1

On Campus safety

Not without risks, so keep informed

2

Getting around

Short cuts to street smarts

A universities risk profile is obviously influenced by its location. What we do know is that universities well understand their responsibilities to their students on campus. And as in most popular destination countries, as crime rates have fallen, so too have risks on campus. But, of course there things it pays to be aware of, and take sensible steps to avoid risk. For example, Maffini (2018) found that Asian American and Asian International students in the US felt unsafe on campus at night.

It has also been reported that international students often face casual racism in the University environment in the United Kingdom (Batty, 2019) and this causes genuine anxieties about safety. Good universities take specific risks to their international student’s cohort seriously and will have specific programs and initiatives to combat these issues. Find out what they are, how you can benefit from the service, and stay engaged and informed.

For many, moving to a new country can be overwhelming. And naturally, navigating unfamiliar areas, local customs and transport systems typically lead to extra difficulties and safety concerns for international students. What city blocks are dangerous place to visit at night? What is the latest time to travel on public transport by night? Are taxis safe? Am I safe riding that route to school on a bicycle?

Compounding the issue is the fact many international students lack the ‘street smarts’ or local knowledge to recognise dangerous localities or risky behaviours. Fortunately, by discussing your environment with friends, teachers, fellow students, student adviser and/or a mentor, students can quickly pick up a sense of where dangers lie and how to mitigate the risks. Universities run orientation programs on safety, often where visiting police officers give safety briefings. But it’s also a good idea to take some local advice from someone you can trust.

3

Keeping home sweet

Weigh your choices carefully; even when money’s tight

4

Wage rip-off tip-off

With the cards stacked against them, students must know and assert their rights

Of course international students should carefully consider their personal safety within their home and neighbourhood. For most students lacking full time income, almost by definition, money is an issue. Understandably, to keep a lid on spending, students can find themselves living in seedier parts of town or sharing a house with people they don’t know well. And worse – unfortunately, unwitting international students can be an easy target.

Studies tell us (ForbesMewett and Wickes (2018)) international students who reside in disadvantaged areas with high crime rates are often victimised if they do not receive adequate support. Like everything there’s a risk-return equation to consider, but students can do themselves a favour by researching carefully, asking the right questions and mitigating risk where they can. Is it sensible to flat share with a total stranger? Who could I talk to better inform my decision? Is there a safer route to the train station after 9pm? Am I comfortable with strangers partying in the house after hours? These are simple, sensible aspects of home life; thinking clearly through options goes a long way to taking responsibility for your own safety.

Students often struggle for income and take any job they can get their hands on, and international students are no different. Unfortunately, according to a report by the University of NSW and UTS, international students are particularly vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace, with a staggering 50% of the 6,000 who were surveyed being paid below minimum wage (Vincent, 2020). Unscrupulous employers know they have the upper hand, and so pay under the minimum hourly wage rate, in cash, with little other benefits, knowing they can get away with it. Unfortunately it’s common for employers to threaten those who complain with reporting students visa breaches to government authorities and/or instant dismissal.

The COVID 19 economic fallout in the service and hospitality sectors has meant the situation for those seeking part time work in study destination countries will likely only get worse. Students should be aware of their rights, what to do if they’re feel they’re being exploited. In each host country governments regularly publish information on websites and have government assistance help phone lines for students. Of course, good advice from a trusted source can also assist in what can often be tricky and stressful situation.

References

Batty, D., 2019. UK universities condemned for failure to tackle racism. The Guardian, 5 July.

Forbes-Mewett, H. & Wickes, R., 2018. The neighbourhood context of crime against international students. Journal of Sociology, 54(4), pp. 609-626.

Maffini, C. S., 2018. Campus Safety Experiences of Asian American and Asian International Students. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 9(2), pp. 98-107.

Vincent, M., 2020. International students facing ‘perfect storm’ of exploitation and coronavirus could make it worse. [Online]

Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06- 30/international-students-wage-theft-exploitationcoronavirus/12405332#:~:text=%22Increased%20 exploitation%2C%20where%20international%20students%20a – re%20more%20desperate,to%20cut%20costs%2C%20and%20 jobs%20are%20more%20s

[Accessed 13 August 2020].