Tag: travel risk management

Top Trends in Study Abroad (And What They Could Mean for Your Institution)

If you’re responsible for international risk management at your college or university, you’re probably familiar with the Institute of International Education (IIE)’s 2016 Open Doors Report. An informational reference published annually in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the report covers an abundance of trends and developments in… Read more »

World Aware: 7 Top Security Risks for International Travelers [INFOGRAPHIC]

It’s no secret our shifting global security climate is changing the way most organizations think about—and approach—travel risk management. Did you know…? Some 300,000 U.S. passports go missing each year. 95% of public Wi-Fi networks are unencrypted and aren’t protecting your information. The odds of an American dying in a terrorist attack, whether domestically or… Read more »

Why Situational Awareness Should Begin With Pre-Travel Planning

With the vulnerabilities of soft targets continuing to be exploited in recent news headlines, there has been an increased focus on “situational awareness” and what this means for international travel safety. However, having a solid grasp on situational awareness entails much more than simply knowing where the nearest emergency exits and first aid kits are…. Read more »

Reevaluating Your Organization’s Travel Security Strategy for 2017

In the rapidly evolving and fluctuating world of global travel, organizational policies must constantly be updated in order to remain relevant and effective. As the New Year begins, we encourage risk managers and administrators to take this opportunity to reevaluate their organization’s travel security plans for 2017. Need help getting started? Here are a few… Read more »

How to Enhance Your Travel Risk Management Strategy with Post-Trip Debriefs

Last month, we discussed After-Action Reviews(AARs) and how they can enhance your organization’s travel emergency action plan. However, while AARs play an important role following the resolution of large-scale incidents, they are typically only utilized when a calculated response is required from numerous groups within an organization. To facilitate a response that is more proactive… Read more »

After-Action Reviews: An Important Component of Your Travel Risk Management Plan

Despite the significant amount of time and effort that goes into emergency planning, organizations frequently overlook a critical aspect of a comprehensive travel risk management plan: after-action reviews (AARs). Conducting an AAR following an incident can help an organization better understand how to streamline crisis response. After-action reviews also allow organizations to gain input from… Read more »

How to Help Prepare Students for Unconventional Study Abroad Destinations

For students headed to less traditional destinations, the positives may seem endless: an enriched cultural experience, an adventure of a lifetime, an opportunity to step out of one’s comfort zone…however, as students forgo classic study abroad destinations and set their sights on more challenging travel climates, this not only creates an additional layer of uncertainty… Read more »

On Call Watch Officers Help Answer the Question, “Is it Safe to Travel?”

Has the question, ‘is it safe to travel?’ been keeping you up at night? If you’re like most risk professionals we know you understand first-hand how unpredictable global travel has become…and how it’s changed the way most organizations think about—and approach—travel risk management. According to On Call security analyst and Watch Officer, Scott Battey, “It’s… Read more »

Crisis Communications in Our New World: Guidelines for Colleges & Universities

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, colleges and universities are seeing the value in aligning their communications protocols with their travel risk management initiatives now more than ever. But are you confident your students know how to tell you they’re safe—and reach out for help—during a crisis abroad?  Here are… Read more »

The Consummate Host: How Institutions Can Protect Inbound Student Safety

The statistics revealed in the 2015 Open Doors Report demonstrate just how internationalized U.S. higher education has become: not only has the number of study abroad students more than tripled over the last few decades, but the number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities experienced the highest rate of growth in thirty-five years. In fact a record… Read more »