Health and Safety Institute: Call for Proposals

Deadline to submit: Monday, January 27, 2025​

We are excited to invite proposals for the 16th annual Institute on Health, Safety, Security, and Risk Management in Education Abroad (Health and Safety Institute). This Institute brings together professionals from across the field of education abroad, travel risk management, and related sectors to share knowledge, discuss trends, and strengthen practices in safeguarding students and programs in an increasingly complex global environment.

Goals of the Institute:

• Explore Emerging Trends: Engage with new and innovative approaches to health, safety, security, and risk management, both within education abroad and from other industries and fields.
• Strengthen Safety and Security: Identify strategies that further enhance the well-being and security of education abroad participants.
• Meet the Standards of Good Practice: Provide tools and resources to help organizations meet the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad through case studies, examples of best practices, and critical analysis of requirements.

2025 Theme: Preparing for The Future of Health, Safety, Security, and Risk Management in Education Abroad

This year's institute will focus on the future of health, safety, security, and risk management, and we invite proposals that explore how professionals can anticipate and adapt to evolving challenges in this critical area. As the world continues to change, what will the future demand of us to ensure the highest standards in program health, safety, security, and risk management?​

Key Themes for Proposal Submissions

• ​Program and Organizational Design and Implementation: Share strategies that integrate safety and risk management into all stages of program planning, delivery, and evaluation.
• Identity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (IDEI): Explore how identity and diversity influence risk management, and present inclusive approaches that consider the unique experiences of diverse student populations. Consider the decolonization of health, safety, security, and risk management expectations and the cultural nuances of these areas.
• Technology: Analyze the role of technology in managing risks and enhancing health and safety, from tracking systems to virtual crisis response and artificial intelligence (AI) integration. Discuss student conduct and mental health matters related to the use of online platforms and social media. 
• Geopolitical Trends: Provide insights on navigating geopolitical challenges and their impact on education abroad, considering both regional and global risks. Examine the rise of extremist movements across the political spectrum and the impact on education abroad.
• Climate Change: Discuss the growing impact of climate change on risk management, including natural disasters, diseases (e.g. Dengue), environmental sustainability, and preparedness for climate-related emergencies.
• Regulatory Compliance: Explore the latest developments in legal and regulatory requirements for education abroad programs and how to ensure compliance with (sometimes incongruent) national and international standards.
• ​Mental Health and Wellness: Discuss emerging trends in addressing student mental health challenges abroad, including new support mechanisms, policies, and frameworks.

Submission Guidelines

We encourage proposals that are interactive, innovative, and supported by research or real-world case studies. Submissions should clearly address one or more of the Health and Safety Institute 2025 key themes and align with the Institute’s goals listed above.

In response to feedback from prior attendees, we are pleased to introduce a new format for the in-person Institute: Tabletop Drill Exercises. Proposals for 90-minute tabletop drill exercises that address practical responses to specific scenarios will be considered for three concurrent sessions.

All proposals will be evaluated using the following rubric:

1	Evaluate the interactivity identified in the proposal.
2	How well does the session relate to one or more of the Institute’s goals?
3	How well does the session align with the Institute’s Theme?
4	To what extent does the proposed content represent novel ideas or approaches to an existing question or identifies a new topic of relevance to the field?
5	To what extent does the proposed content represent an active question or debate in the field?
6	How important is this topic for the international education professionals on my campus at this time?
7	How well does the panel represent a diverse range of perspectives (job responsibilities, fields, institution type or size, expertise, etc)?
8	Does the session include presenters from more than one organization?
9	Should this session proposal be accepted?
10	Does the session content recommend a specific product or service?

Session Types

​The table below details the available session types for the Institute, including a description and the duration of each session type.

Session Type	Virtual	In-Person
Round-table Dialogue Highly interactive, discussion-based, and involves small group activities or break-out groups.	60 minutes	75 minutes
Panel Presentation Consists of a panel of experts, each approaching the topic/theme from a different perspective, and includes ample time for Q&A.	60 minutes	75 minutes
Town Hall Meeting Facilitated discussion on a significant or emerging topic on health and safety topics and education abroad.	60 minutes	75 minutes
Practice & Research Briefs Introduces the audience to a succinct summary of innovation, solution, and/or findings, followed by an opportunity for feedback and discussion.	20 minutes	N/A
Tabletop Drill Exercise (New in 2025!) Focus on practical, scenario-based responses to challenges commonly encountered in the field, offering participants hands-on experience in managing real-world situations. A maximum of three proposals will be accepted and will run concurrently during the institute.	N/A	90 minutes

​Important Dates:

• Proposal Deadline: Monday, January 27, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance: Week of February 24, 2025
• Material Submission Deadline: Virtual: June 2, 2025; In-Person: June 9, 2025
• Institute Dates: June 17, 2025 (Virtual), June 25-27, 2025 (In-Person)

 
We look forward to receiving your proposals and to collaboratively shaping the future of health, safety, security, and risk management in education abroad!

Proposal Submission Resources

On January 8, 2025, the Institute Committee held a Lunch and Learn – Health and Safety Institute: Making Connections and Crafting Winning Proposals webinar. You are invited to view the recording and gain insider tips and fresh ideas to help you start your conference proposal.

We know that sometimes you have a great proposal idea, but may need some assistance rounding out your panel of presenters. To that end, we are offering a Presenter Connection space to serve as a hub to create connections with interested co-presenters. We hope that this will be a useful tool in creating diverse panels and impactful proposals.