Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1999 > Committee on Family, Community and Social Affairs > Report - Proposal to establish a senior Euro card

APPENDIX 2

THE STUDENT I.D. CARD

The International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) was founded in 1949 as a loosely knit federation to allow members a forum for exchanging ideas and to examine the needs of the expanding worldwide network of student travel bureaus. Organisations which initially joined the ISTC were often the non-profit travel departments of a national union of students and were concerned with the well being of students who travelled internationally, the development of student products and international trading agreements.

In the early years, members collaborated primarily on joint ventures such as the chartering of airplanes, trains and ships. Efforts were also made to protect the welfare of the student traveller and the ISTC introduced codes of conduct for multilateral trading. As member needs became more specific, the Membership organised into specialised commissions where individual interests such as air transportation, tours, finance and surface transportation could be addressed.

The ISTC maintains a close relationship with other organisations and associations that are involved in international opportunities for students, youth and the academic community such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO), and European Youth Card Association (EYCA).

The ISIC and related ISTC cards, are sold through a distribution network of student and youth travel bureaus all over the world and they have sole discretion to who or what organisation will promote and provide the travel cards in each country. In many countries an Issuing Authority has been appointed, and takes responsibility for developing a network of Issuing Office in that country (Companies must apply to the ISTC to become an Issuing Authority). Each individual Issuing Authority have a web site and from there a discount data base is available so a student in France can access from France the discount and benefits available when he/she travels to Ireland. It is also possible for an Irish student to call/e-mail France in search of discounts etc. and indeed a booklet can be provided if that is desired.

Usit NOW is recognised as the student and youth travel specialist (Issuing Authority) in Ireland and has 18 offices throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. Usit is responsible for negotiating local discounts that ultimately benefit all students who carry an ISIC or other student card. International flight deals are centrally negotiated by the ISTC in Amsterdam. Other international benefits of the cards include free e-mail worldwide and cheap international calls for all travelling students wherever they find themselves in the world. Usit have contacts in all travel companies in Ireland and may on occasion, negotiate local deals such as that with CIE - Bus & Rail travel discounts.

They may also work with Aer Lingus for example, but whatever deals are done will ultimately benefit ALL students or users of the applicable travel cards.

Usit are responsible for the development of the ISIC and other applicable travel cards in Ireland and therefore are quite proactive in negotiations of deals relating to that card. Whilst negotiations are often done on an international basis, Usit are responsible for expanding the card at local level i.e. Ireland. The benefits side must be developed each year to a certain standard in order to be successful.

Usit is a privately owned company where USI have a shareholding, though its thought to be less than 50%. Usit is divided up into two companies - Usit Now (which deals with Student travel in Ireland and Northern Ireland) and Usit World (this is the parent company whose headquarters are in Ireland). There is a possibility that Usit may be floated on the Stock Exchange next year. Usit is 40 years old this year.

Student Travel Organisations like Usit, offer such services as:

•Discounted student airfares

•Special rail, bus and ferry prices

•Work & Study Abroad Programmes

•International Student, Youth & Teacher Identity Cards

•Specialised Travel Insurance

•Local Discounts for Entertainment, Museums, Transportation, Food etc.

International ID Cards are available to individuals who are full-time students or teachers, or if an individual is under 26. These cards are:

•International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

Full time student (Over 12)

•International Youth Travel Card (IYTC)

Not in school full-time but under 26

•International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC)

Available to any teacher or professor who works full-time at a recognised educational establishment.

Discounts and special arrangements are available both in the home country and abroad when using such a card. These student travel cards are recognised in over 90 countries.

With respect to the International Teacher Identity Card, it was introduced in 1984 “to provide travelling teachers and professors everywhere with a single uniform document that is acceptable around the world as proof of teacher status”. This card is accepted in over 40 countries and provides travel discounts, special fares and other benefits. This card is endorsed by UNESCO.

Applicants must be employed at a recognised educational establishment for a minimum of 18 hours per week and for a minimum of one academic year.

Regarding the International Youth Travel Card, it is recognised in about 50 countries. Established in 1975, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorse the IYTC as the ultimate travel card for anyone 25 years old or younger. It entitles individuals to special youth airfares, commission free currency exchange, access to a global pre-paid phone card programmes and voice mail system, discounts on airfares, restaurants, tours, cultural events and accommodation in over 50 countries.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), an American based company, has over the past 50 years, helped young people who have decided to study, work and travel abroad. Their mission statement is:

TO HELP PEOPLE GAIN UNDERSTANDING, ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND DEVELOP SKILLS FORLIVING IN A GLOBALLY INTERDEPENDENT AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE WORLD.