1/13/26 Atlas

Atlas is a resource for departments and programs planning travel abroad for students or groups. If you are considering travel in the next eighteen months, book an appointment with us to discuss your ideas. Review the 2025-26 deadlines.

Working with Organizations Abroad

Organizational types require different approaches for health, safety, risk and liability abroad. This is key to understanding responsibility and liability. For the purpose of this discussion, we frame organizations in three categories: a) Universities and Higher Education Organizations, b) Non-higher Education Organizations, and c) Companies and Businesses. Understanding the organizational mission for each of these organization types helps universities like SCU determine whether SCU or the organization will bear primary responsibility for program components, including orientations and the establishment of risk management protocols.

Organizational Mission Matters

Regardless of the organization abroad, the home university ultimately retains the responsibility for caring for its students or travelers abroad and liability for the program. Before partnering with another organization, including a university, third-party provider, non-profit, or business, the sending institution must understand the organization’s mission, infrastructure, and ability– who is taking primary student responsibility on the ground and who can offer an appropriate and reliable standard of care. Understanding organization mission and structure is essential because undergraduate students in the United States and their families typically expect a level of support, safety oversight, and responsiveness that is usually higher than what is expected in other cultures.

The structure of higher education can vary widely across countries; for example, in most countries, students live at home while attending university, resulting in less housing oversight, residential life support, or pastoral care than U.S. students may expect. Similarly, where low-cost or government-funded national health insurance is common, organizations may not be familiar with U.S. insurance complexities. It is important to understand organizations we work with to set expectations about health safety and support.

Universities and Education Abroad Providers

Universities and education abroad providers maintain infrastructure to support students abroad, reflecting missions centered on education, research, and student development. Examples of universities include the University of Deusto, San Sebastian and University of Canterbury, Christ Church. Examples of education abroad providers include IES, Arcadia, and API. When collaborating with universities and program providers:

Academic alignment is necessary and courses, learning outcomes, and credit recognition must align with the home institution’s standards.
Student experience is prioritized and there is infrastructure to support international students, including orientation, often housing, and student services.

Providers often serve as partners for university academic programs, research opportunities, and exchange programs. They may engage in different aspects of program design and delivery; for example, supporting study abroad academics, excursions, housing, and student services, including health and safety, on behalf of institutions. U.S. universities commonly rely on providers to augment university staffing and resources. Providers may help expand access to professional on-the-ground infrastructure and greater student support (especially for health and safety), and to expand student access to internships, research, and service placements abroad.

Universities do well to establish close relationships with providers that make them approved partners in student program delivery.

Non-Higher Education Organizations

Non-higher education organizations might include non-profit or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that may provide students with internships, service-learning opportunities, or research collaborations. Their missions often focus on community impact, advocacy, or professional development rather than education. Examples of non-higher education organizations include: Kino Border Initiative, Jesuit Refugee Services, the Jean-Pictet Competition, or fieldwork with a faculty on a project. Key considerations include:

Mission alignment: Programs should match the organization’s goals and the learning objectives of the students. For example, a student interested in environmental policy may partner with a nonprofit focused on conservation.
Structured experience: Unlike universities, nonprofits may not have formal student programs. The home university has the responsibility to craft the programming and logistics around the experience, from pre-arrival preparation, housing, health and safety support, and ongoing supervision.
Due diligence: There is a higher responsibility on the home university to ensure that students are placed in safe, ethical environments and that risks are assessed, including workplace and housing hazards, cultural sensitivities, and liability issues.

Companies and Businesses

Corporate placements, whether internships or shadowing experiences, expose students to professional practice in a real-world business context. These organizations typically prioritize efficiency, productivity, and business outcomes. Examples of companies and businesses hosting students include international law firms, international businesses, and social enterprises. Considerations include:

Professional development: Students may gain hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and exposure to international business practices.
Expectation management: Companies may not have experience hosting students and may expect them to contribute to projects immediately. Clear agreements about roles, hours, and supervision are crucial.
Due diligence: There is a higher responsibility on the home university to ensure that labor laws are followed, students are not exploited, and occupational safety standards are upheld. Unlike academic settings, professional environments may not have a built-in support system for students. The home university has the responsibility to craft the programming and logistics around the experience, from pre-arrival preparation, housing, health and safety support, and ongoing supervision.

Vetting and Evaluation

Partnerships vary enormously and there are professional best practices for vetting and evaluating education abroad partnerships.

Want to learn more about international higher education best practices for evaluation and vetting of organizations abroad?

The Forum on Education Abroad Standards of Good Practice provides a comprehensive, consensus-based framework that institutions use for program design, delivery, risk management, quality assurance, partnerships, and provider evaluation.
The Forum Guidelines series serve as a supplement to the Standards by offering detailed guidance for specific program types or facets of education abroad programming, including Guidelines on Community Engagement and Service-Learning, Good Business Partnerships, Internships Abroad, Field Studies, etc.
NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest professional association for international education practitioners, providing principles, training, tools, and discussion forums that inform best practices for partnerships, risk management, and provider vetting in international education and exchange.

Successful student programs abroad depend on understanding the type of partner organization abroad, respecting their mission, and clearly defining the home institution’s responsibility for student safety and learning outcomes. Differentiating between academic, nonprofit, and business settings allows for better preparation, richer experiences, and more effective risk management.

Have a question?

If you are considering university-sponsored international travel, contact us to discuss how your ideas align with University structures and available resources. Book an appointment with us this fall term.

Key links and resources:

Get to know SCU’s University International Travel Policy: University International Travel Policy
Understand Department/Program responsibilities for University-Sponsored International Travel: Program Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities
Preview the International Travel Proposal: SCU International Travel Proposal
See International Travel Proposal deadlines: International Travel Proposal Deadlines.
Understand U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories: About DOS Travel Advisories
Are you a faculty or staff member traveling abroad individually for research or work?: Register Your Faculty/Staff Travel through the 1-Minute Travel Registry to ensure SCU travel insurance.
U.S. Government changes may impact international travel. Refer to U.S. Government Updates Impacting Global Engagement at SCU.