As more students, faculty, and staff members travel, work, and live abroad, higher education institutions face the question of what their responsibilities are to their constituents. Duty of care refers to the legal obligation of organisations and individuals to treat others and the public in such a way as to avoid the risk of foreseeable injury. Employers have a Duty of Care obligation for the health, safety, and security of their employees; likewise, colleges and universities have an obligation to all of their stakeholders who are travelling or studying internationally.
The authors also outline steps that any institution can take to ensure it has processes in place to meet its Duty of Care obligations and protect its employees and students.