The wider security situation

A. Criminality and conflict

The sub-criteria given above concern travel safety in the broadest sense and apply to all forms of travel. They become ever more imperative as the threat level in a given context increases. Structural violence may generally be expected in a number of countries as a day-to-day experience. In contexts such as these, consideration should always be given to protection against criminality and assault, and this should also guide an individual’s own actions and behaviour. The special safety measures provided for university grounds and student residences in many regions are an example of this. In such contexts campuses are generally fenced off and access is controlled by security staff. When planning a visit, consideration should be given to the security and safety of a given location and to safe travel connections between accommodation and the campus. In many regions affected by conflict, the prominent presence of the military and having to pass through military checkpoints can become part of everyday experience. When preparing for a trip, these concrete realities on the ground should be given just as much importance as planning the journey or choosing the appropriate form of transport.

B. Travel, transport, nature and the environment, infrastructure, mobility, visas

Apart from the various forms of medical prophylaxis required for a given destination, the local healthcare infrastructure should also be considered, as it cannot be assumed that German or international standards will be available everywhere. How do you contact the emergency medical services, for example? Which language should you communicate in? Can you rely on emergency medical services? Which medical care institutions in the region meet international standards? Which special precautions are required for overland journeys or staying in remote areas? Will there be mobile phone coverage on the way and at the destination? Will other means of communication be required to send a message in an emergency?

In cases such as these, an emergency will not necessarily be an event that causes exceptional harm or damage. For example, a puncture during an overland journey in an area without mobile coverage and where the travellers have not informed anyone in advance of their planned arrival time can be enough to cause an unexpected and dangerous situation.

The DAAD recommends that higher education institutions should develop a robust network of trusted individuals at the partner institution in-country, before during and after any stay abroad. Such trusted individuals should be included in contact, emergency and response chains. Acting in a culturally sensitive way and employing intercultural skills are indispensable in such cases. For example, partners may be sensitive about risks, threats and conflict situations, and directly addressing such topics can put partners in difficult situations or even expose them to risk themselves. Furthermore, partners abroad may find it very challenging to explicitly articulate experiential knowledge and everyday behaviour and to include such issues in instructions for visitors. In some cultures, it may be taboo to tell guests how they should behave or what they are not allowed to do.

A concrete example of this may be found in the following example from the DAAD’s guide to developing robust structures in German-African higher education cooperation projects. ‘Each of the partners has a different perspective on the project planning. They know the systems and customs of how their own university goes about its business. ‘Collaborative thinking’ will bring some of the unknown variables to light that can then be accounted for in the timetable and cost planning. One project leader described the following situation: A group of students wanted to conduct field research in a certain area. However, there was one issue that neither they nor the project leadership understood, and which only emerged in the country of the partner university: this area was also part of the natural habitat of lions. Guards had to be employed in order to guarantee the safety and security of the students. Their salaries had not been included in the original budget plan.’

C. Health

The experiences from the Covid-19 pandemic have provided a blueprint for the importance of empowering action and defining clear responsibilities within processes for volatile and changeable situations where there are few established facts on which to base decisions. Course start dates were cancelled or postponed while libraries and canteens were shut. The Covid-19 pandemic brought with it rapid changes to the legal and regulatory environments affecting cooperation between German higher education institutions and partners around the world. Exchange and cooperation are only possible when all involved understand the situation in their partner countries.

D. Communication

During the period before a research stay or trip abroad, it is worth reviewing whether secure communications can be guaranteed at every stage of the journey. It should not be assumed that mobile coverage will be available when travelling overland or in remote areas. When planning a trip under such circumstances thought should be given to acquiring additional means of communication, such as satellite phones. However it should also be noted that importing such devices is subject to legal restrictions in some countries. No less important are replacement batteries or, ideally, mobile power sources to ensure it is possible to charge devices during power cuts or where there is no access to electricity. Another key issue is the confidentiality and security of the data and information being communicated. Where confidential information, (and information about third parties in particular) must be communicated by phone or in writing, precautions should be taken to ensure adequate encryption to prevent unauthorised access.

E. Diversity-specific risk analyses

Aspects of diversity and the intersectionality³ of social categories such as gender cut across all the sub-criteria listed above. Sociocultural conceptions of gender roles in certain countries can mean that men, women and individuals who do not identify with a binary gender structure or fit in with heteronormative thinking can be exposed to a range of risks. A sociocultural standard could, for example, impose different restrictions on behaviour, action and agency for men and for women. Such standards could also find expression in systemic violence, gender-specific discrimination and even sexual violence. Diversity-specific manifestations of security and safety risks should be considered in conjunction with all criteria.

¹ The concept of a safety culture, as proposed by Daase (Daase 2011: 141ff).
² Werkner and Oberdorfter’s concept of ‘human safety’ (Werkner and Oberdorfter 2019: 95-96).
³ ‘Intersectionality’ refers to the intersection of multiple structural categories that generate inequality. […] One key premise is that forms of oppression and discrimination are not stacked additively, one on top of each other. Rather, they should be considered in how they intersect and interact.’ From: Küppers, Carolin (2014). Intersektionalität. In Gender Glossar/Gender Glossary. Accessible at http://gender-glossar.de. (Last accessed: 11 November 2020)
⁴ Professional travel assistance services specialise in travel safety, insurance and risk assessments for postings abroad. These organisations offer comprehensive practical risk, safety and crisis management. Ideally, assistance services should provide services worldwide to provide medical or safety-specific emergency support in events of damage or injury.