The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has introduced a number of travel safety e-learning modules to help ensure the safety of its female business travellers.

The modules are being provided by gender-specific travel specialists Maiden Voyage.

They include pre-planning and packing, safe ground transportation, hotel safety, intercultural awareness and safe meetings and leisure.

Andrew Disbury, vice-principal and pro vice-chancellor (clobal engagement) from UWS, said, “With almost 1,500 staff and global engagement one of our three clear thematic aspirations, we are very aware of our obligations to support our diverse traveller community and felt that Maiden Voyage provided the most appropriate and cost-effective solution to help us meet our duty of care responsibilities towards our female travellers.”

Carolyn Pearson, founder and CEO of Maiden Voyage, added: “We have seen explosive growth among the academic sector when looking to provide the most appropriate pre-travel support to their female and LGBTQ travellers.

"From our recent ‘women in academia’ travel safety research we discovered that 28% of female academics had suffered a negative incident when travelling on business.

"These ranged from sexual harassment from field research staff and local taxi drivers, blackmail, molestation, having unsolicited photographs taken, upskirting and even being offered money for sex”.