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Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs

Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs. Nicholas K. Iammarino, PhD, CHES Rice University Thomas W. O’Rourke, PhD, MPH, CHES University of Illinois. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs. OUR PROGRAM:

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Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs

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  1. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs Nicholas K. Iammarino, PhD, CHES Rice University Thomas W. O’Rourke, PhD, MPH, CHES University of Illinois

  2. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs OUR PROGRAM: • A Three Week Course to the United Kingdom (England & Scotland) • “Comparative Health Care Policy: US & UK” • Three Semester hours credit (Graduate and Undergraduate) • Maximum Group Size = • 28 Students + 2 Faculty Leaders

  3. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs • DECIDED TO FOCUS ON 2 IMPORTANT ASPECTS: • Budget • Legal (Safety)

  4. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs DEVELOPING A REALISTIC BUDGET

  5. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs EASIER SAID THAN DONE • Difficult to price travel/study course before actual costs are known • Many costs and exchange rate are unknown and can change significantly • We let potential students know 18 months in advance before costs for many of items is known

  6. Health Education Travel Study Abroad: Lessons Learned from Successful Programs Problem is to price travel/study course before actual costs are known

  7. Budget Components

  8. And There’s More…

  9. … Finally • Factor in emergencies • Include sufficient funds to cover instructor travel (if not included in tuition and fees)

  10. Goal • Don’t budget too high • Lose students – not enough to go • Don’t budget too low • Can’t lose money • Hard to raise price after the fact • Try to balance but build in a cushion

  11. How To Address Budget Issues • Factor in start-up costs • Flyers, brochures • Ads in campus or other media • Website • Communications to set up visits, speakers, lodging etc. • Study abroad office fees • Instructor travel to make course arrangements

  12. How To Address Budget Issues (cont.) • Lock in prices early to extent possible without purchasing (more flexibility and you often don’t have the $$$) • Group desk airfare • Lodging, Rail, Other ground expenses, Meeting rooms, Speaker fees • Pay ahead, especially for prices subject to change or exchange rate changes

  13. How To Address Budget Issues (cont.) • Once budget is set – Make costs fit budget as necessary (may go up or down) • Scale housing and transportation (bus vs cab vs walking) as necessary • Add/Delete pre trip orientation pizza party or first night social on the trip • Add/Delete coffee/tea at site visits • Add/Delete a museum or other cultural visit • If over budgeted – Reduce student costs

  14. How To Address Budget Issues (cont.) • Factor in emergencies (not unexpected costs) • Lost/stolen luggage, wallets or purses • Medical expenses or medical evacuation • Terrorism • Strikes • Trains not running • Flight delays – missed connections • Etc. Etc. Etc.

  15. How To Address Budget Issues (cont.) • Build in a cushion • Instructor pre-trip travel • Refunds if necessary • Factor in for emergencies • Avoid an “ugly” situation such as a student drops out at last minute • Lodging not available upon arrival • Changes in airline policy – baggage • Change in government policy – new taxes or fees • Start-up costs for next trip

  16. How To Address Budget Issues (cont.) • Don’t take too many or too few • More students the harder to make arrangements and travel as a group • But need enough to cover instructor cost so more students = lower per student costs • Advise students about their budget (ATM’s vs Credit Cards vs Cash vs Traveler Checks)

  17. To extent possible have control over the account More intermediaries = less control and costs more Less desirable travel/lodging/land and educational experiences Think of arranging your own travel and educational experiences May be more work but we have found it a much better experience for all involved How To Address Budget Issues (Cont.)

  18. Legal and Safety Issues Background: • “Litigious Society” • Increased risk management offices at universities • Accidents/terrorism and the post-9/11 environment • Check with Study Abroad Office on your campus as a first step

  19. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Release of responsibility (signed form) • Participant list and emergency contact information • Day-by-day itinerary including visits/lodging contact information

  20. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Register participants with U.S. embassy • Provide participants with U.S. embassy contact information • Conduct a pre-trip orientation including distribution of health and safety information

  21. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Emergency phone contact card for each student IN CASE OF EMERGENCY First contact your host university. If you need further assistance, contact these numbers in the order listed. 1. University Program England/Scotland Travel Study 2. Emergency Travel Cell (Dr I) ____________________ 3. Rice U. Police Department (24 hr) (713) 348-6000 4. U.S. Embassy (London) 44 (20) 7499-9000 5. U.S. State Department (202) 501-4444

  22. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • International Cell Phone for Instructor(s)

  23. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Proof of health insurance coverage or purchasing health coverage while abroad

  24. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Have a crisis management plan to address: - Natural disasters - Political uprisings - Strikes/Work stoppages - Terrorism - Legal actions involving students - Arrests - Hospitalization

  25. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Have a crisis management plan to address: - Robbery - Physical assault - Kidnapping - Psychological crises - Automobile accidents - Death of a participant

  26. Institutional/Instructor Responsibilities • Plan should include:  • Notification of Embassy or Consulate • Contacting participants’ family • Meeting with other group participants • Arranging counseling services for participants • Deciding whether to continue or cancel program

  27. Student Participant Responsibilities • Student awareness of Code of Conduct (e.g., alcohol and drug policy, sexual harassment) - Behavioral expectations - Cultural awareness

  28. Student Participant Responsibilities • Read and carefully consider all trip-related materials • Participate in all pre-trip orientation activities • Awareness and adherence to country laws, rules, regulations, customs, and cultural expectations

  29. Student Participant Responsibilities • Inform instructors of whereabouts while doing “independent” travel • Provide contact information to parents and/or other responsible persons

  30. Want More Information? • See our webpage at: http://kch.uiuc.edu/England/

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