As graduation season approaches, many students are preparing to embark on a new journey of studying abroad. In order to enhance their awareness of overseas safety risks and strengthen their abilities in risk prevention, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office has launched a series of promotions on safe study abroad, under the theme “Beijing Consular Protection Ensures Your Safety”. Relevant officials visited the Beijing National Day School (BNDS), the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), and the Communication University of China (CUC), to provide teachers and students with preparatory lectures before their departure for overseas studies.

Tailored services based on extensive research

Ensuring the safety of students studying abroad is of utmost importance, as it impacts every aspect of their lives. Therefore, it is crucial to create a vibrant atmosphere that helps them learn, comprehend, and apply consular protection knowledge. Based on the feedback from teachers and students, we crafted educational content, launched pre-event promotions, and organized consular protection-themed exhibitions. Pocket guides like the Guidelines for Consular Protection and Assistance in China, along with Beijing consular protection handbooks, were distributed. Additionally, promotional videos on common knowledge of consular protection and overseas safety were shown to enhance teachers’ and students’ awareness and familiarity with consular protection.

Integration of theory and practice

Experts were invited to explain overseas risk prevention, analyze real-life cases of common safety incidents abroad, and share strategies to address these challenges.

One expert emphasized the importance of preparedness and awareness in mitigating risks, saying that “if we can anticipate emergencies, remain vigilant toward suspicious individuals, vehicles, and items, and know how to utilize our surroundings to protect ourselves during crises, we can avoid most of the risks.” As for issues such as theft, robbery, telecom fraud, and school bullying and discrimination, it is advised to safeguard personal security via multiple channels, including calling emergency phone numbers, seeking timely assistance from embassies and consulates, and leveraging relevant courses and other school resources.

Well-received event supports safe study abroad

The event was well received by teachers, students, and parents, earning widespread praise.

“As ensuring personal safety is a priority for overseas study, it is necessary to learn relevant knowledge. This event blended theory with practical exercises, providing us with various hands-on knowledge of overseas safety.”

“The informative and diversified lecture covered a wide range of safety knowledge and enhanced our awareness of risk prevention.”

“We appreciate the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office for organizing such professional lectures. They deepened our understanding that the motherland is backing us up, boosting our confidence in safe study abroad.”

The Beijing Foreign Affairs Office has been organizing a series of promotional and educational events themed preventive consular protection for Beijing citizens, organizations, and overseas personnel. The aim is to leverage the systematic efforts in promoting and educating about consular protection, disseminating knowledge, and promoting overseas safety concepts. Moving forward, we will further engage with enterprises, schools, and institutions to ensure that the idea of “prevention is the best protection” takes root in the public.