EcoStudio Foundation is committed to creating educational environments that are safe and inclusive for all. Your health, safety and well-being while participating in one of our travel programs are our top priorities. We maintain strict risk management protocols and work closely with our partners to verify that these and other safety measures are in place.
As is the case with any domestic or international travel, plans may change without notice, and these dynamic conditions necessitate adaptability. Our staff and partners on the ground offer dedicated support throughout program delivery to ensure needs are met and the experience remains as seamless as possible. We pride ourselves in offering high-quality experiential learning that is safe and secure, with plans in place for emergency situations that may arise.
Evaluating Risks
Our approach to risk management is informed by and seeks to address the context of risk factors—including natural disasters, political and civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and public health—specific to each program. We evaluate conditions in Ecuador and across the region, and we rely on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), Ecuador’s Ministry of Public Health, and reports by the US Department of State (DOS) and the US Embassy in Quito, among others, in developing risk mitigation protocols.
Dedicated Regional Support
EcoStudio Foundation collaborates with Quito-based Centro de Estudios Internacionales – Andean Study Programs (ASP), the service providers within ASP’s network, and other partnering institutions to develop study abroad programs in Ecuador. We utilize the collective expertise of these institutions to comprehensively evaluate conditions at various sites throughout the region on a day-to-day basis.
In ASP’s nearly three decades of administering academic programs in Ecuador for US university clients, its Directors have pioneered experiential learning models that incorporate tried and tested risk management protocols tailored to each site of study. EcoStudio Foundation and ASP collaborate with participating service providers to ensure that these safety measures are in place and consistent with current governmental regulations and industry best practices.
Professional guides are hired to accompany our travel groups and provide dedicated support during program delivery. In addition to professionals in the life and social sciences, who provide structured academic content catered to the program and site of study, other support staff manage logistics, facilitate communication between providers and clients, and attend to individual participant concerns that may arise.