When booking on this course please include intended travel dates (in and out) destination and a brief description of your research in the 'Message to Trainer' section.

This 3 day workshop is aimed at staff and students who are intending to travel to complex risk environments to carry out fieldwork research.    The workshop will primarily deliver modules that satisfy the needs of individuals travelling to hostile risk environments. More generally the workshop is aimed at individuals who perceive a threat of third party interest in themselves, or their interlocutors, particularly from the likes of Governments, Opposition Groups and Terrorist or Criminal Organisations. The specific purpose of the proposed course is to prepare individuals for the complex risks associated with academic research work in the field
 
Content includes:

• Pre-travel planning
• Risk assessment & mitigation strategies
• Hostile threat awareness
• Weapons awareness
• Hostage awareness
• Contingency planning
• Trauma first aid
• Information integrity

The objective of the workshop is to enable individuals to reinforce their existing knowledge, fill knowledge gaps and, through the use of case studies, learn from those who have worked in similar theatres. By the end of the workshop attendees will be able to:

• Further enhance their ability to produce full and accurate threat assessments
• Develop a greater understanding and awareness of the physical and technical vulnerabilities
• associated with their activities
• Recommend options for conducting LSE business in a safer and more secure way
• Implement best practice procedures for travel preparation and data protection
• Implement best practice procedures to ensure personal safety and that of interlocutors / in country partners

Staff and students choosing to conduct research in high and extreme risk areas will be expected to have completed this course in order to secure authorisation to travel and access to the School’s travel insurance policy.  We would encourage PhD students to complete the course as soon as they have chosen their research location, even if this is in their second year.