In order to make your overseas internship or research activities successful, safety should be given the first priority than anything else. What should you do in order to avoid risks, such as terrorism, conflicts, crimes, loss of valuables, and disease infection? What do you do if you happen to come across any of these? Good preparation will surely bring you a safer trip.
Prior to the Internship
1. Information on your country of Destination
2. Control of your Health
You are strongly advised to have a health and dental check before you go abroad so that you will be confident with your health condition. You also need to look into infectious diseases in the area and have appropriate vaccinations in advance.
■Health Service Center in Hiroshima University
■International Travel and Health Information by WHO(World Health Organization)
■Traveler's Health by CDC(US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
3. Insurance (Mandatory)
We must admit that, with sufficient preparation before going abroad, it is still impossible to avoid 100% of possible risks.
Therefore, we require all program participants to take out the prescribed personal insurance "Gakkenbai" and an overseas travel insurance.
For details, please refer to the following site.
Accident Insurance
4. Preparation before your departure
- In case of loss or theft, please make photocopies of your passport, credit card, air ticket, T/C and insurance card.
- The G.ecbo prepares an emergency card for all participants. Please put all necessary contact numbers and always keep it with you during your internship.
- If you have a chronic disease, you should prepare a medical report in English or local language to carry it with you during your internship.
5. Cancellation of Internship
G.ecbo makes decision about the cancellation of the internship when necessary according to the following HU Risk Management Manual based on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA)'s indication level of caution for overseas travelers.
<HU Risk Management Manual>
(1) Even when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) indicates "LEVEL1" or less, if the Japanese Embassy or JICA office stationed in the local area considers that more cautious reaction is needed, students must follow their advice.
(2) Travels to countries/regions where MOFA indicates on their website for Japanese travelers abroad as "LEVEL 2" or above shall not be permitted or must be cancelled/postponed, in principle.
(3) Students must return to Japan immediately when MOFA indicates the area's risk level as "LEVEL3" or more while traveling in the concerned area, in principle.
During the Internship
1. Report of your whereabouts
When you move to another place to stay during your internship, please make sure to report it to your host institute, your family and G.ecbo office.
2. Report to G.ecbo Office
The program participants are requested to send e-mail messages reporting about their safety, health condition and internship progress to the G.ecbo office, preferably once a week.
Short Report from Interns
3. Avoiding all possible risks
You should try best to avoid all possible risks, by keeping away from dangerous places, not going out alone after dark, not carrying much cash with you, and by paying good attention not to be deceived or get involved in any illegal activities.
4. Regular check on safety information of your host country
While abroad, you should try your best to keep access to the sources of safety infromation of the country.
"1. Information on your country of Destination"
In case of Emergency
1.In case of emergency, the intern, in principle, should follow the instruction from the host institution.
2.You must inform the emergent contact offices/persons written on your G.ecbo Emergency card.
In case that you cannot make contact by yourself, please ask your host institute or the consulate office of your country in the region for assistance.