The Queen s University Emergency Support Program (ESP) for Work/Study/Travel Abroad

Transcription

1 SAFETY IN FIELD RESEARCH WORKSHOP The Queen s University Emergency Support Program (ESP) for Work/Study/Travel Abroad Cathy Lemmon International Programs Advisor, QUIC Cathy.lemmon@queensu.ca

2 STUDENT MOBILITY

3 HISTORY OF SAFETY IN STUDY ABROAD 1992 Queen s had about 100 students abroad 1997 Emergency Protocol Ratified/Emergency Support Program established 1999 Risk and Responsibility Office established 2000 Field Research Safety Policy approved 2003 Queen s - more than 1100 students abroad 2004 Queen s Off-Campus Activity Safety Policy replaces Field Research Safety Policy 2009 over 1800 students abroad over 1950 students abroad

4 EMERGENCY SUPPORT PROGRAM (ESP) Emergency Response Protocol Emergency Contact Card 24-hour Emergency Telephone Hotline On-line Pre-Departure Orientation On-line Enrolment Form integrated as ESP/OCASP data warehouse In-Field Support Re-entry and Emergency Incident Follow-up

5 EMERGENCY PROTOCOL Security contacts coordinator (QUIC, VP (SA)) QUIC coordinates the activities, confirm status & researches emergency Emergency Management Committee is convened as required Departmental Program Emergency Contact is key to on-going contact & follow-up Resource people are involved as necessary Memo is circulated to key campus offices

6 EMERGENCY CONTACT CARD

7 24-HR EMERGENCY HOTLINE Located in Campus Security Services Collect calls are accepted 24-hours per day Hotline links to QUIC (on-call person after hours) Departments, overseas partners and parents can feed into the protocol through the hotline

8 PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION On-line pre-departure orientation includes: Logistics & Travel Academic Health Insurance Health and Safety Culture and cultural adaptation Emergency Briefings & DFAIT Evacuation Plans (teams and individuals) Pre-departure Resources specific to remote Canada destinations

9 OCASP DATA WAREHOUSE Report for the Emergency Management Committee in case of an emergency Participant information (name, student #, address) Details of travel Emergency contact address & telephone number(s) Release of information form Host partner university work/study contacts Program Emergency Contact information

10 WHY WE NEED THE ESP? ESP = when things go wrong Feedback indicates that ESP works Increased risk of incidents due to rising numbers of students involved in wide range of international & Canada North activities Quality support for 100% of students/queen s community Rapid response 24-hours per day Effective clear and accurate communication DFAIT contact Other communication modes can complicate the situation e.g. Facebook Pro-active management of risk e.g. Prepare students to make informed decisions

11 WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE ESP? We know where you are and how to contact you You know where we are and how to contact us You have access to pre-departure orientation/resources You will be contacted by the ESP in the event of civil unrest, natural or environmental disaster if you are in affected area(s) Queens University can work on your behalf in a number of different ways: work with DFAIT regarding passport replacement assist with evacuation efforts assist when academic work is interrupted due to evacuation

12 DEFINING EMERGENCY Tragic death of a student accident, suicide (Death of a Student Protocol) Accident or serious illness car accident Traumatic event sexual assault, hostage taking, natural calamity ******************** Early Warning or Perceived Emergency cultural maladjustment World News - Student Communication weather, civil unrest, earthquake

13 THE ESP AT WORK INCIDENTS FROM September 2011 India & Nepal Earthquake Japan Typhoon Roke China Typhoon Nesat October 2011 Turkey - Earthquake Italy - Floods Thailand Flooding/Evacuations November 2011 England Muggings in Leeds Switzerland World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference December 2011 Belgium Grenada and gun attack Egypt Violent clashes DFAIT advisory updates 28 Travel Warnings sent to affected members (Direct and Indirect Impact templates) in

14 EVENTS THAT TRIGGERED ESP November England Mugging in rash of muggings in and around University of Leeds February 2012 France Mental health issue March 2012 New Zealand Death of a flat-mate May 2012 Belize Robbery

15 RE-ENTRY AND FOLLOW UP On-going situations (illness or injury) - follow-up takes place throughout students sojourn and after their return, if warranted. Returning students invited to Welcome Back Potluck at QUIC and other events useful in easing the transition back to the home (university ) culture. Returning students are invited to apply for the World Links Volunteer Program to continue their personal international/intercultural discovery. All participants involved in ESP incidents are contacted at the end of academic year to: Debrief on situation Provide additional support (if needed) Comment/suggest improvements to system

16 WHY IT WORKS Institutional knowledge about who is out and where they are. Queen s sends out well-informed study abroad students. Students are better equipped to deal with issues they may encounter on while abroad. Students have a support system in place that is on-call 24 hours a day. Queen s ESP has immediate access to information on any student enrolled in the OCASP system. Safeguards the University in matters pertaining to liability.

17 EMERGENCY SUPPORT PROGRAM Reminder The Emergency Support Program offers support not a solution.

18 QUIC / ESP WEB SITE outgoing/safetyabroad.asp or contact cathy.lemmon@queensu.ca