International Student Placements – providing an
overview of risk management and insurance
implications
Nicky Routh
Insurance Officer
University of Surrey
Outline
• Yes, it’s a test!
• How the University of Surrey manages its insurance risks for
student placements
• Examining the insurance and risk management exposures facing
HEI’s
• When is ‘Personal Accident and Travel’ health insurance?
Health & Safety Guidance
This guidance describes what is required in
approving placements, preparing students for
placement and supporting the students in terms
of their health and safety on placement both in
the UK and overseas. The main difference
between this guidance and the 1997 version that
it replaces is that this encourages a risk-based
approach.
Yes, it’s a test!
Just a little test of your knowledge on liability and risk management
issues relating to international student placements.
Ready?
Student Placements
What are the Insurance Risks
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Injury / Ill health
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The student could be injured or suffer ill health as a result of
working at a placement provider.
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The student could be injured or suffer ill health while on placement
but not as a result of working at the placement provider.
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The actions of the student could cause injury or ill health to others,
damage to property, or loss of income to a business.
Legal liability,
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Liability under health and safety legislation Health and Safety at
Work Act 1974, Corporate Manslaughter or Gross Negligence
Manslaughter
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For placements outside the UK, the liabilities on each party will be a
matter for the enforcing authorities in the country where the
placement occurs.
Insurance for Placements Abroad
The student is directed in focusing on where they are going, what they
are doing and what is required of them.
The pressures that will be affecting them are:
1.
Often the first extended period of time during which students are
away from the family, Faculty or University environment
2.
Being in a new country and a new environment
3.
Learning requirements
4.
Local influence
5.
The unexpected
What we do
1.
We have an outstanding student exchange programme
a.
Compulsory attendance to pre departure sessions
b.
Insurance & H&S talks, on-line risk assessments, robust information,
close liaison with all the faculties
c.
Guidance handbooks
d.
K.I.S.S
2.
Don’t drink the water …… most problems encountered abroad can be
avoided if proper precautionary measures were taken in conjunction with
careful planning.
3.
Consequences
4.
Emergency numbers
What Insurance do we provide?
Public Liability Insurance during the course of an academic placement is
covered by host institution under a reciprocal agreement
Public Liability Insurance covered during the course of the work
placement for where the University is negligent
Important question to ask ….. “Will your insurance cover liability
for injuries or sickness attributable to duties with their
organisation?”
Our insurers provide cover, under the personal liability extension, for
injury caused TO students in the work place, where a host or organiser
has caused injury and has NO liability insurance but will not accept
vicarious liability of employer. Each claim would be considered on a
case by case basis.
Personal Accident & Travel – comprehensive insurance cover whilst on
University business
What PA Travel insurance does the
University of Surrey have?
Personal Accident & Travel – comprehensive insurance covers undergraduates
whilst on University business
Medical & Emergency Expenses
Unlimited
Assistance & Rescue
Unlimited
Legal Expenses
£50,000
Personal Liability
£5,000,000 (work exclusion)
Personal Property
£5,000
Money
£5,000
Cancellation, curtailment, etc.
£10,000
Repatriation
£10,000
Erasmus Mundus insurance requirements
Candidates to receive the obligatory insurance coverage by the
consortium/partnership are:
Action 1 - EMMC student scholarship holders
Action 1 - EMJD doctoral candidates with a stipend
All Action 2 grant recipients
Candidates for whom insurance coverage provided by the consortium/partnership
is NOT obligatory are:
Action 1 - EMMC scholar scholarship holders
Action 1 - EMJD doctoral candidates with an employment contract
There are schemes but they can be expensive - approx. £328.50 per student
Some host institutions have schemes the student can buy into
Examining the insurance and risk
management exposures facing HE’s
What are your exposures?
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Sanctioned countries
Kidnap & ransom
Working in labs
Do you have a Student
Abroad policy?
Reputation
Staff travelling to check on
placement provider and
student
Country stability/civil unrest
Extra curricular activities
Healthcare in the host
country
Insurance limitations
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Individual student factors
Visa’s
Professional Body Insurance
eg Medical Malpractice
Incidental holiday
Human Rights violations
Natural disasters
Pandemics and disease
Travel to Sanctioned Countries
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For any person traveling to a country with a trade sanction there is extremely limited
coverage.
Any expenses incurred within a sanctioned country may not be paid back in the UK.
Must check, before they travel, on the Government website below.
