Information commonly taught in a course of instruction is excluded from export controls under the Educational Information exclusion. Most overseas teaching activities are not subject to export controls. However, if you are teaching a course that is tailored to a specific sponsor or audience (ex. a class taught specifically for a private company’s engineers, to address a proprietary company method), the course may not qualify as “commonly taught” material. If you have questions or concerns about whether a proposed course is subject to export controls, please contact Export Control.
When presenting overseas, presenters should also be careful not to include or discuss any proprietary, unpublished, and/or export-restricted data. Many presenters find it helpful to plan ahead: think about relevant topics and work that is already in the public domain and stick to those topics. Likewise, plan ahead for how you will address questions related to a restricted topic. Consider statements such as “I can speak generally about that area, but much of that information is proprietary and I want to respect our confidentiality obligations,” which address the issue and also demonstrate your commitment to ethical behavior.
Individuals who are invited to lecture in a comprehensively sanctioned country (Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea) should be aware that even attendance at a conference in a sanctioned country may be prohibited. Where attendance is permitted, speaking at such a conference is often a ‘service’ as is prohibited under OFAC regulations. If you wish to attend and/or present at a conference in Cuba, Iran, Syria, or North Korea, please contact the Export Office as soon as possible for assistance.
Lastly, as with any foreign travel, faculty and staff should carefully review the information on International Travel, particularly for those traveling to a sanctioned or other high-risk destination.