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Education

Educational institutions should assess, prioritize, and manage a wide range of risks to be successful in a volatile and unpredictable environment. Marsh’s specialists can help you devise strategies that improve your resilience to risks that could impact your reputation and bottom line.

Navigate the Future of Education with Confidence

Educational institutions globally face a wide range of challenges and risks. Recent shifts in the educational landscape have created uncertainty, compelling leaders to rethink existing business and educational models. Beyond traditional property and casualty risks, issues such as enrollment fluctuations, distance learning, cyber threats, and campus safety have emerged as critical priorities.

Understanding Your Unique Risks

At Marsh, we distinguish ourselves through our extensive experience and proven track record, empowering educational leaders to navigate the complexities of today’s landscape effectively. Changing regulations, geopolitical concerns, the rising threat of cybersecurity breaches, and the impact of AI each present unique challenges for educational institutions.

Tailored Solutions for Your Institution

Our team of specialists understands that the education sector is continually evolving.  We work closely with research universities, primary and secondary schools, and consortia programs to develop customized plans that address your unique risk portfolio.

The Global Risks Report

The top risks for 2025 and beyond. Data and insights from more than 900 global experts and leaders.

FAQs

In today’s evolving academic environment, institutions are facing a more diverse set of risks than ever before. Traditionally, educational institutions had to manage exposures like facility operating expenses, educational integrity, campus safety, and staffing matters, such as tenure decisions.

The shift toward online learning and dispersed campuses was already occurring before the COVID-19 pandemic, which further accelerated the need for such offerings. With these changes come a different set of risks and challenges for educational institutions, including cybersecurity, academic integrity at a distance, and maintaining enrollment.

Educational institutions face a wide range of risks, some of which can be managed on their own, and others of which should be managed with the help of a risk advisor. If not addressed properly, risks in an academic setting can damage an institution’s reputation and profitability.

Prevention is always the best way to manage risk. Developing a risk prevention strategy involves identifying and quantifying your risks and exposures. Beyond this, it is important that you create a crisis response plan, because not all risks can be prevented.

Identification and quantification of risk exposures should ideally be a discussion that involves internal and external stakeholders, as well as a qualified risk advisor. It's helpful to have the insight that guides the collection of supporting data on various risks within your academic institution, as it provides an objective foundation for the ensuing conversation about prioritization of risks. Today’s risk advisors often use sophisticated risk assessment tools to help with data collection and analysis, which in turn helps you better quantify your exposures.

Risk advisors typically have the capability to collect and assess valuable data on an academic institution’s various risks, helping with prioritization, and can offer insight as to big picture or emerging risks within the global academic landscape. Further, in times of crisis, it is helpful to have the support of risk management specialists, who can use their experience to help guide your institution through challenges.

Global leadership

Frank Cella

Managing Director, Education Industry Leader, US Education Practice

  • United States