A student missing after a catastrophic earthquake, a bus carrying students is involved in a fatal accident in an area with no cellphone connectivity, or a terrorist attack closes a major international airport – each of these realistic scenarios can quickly turn an exciting study abroad program into a personal and organizational crisis. The importance of a pre-travel safety plan has always been significant, especially when partaking in overseas travel. Recent terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium; Istanbul, Turkey; and Dhaka, Bangladesh tragically involved students from various educational institutions.
With many universities expanding their international programs and with the corresponding growth of emerging risks in traditionally "safe" regions, universities must create a risk mitigation component to their travel abroad program. Below are some simple steps schools can take to limit risk and better respond when an unforeseen crisis occurs.