Safety Abroad / en Safety first: Relaunched U of T safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process /bulletin/safety-first-relaunched-u-t-safety-abroad-website-streamline-travel-abroad-process <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Safety first: Relaunched U of T safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sungjimi</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-10-08T17:10:18-04:00" title="Tuesday, October 8, 2019 - 17:10" class="datetime">Tue, 10/08/2019 - 17:10</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Robust international collaboration is one reason why many students and researchers choose&nbsp;the University&nbsp;of Toronto. For students, studying abroad can open their minds. For researchers, global engagement can expand the scope and impact of their work.</p> <p>To support international travel and ensure their safety, the university has redesigned a more streamlined online registry for traveling students and relaunched its <a href="http://safetyabroad.utoronto.ca/">safety abroad website</a> which will be a one-stop-shop for faculty, staff and students seeking information about U of T’s safety abroad policies.</p> <p>The self-serve registration is a requirement for those traveling abroad for university-related work, according to U of T policy. Students must register online and fill out the&nbsp;form while faculty members who are sponsoring the trip must also do their part by becoming familiar with their responsibilities as a trip sponsor and contacting the Centre for International Experience (CIE) for specifics&nbsp;on a student’s trip.</p> <p>If a country’s risk level increases according to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the online registry will help staff quickly identify where students are located in a country, state or municipality. Details such as emergency contact information and passport information is now mandatory when students register on the database, so that administrators can easily intervene in the event of an emergency.</p> <p>“It’s important to have nuanced data so that we can make quick and accurate decisions,” says <strong>Jocelyn Ma</strong>, safety abroad adviser with the Centre for International Experience. “This revamped registry eliminates a lot of manual work, so if there’s an emergency we can quickly contact students and offer 24-hour support.”</p> <p>The registry follows a self-serve model, allowing students to register for travel in lower risk countries and regions. If they are travelling to higher risk areas, they are prompted in the system to work with the CIE’s safety abroad staff for specific preparation.</p> <p>“Throughout the process we’ve removed a lot of paperwork – students can submit their trip details, complete waivers and confirm training,” said<strong> Evan Moir</strong>, a user experience designer with U of T's enterprise applications and solutions integration department.</p> <p>In addition to the updated registry, the relaunched safety abroad website will offer information about<a href="http://safetyabroad.utoronto.ca/in-an-emergency/"> International SOS</a>, a resource that U of T recently signed on with. The service lets travellers type in questions such as “Can I drink tap water in this city?” and offer 24-7 telephone access to a nurse.</p> <p>More than 4,000 students travel abroad each year for university activity. The revamped website will serve them and the more than 165 different programs and institutes on U of T’s three campuses.</p> <p>In the past,&nbsp;CIE has contacted students about political unrest in Kenya, water scarcity in&nbsp;South Africa&nbsp;and emergency drills in South Korea and Japan.</p> <p>“While South Korea and Japan remained as low risk, according to GAC, it was foreseeable that students may feel unsafe,” says Ma. “We sent messages to let them know we were monitoring the situation and we provided advice on how to proceed.”</p> <p>Trip sponsors, including professors, are notified about students’ request to travel and can contact CIE for further information.</p> <p>A previous travel sponsor, <strong>David Montemurro</strong>, an associate professor, teaching stream, with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, runs a regular study abroad program for his students.&nbsp;His students have completed internships in Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong and China.</p> <p>“International education helps our students connect education policy with teaching practice, while also developing global citizenship – it really opens doors on both sides,” says Montemurro. “Safety is a key priority, along with academic, legal and health considerations, and the safety abroad office is an integral resource for us.”</p> <p>Woodsworth College also offers an undergraduate Summer Abroad program, and CIE helps graduate students travel to more than 140 partner institutions in more than 40 countries. In addition, U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough run similar programs.</p> <p>“As the first point of contact for travel abroad, we want to be responsive in making sure we’re helping students, and this registry helps us accomplish this goal,” says Ma. “One of U of T’s missions is to help our students study abroad and become global scholars – and helping students do this safely is our top priority.”</p> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-caption field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Safety first: Relaunched U of T safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT17720_IMG_5224-resized.jpg?h=620233f6&amp;itok=BbNKe6Ci 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT17720_IMG_5224-resized.jpg?h=620233f6&amp;itok=KIOCL8Yl 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT17720_IMG_5224-resized.jpg?h=620233f6&amp;itok=9tQpF1Rb 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT17720_IMG_5224-resized.jpg?h=620233f6&amp;itok=BbNKe6Ci" alt="A group of students in the ICM program pose on a hilltop overlooking Tibilisi"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-cutline field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">U of T students participating in the International/Indigenous Course Modules (ICM) program pose in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Tami Piovesan</div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden clearfix"> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/centre-international-experience" hreflang="en">Centre for International Experience</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/study-abroad" hreflang="en">Study Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/safety-abroad" hreflang="en">Safety Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/information-technology" hreflang="en">Information Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/news/tags/enterprise-applications-and-solutions-integration" hreflang="en">Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-hide field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> Tue, 08 Oct 2019 21:10:18 +0000 sungjimi 159603 at