Guidance for travel form approvers

Travel forms ensure the College is able to fulfil its duty of care to staff and students when travelling.

They enable us to provide travellers with the appropriate advice and guidance regarding their trip, as well ensuring that students and employees are not exposed to undue risk which could affect their health and safety so that Goldsmiths can meet their legal obligations.

The goal is not to stop research or fieldwork but to make a realistic assessment of the risk and provide the appropriate guidance and support.

By approving travel forms, you are confirming that the travel is planned and as far as possible risks have been considered and mitigated. You are taking responsibility for ensuring that the student or staff member has looked at the location of their trip or travel and is aware of the potential risks involved.

When forms are not completed properly in a timely manner it can result in colleagues and students not being able to complete their trip as intended.

By approving this form, you are confirming that you are happy for this travel to go ahead and are comfortable that the traveller is aware of the potential risks with their trip.

Things to consider when reviewing a travel form

1. Has the traveller checked the FCO website and have they identified and referenced the risk level?
2. Are they travelling to more than one location? If so, are the risk levels of all locations referenced?
3. If this trip is for research, has the trip/work been approved by the department’s ethics committee?
4. If this trip is part of their course, are the Global Opportunities team aware of the trip and have they provided them with guidance?
5. Do they intend to undertake any additional travel whilst they are in any destinations- either for work, study or personal purposes? Could any of this travel put them at greater risk?
6. Would the activities or the research they intend to undertake make their trip higher risk? For example, are they investigating a potentially controversial topic or are there safeguarding risks attached to their work?
7. Do they have the appropriate visas for their trip? This can include obtaining visas for countries they are travelling via to reach your intended destination.