Sanctions implemented by the EU apply to all persons and companies doing business in
the EU, and EU nationals and entities doing business outside the EU.
Penalties vary among the member states. In the UK, violations are typically criminal
offences.
Unintentional violations may result in civil and criminal penalties. Penalties can be imposed
not only on companies, but also on individuals involved in underwriting, administration and
claims.
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills - Sanctions, embargoes and restrictions states
that
‘Sanctions and embargoes are political trade restrictions put in place against target countries
with the aim of maintaining or restoring international peace and security.’ Their guide also
explains why and how governments put trade controls in place and detail the different types of
sanctions and embargoes.’
For details about specific destinations see Current arms embargoes and restrictions.’
https://www.gov.uk/sanctions-embargoes-and-restrictions
Kidnap & Ransom
Be aware of:
• The country risk profile
• Kidnapping is on the rise
• Make sure it is included on the risk assessment
• Speak to your Insurance Officer if in doubt
Incidental Holiday
An 'incidental basis' means that the activity the student is doing is not the
specific reason for them going.
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Incidental holiday can be covered under the policy
The maximum permitted holiday period is 14 days for any trip
The holiday portion of the trip must not exceed 50% of the travel period.
If extreme sports are included in the holiday portion of the trip, the student
should take out extra insurance independently
If for any reason the period of holiday exceeds the overall period of study in
the designated country, the student must arrange separate insurance
Insurers are understanding but not that understanding
Speak to your Insurance Officer if in doubt
Key exclusions under the policy
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Failure to take reasonable precautions to avoid loss (includes nonrefundable costs incurred prior to visa applications)
Travelling against the advice of a medical practitioner
Disinclination to travel, unless for unforeseen and documented personal or
health reasons
Non-emergency medical costs (e.g. check ups, ongoing prescriptions and
vaccinations)
Third party liability arising from motorised vehicles
Airline or travel agent insolvency
Suicide, intentional self injury or use of non-prescribed drugs
Dental or optical expenses (other than in exceptional circumstances)
Travel to "disturbed areas" unless given prior approval
Visits to off-shore facilities (e.g. oil platforms)
Travel exceeding 15 months in duration
When is PA Travel Insurance Health
Insurance?
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It’s not.
Overseas institutions put pressure on student to procure their health
insurance policy
It is worth insisting your policy will provide the cover required (if it does).
They will say that your insurance must comply with the guidelines set out in
the Code of Practice for International Students and, at a minimum, must also
include cover for personal effects, mental illness, optical, loss of baggage
and other personal effects.
Their preferred insurance policy meets the University's requirements? Yours
should too.
When is PA Travel Health Insurance?
What they may insist on in terms of cover
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Your insurance provider should have substantial experience in the travel
insurance business, and has a credit rating no lower than: A from Standard
and Poors; or B+ from A M Best.
The insurance commences on the day the student leaves home and begins
travel and the insurance applies whilst the student is in transit
The student is covered by the insurance for trips to and from his or her home
country and trips to other countries during the period of study
The insurer is able to provide emergency cover 24 hours/7 days a week
The ‘sums insured’ must be high enough to cover most situations
No excess
Medical benefits inclusions (prescription costs, treatment etc.)
The insurance covers the cost of emergency travel or repatriation in the
event of serious illness, injury or death
Personal liability in the event of the student causing accidental damage to
property belonging to a third party.
They will also say that it is also desirable, but not mandatory, that the
insurance policy cover mental illness and unforeseen loss of tuition or other
fees not recoverable from any other source
Yes, it’s a test again!
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Should an HEI’s own Public Liability Insurance provide cover in respect of the HEI’s
own legal liability to its students on placement?
Should an HEI’s own Public Liability Insurance provide cover in respect of the HEI’s
own legal liability to the placement provider?
Should the placement providers own Public Liability provide cover in respect of its
own legal liability?
In the UK, would you expect a placement provider to cover the student for Employers
Liability?
Outside the UK, would you expect a placement provider to cover the student for the
equivalent of Employers Liability and Public Liability?
Is there standardised Employers Liability / Workman's Compensation abroad?
What is incidental holiday? What are the definitions?
How many sanctioned countries can you list?
Your HEI has organised a third stream income event outside the UK for multinational
attendance. One of the attendants cannot return to his home country (Palestine) as
the borders (Egyptian) have closed and an EU country holds him in the airport, with
the authorities not allowing him to leave and threatening to send to Tel Aviv. What are
your liabilities in this scenario?
Any questions?