Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 18, No. 10. July 15, 1954

Co-ordinating Secretariat — International Affairs . .

Co-ordinating Secretariat

International Affairs . . .

In October of 1950, the National Unions of Students' of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, issued a joint invitation to an International Student Conference, to be held in Stockholm from December 17 to 21 of that year.

This Conference was initiated following recognition of the fact that repeated attempts to persuade the I.U.S. (International Union of Students), to cease its partisan political activities had failed and that I.U.S. did not leave as an instrument for the promotion of practical student activities.

Twenty-one national unions assembled at Stockholm and determined a programme of activities for operation at the International level. A statement of principles as a basis of their co-operation was adopted, and they strengthened the structure for the implementation of their programme of activities by establishing the co-ordinating secretariat of the National Unions of students a permanent administrative agency whose task was to ensure the implementation of the decisions of the annual International Student Conferences. The meeting also determined a wide international programme of activities for the following year.

The National Unions assembled at Edinburgh expressed regret that events beyond their control had prevented the, realisation of a world student community of all countries, and stated their willingness to review their arrangements in the light of any changes in the International student situation. They expressed the belief that "by participating in a practical co-operation . . . (based upon the principles of co-operation, printed elsewhere in this issue) National Unions of Students can help to create friendship and understanding among students in all countries."

No Powers

The Co-ordinating Secretariat (or Cosec as It has come to be called) was established as the permanent executive agency of the International Student Conferences. It has no policy-making powers and it is instructed to administer only those duties allotted to it by the conference, to act in accordance with other conference decisions and resolutions, and to submit a report on its activities to the annual meeting. The Secretariat is responsible throughout the year directly to a Supervision Committee whose duty it is to supervise and control its operation and to appoint administrative secretary and

Supervision Committee

The Supervision Committee, also has no policy-making powers and is responsible to the International Student Conference. It is composed of nine National Unions elected annually by the Conference, and no National Union can be a member of the Committee for more than two consecutive years.

Activities of the Secretariat:—

To co-operate with the National Unions of Students in the implementation of projects assigned to them by the International Student Conference.

To act as an international student research centre for the collection and distribution of material concerning matters of student interest, including negotiations with U.N.E.S.C.O., World University Service. World Assembly of Youth and other international student and student-serving organisations.

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To serve as a permanent international centre of information, especially through publication of a monthly "information bulletin" concerning the activities of the National Unions of Students, and the "Student Mirror."

Finance . . .

The operations of the Co-ordinating Secretariat are financed principally by contributions from National Unions of students. Insofar as it will assist the operation of projects laid down by the Conferences, the Secretariat also may seek and use funds from other sources, provided that such moneys are given in support of the principles of co-operation adopted by the International Student Conferences.

The Fourth International Student Conference was held in January of this year at Istanbul. Turkey, N.Z.U.S.A. (the New Zealand University Students' Association) Resident Executive in Wellington appointed Messrs. M. J. O'Brien and J. D. Dalgety as delegates to the Conference. The question of affiliation to Cosec was raised at the Easter Council meeting of N.Z.U.S.A. and the resulting position is that N.Z.U.S.A. is now affiliated to Cosec and is disaffiliated from the International Union of Students, as is the Australian National Union. N.U.A.U.S. Both Australia and New Zealand had delegated status at this conference.

(A companion article on the I.U.S. will appear in the next issue.

Ed.)

N.Z.U.S.A.'s reason for disaffiliating from I.U.S. some years ago was that that organisation had and was at that time (and still is) pursuing the aims of International Communism rather than the aims expressed in its constitution.

The Fifth International Student Conference will be held in April, 1955. probably in combination with a cultural festival. Offers to play host to the Conference have so far been made by the Philippines, Mexico and Britain.

Principles . . .

Meanwhile, the National Unions of Students affiliated with Cosec which have accepted "delegated responsibilities" in various areas of student interest will carry these projects to their conclusion in the belief that "by participating in a practical cooperation based on the principles:—

Of concern with student problems . . .
Of voluntary co-operation in the spirit of mutual respect and equality . . .
Of co-operation which excludes discrimination and is devoid of partisan policy . . .

National Unions of Students can help to create friendship and understanding among students of all countries."

B. C. Shaw