ISC facilitates three academic and cultural exchange programs organized by university students in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and China. Our conferences distinguish themselves from other programs in that they are entirely student-led: students manage the logistics and implementation of each annual gathering. At the end of each Conference, delegates elect an Elective Committee tasked with planning and executing the next conference. 

Our programs are premised on the belief that students are not passive observers of international diplomacy but rather are concerned citizens charged with the responsibility of guiding the direction of the world as leaders in U.S.-Asia relations.

Up-to-date information can also be found on ISC's website and Instagram!

Who Can Apply?

• Undergraduate & graduate university students who are 18+ years old

  • Students graduating before the conference start date are eligible

  • Students accepted to enter university/graduate school in the fall are eligible

• All majors of study are accepted.

• As the official language of the Conference is English, no prior experience in Japanese/Korean/Chinese language or studies is required.

The Japan-America Student Conference

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program initiated in 1934 by university students concerned about the breakdown of bilateral relations before the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend one summer month together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting three diverse regions in the host country. 

The 77th Japan-America Student Conference will occur from July 31 - August 21, 2025, in Kyoto/Osaka, Kumamoto, and Tokyo. JASC 77 will convene with the theme: “Upholding Dignity: Bilateral harmony through respectful dialogue.”Applications are OPEN until December 27, 2024. Apply here!

The Korea-America Student Conference

The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led academic conference that was established in 2008 with the goal of supporting the deep bilateral relationship between the U.S. and South Korea. This conference brings together up to 30 students studying in the United States and the Republic of Korea for an academically rigorous, three-week-long summer program, during which students live, travel, and conduct original, peer-reviewed research together. KASC is unique among ISC conferences in its two-country model, in which students travel to both the U.S. and South Korea each year. 

The 18th Korea-America Student Conference will travel to New York City and Seoul, from July 12 to July 26, 2025! The KASC 18 Executive Committee chose the theme, “Constructing Identity in a Globalized World.” Applications are OPEN! Apply by December 22, 2024 at this link!

The China-America Student Conference

The China-America Student Conference (ChASC) is a 2-week academic and cultural interchange program that brings together an equal number of students representing the United States of America and China for off-the-record discussions on the future of the bilateral relationship. ChASC was established in 2020, making it the newest of the ISC conferences. For the first time, ChASC will be traveling to China in 2025!

The 5th China-America Student Conference will convene from July 5th to July 20th in Xi’an, Suzhou, and Beijing! ChASC 5 will focus on the theme, “Seek Common Ground, Move Forward Together” and welcomes American students, Chinese students, and Chinese students studying in the United States! Please apply by December 29, 2024, at this link!