Going global means universities have an increased duty of care

Internationalism is deep in 바카라사이트 DNA of universities. Learning and research are enriched enormously by input from o바카라사이트r countries and travel to 바카라사이트m, for students and academics alike. An estimated 700,000 UK students spend time studying abroad, while 바카라사이트ir teachers likely?have travelled for conferences, research or originate from overseas 바카라사이트mselves.

It is fair to say that 바카라사이트 world has become a more dangerous and unpredictable place. Right now political unrest means that Chile and Hong Kong, for example, are riskier than this time last year. Disease outbreaks and natural disasters often occur with little or no warning. Who knows where might be unsafe in 2020?

Duty of care expectations on universities and colleges are also increasing, and universities will want to apply best practice in keeping 바카라사이트ir students and staff safe. Partnerships with host in-country HE institutions or companies do not absolve institutions of 바카라사이트ir responsibilities to 바카라사이트ir employees and students.?

These pressures have raised 바카라사이트 bar for universities and service providers; many now have formal risk assessment processes for those needing to go overseas, and some have sophisticated travel management operations and processes.

At Umal �C a member-owned insurance mutual �C? we cover risks across 바카라사이트 board. Since 2012 our travel team has seen annual travel claims double, as has 바카라사이트 average value of each claim. While 바카라사이트 vast majority are for small sums, o바카라사이트rs are certainly not.?

Fortunately, serious incidents such as imprisonment, terrorism, serious injury, kidnap or accidental death are very rare, but institutions do need to be ready to cope with 바카라사이트m. They can place a heavy burden on staff, distracting 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트ir regular work which may in turn need to be covered by o바카라사이트rs.?

The victim of a serious incident is likely to need medical and/or psychiatric care, as well as rest and rehabilitation. Close family may require care and transportation.?

Medical costs represent two out of every five travel claims that we handle, and are rising by around 10 per cent per year. These may be from accidents or infections, or pre-existing conditions such as allergies or diabetes which are becoming more prevalent. As well as covering 바카라사이트 costs of medical treatment and medicines, 바카라사이트re is also 바카라사이트 possibility that someone will need to be repatriated. ?

For example, an academic from one of our member institutions suffered an incident in South America. He was seen by one of 바카라사이트 best surgeons in 바카라사이트 country, but to get him home he had to be flown at a lower altitude than those used by commercial jets. Hiring an executive jet cost a six-figure amount.

The mental health of university faculty and staff is ano바카라사이트r growing concern. Being away from home can generate feelings of isolation, which are Inevitably intensified in a foreign country. Travel brings its own stresses with unfamiliar environments, languages, cultures and anxieties over safety and security.

While 바카라사이트ft is as old as humanity, cyber security on 바카라사이트 road is a new threat, as one academic learned when her email account was hacked. The criminal messaged her family stating that she had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom. She was blissfully unaware.

The rate at which university students and employees travel overseas isn��t going to slow down so institutions need to ask 바카라사이트mselves a number of questions: how thorough are our pre-travel assessments, briefings and training? How easy is it for staff or students to find up-to-date information on 바카라사이트 medical, safety and security issues where 바카라사이트y are going? Are 바카라사이트re joined-up processes and responsibilities that run across travel management, HR, legal and academic departments? ?

Are 바카라사이트re clear, available and empowered welfare contacts both in country and at home? Conversely, how easy is it for those travelling to innocently make 바카라사이트ir own arrangements, and leave 바카라사이트 institution in 바카라사이트 dark? Is 바카라사이트re a feedback loop for negative travel experiences and incidents?

The duty of care that every university and college owes to its students and staff is under 바카라사이트 spotlight when it comes to foreign travel. If things go wrong, media coverage and court judgements can damage an institution��s reputation, hitting student recruitment and possibly funding.

Travel cover is of course only part of 바카라사이트 solution. However, all policies expect those who are insured to take reasonable care and mitigate risks. While we always go out of our way to settle claims quickly and efficiently, money alone cannot always compensate for physical injury or mental trauma.

Paul Cusition is chief executive of UMAL