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:: Hot Topics |
Know Before You Go: 10 Tips for
Student Health and Safety Overseas
by IES
As record numbers of college students head overseas, international social and
political tensions have escalated, making it increasingly important for students
to do their homework on study abroad program safety, according to IES, the
Institute for the International Education of Students.
IES program enrollment has increased more than 200 percent in the last decade,
said Bill Hoye, executive vice president of administration, planning and legal
affairs for IES. Students are traveling to more remote destinations, some in the
developing world and some in countries undergoing political or social change,
making advanced research and planning all the more important.
Hoye said students who are currently considering or applying for summer and fall
courses (and their parents) should ask 10 important health and safety questions
before they enroll:
A track record of success – Select a well-established program sponsor with years
of experience and a solid reputation. Does the program provider have a
comprehensive set of standards for all of its programs such as the IES MAP ©
(Model Assessment Practice) for Study Abroad? These standards should apply to
all aspects of the program, not just the academic portion. Examine the program’s
literature and ask about its history, seeking evidence of strong local contacts
and good relations in foreign locations. Ask to speak with recent program
participants about their experience on the program.
Orientations – Look for programs that begin with thorough pre-departure
materials and on-site student orientation programs, especially with respect to
student health, safety, security, crime and other risk issues in the country of
travel. Does the program have a comprehensive evaluation system in place in
order to make improvements? These can help you determine how well a program
prepares its participants and responds to student concerns.
International insurance coverage – Ask whether the program includes or provides
adequate insurance coverage, including health insurance that will provide
coverage abroad (many U.S. policies do not), worldwide medical assistance
coverage (including 24/7 access to medical professionals who speak the local
language), and medical evacuation coverage that can provide access to a flying
hospital in an emergency.
Cultural integration – Select a program that immerses students into local
cultures (as opposed to merely creating islands of American students),
encourages inter-cultural competency and focuses on language immersion where
appropriate, providing opportunities for students to regularly interact with
foreign students, faculty and locals. Knowing the area, its history, its culture
and its people can go a long way toward helping to keep you safe.
Quality student housing – Ask about student residence and home-stay standards to
be sure the program offers convenient and accessible housing that is well
located in reasonably safe areas.
Housing safety precautions – Ask about the presence of fire extinguishers, smoke
detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in dorms and home stays. Is the student
housing periodically inspected for compliance with local fire, building and
safety codes, as well as the presence of unreasonably dangerous conditions or
hidden defects? Are such conditions or defects promptly corrected when
identified?
Home-stay screenings – If opting for a home-stay, ask about the screening
criteria used for selecting host families, including who does the screening,
what criteria are used and what happens when problems with host family members
arise?
Well-established protocols – Make sure the program has clear, written crisis
management and emergency evacuation plans in place, as well as a regularly
drilled and tested system for promptly reaching students and their emergency
contacts in a crisis. Since these plans are rarely published, ask about their
availability. Similar protocols should exist for the day to day health and
student conduct matters that occur on all programs.
Well-trained overseas staff – Expect program staff to be well-trained and
knowledgeable of emergency procedures, the provider’s policies related to
student health and safety, how to handle discrimination and harassment claims,
oversight of medical emergencies, emergency incident reporting and who to
contact in a crisis or emergency.
Assessing and Managing Risk – Ask whether the program sponsor conducts periodic
risk assessments of its programs. If so, what are the steps involved in the
process, how often are risk assessments conducted and by whom?
Source:
https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/About_IES/IES_News/Articles/newsArticle0020.html
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