Press Release
iJET To Supply Real-time Travel Intelligence Services to Grand Valley State University Study Abroad Program
Annapolis, Maryland - March 28, 2002 - iJET® Travel Intelligence® announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Grand Valley State University to provide real-time travel intelligence and emergency assistance services in support of the university's International Study programs.
Under this agreement, student travelers will be provided with iJET´s WorldcueTraveler™ service before, during, and up to 30 days after their trip abroad. The service monitors their itineraries 24/7 and sends relevant, real-time travel alerts and advisories about events that might impact their trip with recommendations for minimizing travel disruptions.
Difficulties resulting from bad weather, transportation delays, health risks, strikes, and civic disturbances can frequently be avoided with advance notice through WorldcueTraveler. The service can also be configured so that family or other contacts will receive alerts to maintain awareness of changing conditions wherever the student is traveling.
As part of the service, students will be provided around-the-clock, toll-free access to iJE´s medical and travel assistance center. The availability of assistance without the complication of delays or language problems gives student travelers and their families an extra measure of support and peace of mind. Through iJET´s WorldLink program, students can also rent an international cell phone that makes it easy to stay in touch with family and is pre-configured for receiving travel alerts and contacting the assistance center.
GVSU´s Padnos International Center (www.gvsu.edu/pic/) will monitor student travel through iJET´s WorldcueTracker™ service, which provides instant communication capability to relay university information or instructions to an individual student or group of students. The Study Abroad Office, located within the Padnos International Center on the university´s Allendale, Mich., campus, is also the focal point for faculty, staff, and students to plan their international trips to more than 150 countries using iJET´s Global Travel Intelligence Database.
With almost 20,000 students, Grand Valley State University is the fastest-growing university in Michigan. The university offers 75 undergraduate and 15 graduate degree programs, with campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids, Holland, and centers in two other cities established in cooperation with local community colleges. International opportunities for students abound through 30 faculty-led international study programs as well as long-term study abroad. The Padnos International Center is including WorldcueTraveler in all of its faculty-led international programs and offering the option to all students on long-term study abroad.
"The interactive push technology is key to providing students, faculty, and staff on our international programs with clear information for preparing a successful and safe learning experience abroad," said Brett Berquist, Grand Valley´s director of international program development. "For the administrator, the task of monitoring security for 30 programs in 18 countries is facilitated by the targeted intelligence managed through WorldcuePro."
Students will also receive secure access to a comprehensive, personalized Web site tailored to their specific itinerary and profile, which provides current and comprehensive information on security, health, entry/exit, transportation, communication, finance, culture, environment, legal issues, and language.
"Grand Valley State University is demonstrating strong leadership in ensuring the health and safety of students as they travel internationally," said Bruce McIndoe, iJET chief executive officer. "With access to travel intelligence which was previously available only to corporate executives and government officials, students and their parents gain confidence that international student travel is not just a valuable learning experience, but a sensible and appropriate one."
About iJET Intelligent Risk Systems
iJET Intelligent Risk Systems is a leader in business resiliency, helping multinational corporations and government organizations monitor, protect against and respond to global threats. Integrating world-class open source intelligence with patented technology, iJET’s award-winning Worldcue® solutions help clients monitor and assess global threats relative to their key people, facilities and supply chain assets; automatically track and communicate with travelers and expatriates; and deploy emergency response services throughout the world at a moment's notice. Providing a unified view of threats to assets, iJET enables clients to mitigate risks, reduce corporate liability and prepare for and respond to business disruptions.
