International Movement of Catholic Students Pax Romana is the Catholic tertiary students’ global organisation which brings together over 80 diverse national federations, associations, and movements of a Catholic university and tertiary students from six regions. Since 1921, when it was founded under the name of Pax Romana to promote peace and justice at the global level, IMCS has been helping in the holistic formation of students around the globe.

IMCS Asia Pacific region was established in 1954, and currently, the regional secretariat is based in Metro Manila, Philippines. AP coordination has 10 national member movements and 13 contact groups (organizations in formation) under four sub-regions, namely East Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, and the Pacific. 

IMCS AP consists of three types of organizations: Full Members, Correspondent Members, and Collaborators.

Full Members
Catholic student organizations from universities and higher education institutions can become full members if they meet the following criteria:

  • They agree with the fundamental values outlined in IMCS’s core articles.
  • They are not affiliated with any political party.
  • They represent Catholic student groups at the national level. Typically, only one movement per nation-state is admitted, but exceptions can be made for countries with significant cultural, linguistic, ethnic, political, or pastoral differences.
  • Full members are actively present across their nation, especially in multiple cities, though exceptions are allowed in cases where there is only one student center in the country.

Correspondent Members
These are Catholic student organizations that may not meet the conditions for full membership but can still contribute meaningfully to IMCS. Correspondent members can access IMCS services and participate in international events as observers. In the Asia Pacific region, the Pan Asia Pacific Assembly (PAPA) can admit corresponding members, with final approval from the International Committee.

Collaborators
Student organizations, regardless of religious affiliation, that do not qualify for full or correspondent membership can collaborate with IMCS AP. While they can participate in IMCS activities, collaborators hold a consultative role and are not involved in decision-making processes. Their collaboration is done with the approval of the existing National Movement, ensuring open communication channels and mutual support.

SN National Movement Abbreviation & Sub region Established Year
01 Australian Catholic Students Association ACSA/Pacific 1942
02 All India Catholic University Federation AICUF/South Asia 1924
03 Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement BCSM/South Asia 1991
04 Catholic Students Network of Thailand CSNT/SouthEast Asia 1956
05 Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students HKFCS/East Asia 1961
06 International Movement of Catholic Student – Nepal IMCS Nepal/South Asia 2016 (ReEstd.)
07 Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia PMKRI/South East Asia 1947
08 Seoul Federation of Catholic Student (Korea) SFCS/East Asia 1954
09 Sri Lanka University Catholic Students’ Movement SLUCSM/South Asia 2018 (Re-initiated)
10 University Catholic Chinese Students Association, Taiwan UCCSA/Taiwan 1951

Contact Groups/Collaborators: 

1. Students Catholic Action (SCA) Philippines 

2. Malaysian Catholic Youth Ministers’ Committee (MCYMC) 

3. Catholic Youth and Students in Vietnam 

4. Catholic Students and Youth in Cambodia 

5. Franciscan Youth Group in Singapore 

6. Nacional Comissão Juventude Católica-Timor Leste (NCJC-TL) 

7. University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macau 

8. Catholic Youth Fiji 

9. Tungaru Climate Alliance Kiribati 

10. WAKAGE-Student group in Japan 

11. Catholic Youth in Laos 

12. Catholic Youth in Pakistan

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