The International Student Association, also known as the ISA, is the main representative of the foreign student body at Sejong University. It was created in 2014  by international students with the aim of making life easier and comfortable for the  international community attending our school, as well as upholding their rights and ensuring their active involvement within the school.

For the longest time, the ISA has fought for equal opportunities and treatment for international students, but it hasn’t always been a smooth journey. The original ISA founded in 2014 had not remained stable over the years, often making little to zero change despite the original team’s continuous efforts. The events just didn’t garner much attention and wee too spread apart. They also failed to have much reach. It was a rough time for international students at Sejong, failing to engage in school life and unable to communicate their concerns to the administration, or to connect with one another. 

In the recent years, the ISA has seen a revival by a group of enthusiastic and passionate students, who wanted to make the international student experience more fulfilling. Spring of 2023 saw the return of the ISA with more concrete and realistic plans and big ambitions, starting with the launch of the sejong_isa page on Instagram. The first event was rather small, but it served as a great stepping stone for what followed. A talent show and a cultural village, both gained immediate interest from the foreign communities at Sejong, who rushed to proudly share their culture and their heritage, preparing meals and snacks from their home countries, and dressing in traditional attire. Not to mention the many talents organizing a small stage and putting on a show for the rest of the students, showcasing that if given the chance, many international students would involve themselves in extracurricular activities and grow their hobbies. I remember this first event vividly, and it was a great opportunity for me to see what could be an active and united community. 

Over the Fall 2023 semester, the ISA continued to impress with their growing team and brilliant ideas. Their careful planning and their resilience proved to the school and the students that they were full of passion, and that their goal was more than feasible. The highlight of this semester was The Amazing Race, an extremely fun and creative event that centered around solving a mystery though forming groups and competing to complete riddles and physical games together. It was a wonderful idea that encouraged communication between students who were previously strangers, and pushed more shy individuals to make connections and discover their campus better. Providing prizes also served as an incentive to get more students participating!