FOI_25-143 Travel policies for staff and students
Date of response: 06 June 2025
We have now considered your request of 08 May 2025 for the following information:
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding your institution's policies on international travel for LGBTQ+ (understood as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) staff members or students. We understand international travel to include that undertaken by LGBTQ+ students and staff across national borders for educational and scholarly purposes, including study abroad programs, research collaborations, conferences, fellowships and staff exchanges.
Regarding your institution, I am requesting:
Question 1. A copy of any policies, guidance, or information from the institution which specifically addresses international travel by LGBTQ+ staff members or students.
Our response:
Please see accompanying document our ref: FOI_25-143 Appendix A for student advice and guidance and FOI_25-143 Appendix B for guidance provided to staff. The information in the attachments is a reproduction of data held on our internal web pages, which are accessible only to staff and students.
Question 2. A copy of any specific policies which address international travel by transgender staff members or students, in recognition of the particular legal issues that transgender travellers might face when travelling internationally.
Our response:
Please see accompanying document, our ref: FOI_25-143 Appendix A.
On this occasion it is not possible to provide all of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for specific policies which address transgender staff members in recognition for any legal issues transgender staff may encounter when travelling internationally. None of our policies address transgender specifically, and all travel guidance for staff are applicable to all travellers regardless of their gender.
Question 3. Information on any risk assessment procedures related to LGBTQ+ staff or students travelling to countries where homosexuality or gender non-conformity is criminalised or otherwise restricted.
Our response:
All staff are required to risk assess all reasonably foreseeable, significant risks regarding any overseas travel, including individual factors such as their sexuality or gender. They are instructed to use training tools available through the University’s insurance provider, AIG, and any other reputable resource that aids their assessment.
Our health and safety and risk assessment information for travelling abroad and fieldwork, which staff can access via our internal web portal, has been provided in accompanying document, our ref: FOI_25-143 Appendix B.
On this occasion it is not possible to provide all of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for risk assessment procedures related to LGBTQ+ students travelling to countries where homosexuality of gender non-conformity is criminalised or otherwise restricted.
General information on safety and gender/sexuality considerations for LGBTQ+ or transgender students travelling abroad can be found in accompanying document, our ref: FOI_25-143 Appendix A.
Question 4. Information about any specific support mechanisms, resources, or guidance provided to LGBTQ+ staff members or students before, during, and after international travel.
Our response:
Students:
Please see accompanying document, our ref: FOI_25-143 Appendix C.
Staff:
Staff are encouraged to contact the University Safety Services, their division’s Human Resources Business Partners or Head of School/Line Manager for any support required before, during or after international travel. All other guidance provided to staff via our online portal has been provided to you in response to questions 1 and 3.
Question 5. Copies of any equality impact assessments conducted in relation to international travel policies as they affect LGBTQ+ staff or students.
Please note, I am specifically requesting information about international travel policies, not domestic or commuter travel policies.
Our response:
On this occasion it is not possible to provide all of the requested information. In line with your rights under section 1(1)(a) of the Act to be informed whether information is held, we confirm that the University does not hold any recorded information for copies of equality impact assessments conducted in relation to international travel policies as they affect LGBTQ+ staff or students. The University does not undertake equality impact assessments for international travel for LGBTQ+ staff or students.