White Paper
What’s Next in Scholastic Travel: Trends, Risks, and Technologies Shaping Travel Management
Updated
Universities across North America are navigating a rapidly evolving global mobility landscape. Each year, institutions support hundreds of thousands of travelers across study abroad, faculty-led programs, research, internships, conferences, and fieldwork. While student travel represents the largest segment, faculty, staff, and researcher mobility is often more decentralized, creating added complexity in registration, oversight, and risk management. Demand continues to grow across institutions of all sizes, from small Canadian universities to large U.S. research institutions supporting thousands of travelers annually.
This white paper was unveiled to more than 75 higher education leaders at the inaugural International SOS Academia Conference, held in Blue Bell, PA, in late April. It examines how higher education institutions are responding to these challenges. Drawing on insights from more than a dozen colleges and universities, as well as the Institute for International Education (IIE), it explores how organizations communicate travel policies, fulfill their Duty of Care obligations, and leverage technology to enhance visibility, compliance, and response capabilities. The findings are intended to inform institutions at all stages of program maturity—whether establishing a global travel framework or refining an existing one.
While international travel registration has become standard practice, enforcement and effectiveness vary widely. Institutions face persistent risks stemming from unregistered travel, decentralized governance, and evolving geopolitical, regulatory, and identity-related concerns. At the same time, advances in technology and data integration are enabling more proactive, coordinated approaches to traveler support and crisis response.
In connection with the paper, International SOS has created a travel risk management checklist for scholastic institutions. You can find the free tool here: International SOS Self Assessment Tool
As global mobility continues to expand—particularly through short-term, experiential, and research-driven travel, universities are rethinking how they prepare, track, and support their travelers. This white paper highlights emerging priorities and best practices shaping the future of university travel programs, with a focus on resilience, inclusivity, and effective Duty of Care.
This white paper was unveiled to more than 75 higher education leaders at the inaugural International SOS Academia Conference, held in Blue Bell, PA, in late April. It examines how higher education institutions are responding to these challenges. Drawing on insights from more than a dozen colleges and universities, as well as the Institute for International Education (IIE), it explores how organizations communicate travel policies, fulfill their Duty of Care obligations, and leverage technology to enhance visibility, compliance, and response capabilities. The findings are intended to inform institutions at all stages of program maturity—whether establishing a global travel framework or refining an existing one.
While international travel registration has become standard practice, enforcement and effectiveness vary widely. Institutions face persistent risks stemming from unregistered travel, decentralized governance, and evolving geopolitical, regulatory, and identity-related concerns. At the same time, advances in technology and data integration are enabling more proactive, coordinated approaches to traveler support and crisis response.
In connection with the paper, International SOS has created a travel risk management checklist for scholastic institutions. You can find the free tool here: International SOS Self Assessment Tool
As global mobility continues to expand—particularly through short-term, experiential, and research-driven travel, universities are rethinking how they prepare, track, and support their travelers. This white paper highlights emerging priorities and best practices shaping the future of university travel programs, with a focus on resilience, inclusivity, and effective Duty of Care.