AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The International Office of The University of Texas at Austin is pleased to host a one-day conference, which focuses on the challenge of assessing, managing and mitigating international travel risk faced by US education abroad students.
The University of Texas at Austin has become a national academic leader in the field of the international risk analysis, and is one of the first major universities in the US to develop a full-time Risk Analyst position operating within the UT International Office. This new role works to understand, analyze, and mitigate health, safety, and security concerns affecting UT's many global activities. This conference will bring together education abroad practitioners from universities nationwide to provide a unique forum to share best practices for mitigating risk and providing support for students as they embark into the global community.
Topics will include study abroad emergency management, safety preparation, legal concerns, travel to high-risk regions, and other issues related to scholastic international oversight of student travel.
"Navigating the landscape of international health, safety, and security has become increasingly complex in education abroad. Uncertain political climates, natural disasters and mental health issues create challenges for universities wanting to send students to all parts of the world. In addition, we have a greater number of students studying abroad than ever before, and in recent years UT-Austin has played a significant role in the development of best practices for study abroad risk management," said Janet Ellzey, Vice Provost for International Programs and director of the UT-Austin International Office.
Erin Wolf, UT-Austin International Risk Analyst, emphasizes the need to view risks associated with student travel abroad as encompassing four major areas: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. "As a university, it's our responsibility to do everything we can to promote a safe, productive, and positive experience abroad. That means we must consider our role during every step of a student's journey -from promoting individual preparedness before a student gets on the plane, to the support we can provide in-country, to the resources we have available in the event of an emergency or crisis situation."
The program agenda will feature a combination of broad and specific approaches to international oversight in an academic setting. Attendees will learn from seasoned University of Texas at Austin staff, including the Office of Global Risk & Safety, Study Abroad, Dean of Students, and other campus experts. In addition, special guests from The University of Texas System Office of Risk Management, emergency assistance providers and contributors from the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) are scheduled to contribute. OSAC serves as a unique contributor, providing a broad view to international risk as a Federal Advisory Committee with a U.S. Government Charter to promote security cooperation between American business and private sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State.
You can register and find more information about the 2015 Conference "The Challenge of International Oversight" here. The 2015 conference will be held at the Texas Union at The University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 13.
CONTACT: Erin Wolf, (512) 471-0341, or Email.