員会ISC
@gakugei.isc
https://www.facebook.com/gakugei.isc

Hokkaido University: 北海道大学生協留学生委員会 Hokkaido University International Students Association

Coop’s page of International Student Association: https://juken.hokudai.seikyou.ne.jp/committee.html
E-mail:

Tohoku University: 東北大学生協留学生委員会 Tohoku University International Students Association

Twitter : 東北大学生協留学生委員会O3
@O389002009
https://twitter.com/o389002009

E-mail :

Nagoya University: COFSA Co-op Foreign Student Association

E-mail :

Facebook : COFSA 名古屋大学留学生委員会
@NUCOFSA
https://www.facebook.com/NUCOFSA/

Instagram : COFSA
@cofsa.nu
https://www.instagram.com/cofsa.nu/

Oita University: 大分大学生協留学生委員会 Oita University International Students Association

E-mail :