At the end of April, ISIC representatives from around the world gathered in Warsaw, where spring was already in full swing. A few days in one place – different cultures, different markets, one shared purpose. It's something that's hard to put into words. There's a certain energy that comes from seeing, all at once, just how wide and diverse this global community really is. An inspiring and motivating event!
This year's event carried the overarching theme "Know More, Do Better – For Students, With Schools and Partners",built around one simple but important principle: the better we understand students – their needs, behaviours, and expectations – the better we can serve them.
The presentations were organised into several interconnected blocks. Discussions covered quantitative research and how structured data supports more confident decision-making. Several countries shared concrete examples of how combined qualitative and quantitative research has helped shape ISIC card development and value proposition.
The programme was packed with substance. Countries shared their experiences of how they collect data about students and actually use it to inform decisions. Poland, India, Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Belgium – each had something specific and valuable to bring to the table. The common thread running through all of it: a knowledge-driven approach builds a stronger foundation for developing both the ISIC card and relationships with its cardholders.
Estonia was also represented with a presentation of our own. We introduced our ambassador programme – how students themselves can be the most credible voices for the ISIC brand. The feedback was encouraging, and it seems the ambassador programme is a topic that resonates with many ISIC representatives around the world. There's good reason to believe this could grow into something even bigger in the future – perhaps a global ISIC ambassador network connecting students from different countries under a shared mission!
Two new awards were introduced this year. The Curious Mind Award recognised those who were the most active in asking questions and sharing ideas. This year, it was awarded to Harry Lehtolaakso from Finland and Ivo Kneepkens from Indonesia. The ISIC Vision Award celebrates bold and innovative thinking – and this year's winner was the South Korean project "Making ISIC Chosen Again", which integrates ISIC into students' everyday lives through smart digital solutions.
Warsaw proved once again that ISIC's strength lies not just in the card itself, but in the people behind it and their willingness to learn from one another. See you next year!
