The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) - a UNESCO endorsed lifestyle and photo identity card for students and youth launched its online platform www.isic.lk the first ever for the local market, dedicated to grant benefits and discounts for students and youth.
Group CEO for United Ventures, Thisum Jayasuriya said, “The main objective of creating this site is to offer students and youth real and tangible discounts on air travel, accommodation and other products and services that enrich a student’s lifestyle.
“We have ‘book now and pay later’ options that further provide financial flexibility enabling students to explore some of these options that they may not have considered before,” he said. The card has been successful in providing value to students and youth in countries such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Europe and Latin America.
The ISIC is the only internationally recognised proof of full-time student status issued in about 130 countries. The card allows students to prove their student status worldwide, as well as gain access to over 150,000 discounts and benefits.
The concept and benefits of the ISIC card is yet to gain traction locally in the active and vibrant student population exceeding 1.5 million, as per the Census of 2016. This is due to the lack of awareness of the benefits.
ISIC currently maintains benefits and discounts with approximately 50 partners and is constantly working to improve and add value to the student lifestyle.
With the right partnerships, valuable benefits can be provided to this entire student and youth segment. The benefits and discounts provided are both local and international which no other card is able to offer currently. The ISIC card is owned by the ISIC Association, which is a Member Association of the World Youth, Student and Education (WYSE) Travel Confederation, a not-for-profit organization based in Amsterdam.
Each country therefore has got to develop the benefits using its own initiative with the support of stakeholders who see value in the product.
Beneficial for students studying at home or travelling overseas, the discounts and benefits are extensive and range from air travel and transportation, museums and cultural sites, restaurants and cafes, theaters, hotels and hostels, online discounts, educational software, e-learning platforms and many other areas.
The biggest and most attractive discounts are the ones that are offered on travel.
United Ventures (Pvt) Ltd are the sole representatives of ISIC in Sri Lanka.
The card is available to full time students at school, college or university, aged 12 years and above. There is no upper age limit.