Safety first: Relaunched 91�Թ� safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process

sungjimi — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 21:10:18 +0000

Safety first: Relaunched 91�Թ� safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process sungjimi Tue, 10/08/2019 - 17:10

Robust international collaboration is one reason why many students and researchers choose the University of Toronto. For students, studying abroad can open their minds. For researchers, global engagement can expand the scope and impact of their work.

To support international travel and ensure their safety, the university has redesigned a more streamlined online registry for traveling students and relaunched its safety abroad website which will be a one-stop-shop for faculty, staff and students seeking information about 91�Թ�’s safety abroad policies.

The self-serve registration is a requirement for those traveling abroad for university-related work, according to 91�Թ� policy. Students must register online and fill out the 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 on a student’s trip.

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.

“It’s important to have nuanced data so that we can make quick and accurate decisions,” says Jocelyn Ma, 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.”

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.

“Throughout the process we’ve removed a lot of paperwork – students can submit their trip details, complete waivers and confirm training,” said Evan Moir, a user experience designer with 91�Թ�'s enterprise applications and solutions integration department.

In addition to the updated registry, the relaunched safety abroad website will offer information about International SOS, a resource that 91�Թ� 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.

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 91�Թ�’s three campuses.

In the past, CIE has contacted students about political unrest in Kenya, water scarcity in South Africa and emergency drills in South Korea and Japan.

“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.”

Trip sponsors, including professors, are notified about students’ request to travel and can contact CIE for further information.

A previous travel sponsor, David Montemurro, an associate professor, teaching stream, with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, runs a regular study abroad program for his students. His students have completed internships in Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong and China.

“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.”

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, 91�Թ� Mississauga and 91�Թ� Scarborough run similar programs.

“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 91�Թ�’s missions is to help our students study abroad and become global scholars – and helping students do this safely is our top priority.”

Safety first: Relaunched 91�Թ� safety abroad website to streamline travel abroad process

91�Թ� students participating in the International/Indigenous Course Modules (ICM) program pose in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo by Tami Piovesan

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From cocoa to corn: 91�Թ� students explore Indigenous food production in Belize

hjames — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:08:34 +0000

From cocoa to corn: 91�Թ� students explore Indigenous food production in Belize

hjames Wed, 05/17/2017 - 14:08

Cutline

Cacao drying in Belize. 91�Թ� students are in Belize learning about Indigenous food systems and sustainability (photo by Renée Johnson via Flickr)

Hannah James

Author legacy

Hannah James

Topic

Global Lens

Undergraduate Students

International

Study Abroad

Faculty of Arts & Science

New College

Sampling squares of pure, Belizean chocolate gave students at 91�Թ�'s New College a taste of what they'll experience in Belize this week.

A group of 91�Թ� students is visiting Indigenous communities in the Central American country to learn about traditional – and innovative – food production methods including cacao and corn.

“This isn’t about looking at old ways,” said Lori Stahlbrand, New College food equity coordinator and lecturer. “This is about a system in motion."

Stahlbrand and June Larkin, associate professor, teaching stream and director of equity studies, will be travelling to Belize with students from equity studies, Caribbean studies, Aboriginal studies, First Nations House and human biology on an experiential-learning trip in partnership with the Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA) in Belize.

Trip participants include, from left to right, Braden Kenny, Dany Villanueva, Skyler Fantin, Associate Professor June Larkin, Riham Abu Affan, Lecturer Lori Stahlbrand, Atlanta-Marinna Grant, Nourhan Moustafa, Katrina Duncan and Farhan Mahmood (photo by Devangi Vaghela)

Students have been learning about how Indigenous food production differs from conventional agricultural practices, which involve the use of fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides to grow crops quickly with high yield.

91�Թ� is linking up with CELA's Filiberto Penados, an internationally-recognized scholar of Indigenous studies and education. Penados, who is based in Belize will guide the students through their travels as they learn about concepts like food sovereignty and agro-ecology.

“Agroecology is actually about working with natural systems. It’s a very different approach – working with in harmony not just with nature but also societies,” Stahlbrand says.

The students will begin their journey at Succotz Village – a village of Yucatec Mayan ancestry – and will continue into Garifuna country with a stop in Belmopan and then the Mayan community of Laguna Village.

The trip is largely funded by the Faculty of Arts & Science’s The Dean's International Initiatives Fund, which supports international programs to give students the opportunity to study and work abroad.

Upon returning to 91�Թ�, students will work with the New College food systems coordinator to plan a series of food events for the 2017-2018 school year.