SDMM15001U Core Course 1: Disaster Risk Management - From Theory to Practice

Volume 2024/2025
Education

Master of Disaster Management - mandatory

MSc Global Health- elective

 

See course dates on MDMa website:  https://www.mdma.ku.dk/courses-and-dates/

 

Content

When the term “disaster” is mentioned there is an immediate assumption that it is about the hazard – earthquake/flood/volcanic eruption/landslide, etc. In actual terms, these are merely natural phenomena that only lead to “disasters” in the presence of certain conditions. Such conditions that lead to damage and fatalities are inherent vulnerabilities in both social groups and physical structures.

This course explores the contributions of social sciences to the development of disaster risk management as a field which are often overlooked in discussions, media representations and responses to disasters. It offers an examination of how the field of disaster risk management has evolved and introduces key debates on how concepts and theories should be applied. This will be undertaken by looking at factors contributing to vulnerabilities, capacities and resilience and how these factors interact globally and locally.

The course focuses on the socio-economic, political and human dimensions of disaster risk and it touches upon health, climate change, migration and humanitarian aspects. The course will provide an introduction to the following main content areas:

  • Disaster risk as an interaction of exposure and vulnerability rather than the hazard per se
  • Climate change adaptation and its impact on natural resources and livelihoods
  • Key concepts, frameworks and debates in the developing field of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
  • Overview of the global landscape of actors and institutions within disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
  • The disaster-development-climate nexus
  • The role of health and health challenges in disaster risk management and climate change
  • The complex interaction between disaster preparedness, response and recovery, prevention

 

The course is designed to engage students, including those who have no prior knowledge or experience in disaster-related work, to make sense of and apply the theory and concepts through practical cases and interactive activities. It encourages mutual learning, challenges preconceptions and explores the complexity of the professional and academic field. It draws on students’ experiences and areas of interest.

Learning Outcome

On completion of the course, students should be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature, typology and dynamics of disaster risk management.
  • Have a command of the key concepts, theories, models and principles relevant to disaster management and risk reduction and adaptation.
  • Demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the factors affecting and leading to vulnerabilities, capacities and resilience not only on a local level but also those emanating from structural global processes.
  • Understand the complex connections and interactions between hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between health, vulnerability and disaster.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of climate change and climate adaptation and the ways in which it impacts and complicates disasters.
  • Identify the main actors in disaster risk management and understand their role in the field.

 

Skills:

  • Conduct research and prepare vulnerability assessments in a specific country or for a specific event/hazard.
  • Apply methods and tools for risk analysis and risk evaluation, including methods for identification and analysis of hazards and vulnerabilities.
  • Apply and connect key concepts as a lens to analyse disaster risk.
  • Develop a better ability to engage with and relate to disaster professionals – across sectors and disciplines and work collaboratively in a field situation.
  • Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policies and practices in the field of disaster risk management

 

Competencies:

  • Read and critique literature.
  • Identify and formulate a relevant and current research question and develop a vulnerability profile for a case study assignment.
  • Work independently in self-directed study.
  • Work in a team and do presentations.
  • Engage in dialogue and discussions in class and teamwork.
  • Apply tools used for team building and stress management and demonstrate knowledge about interdisciplinary and cultural communication.

 

See admission/course registration requirements at www.mdma.ku.dk/​admission-and-application/​
There will be a variety of teaching/learning methods on the module ranging from lectures, to video screening followed by open discussions and to student led presentations. The teaching/learning methods could be listed as follows:
• Lectures - Imparting knowledge, concepts, theories and models
• Exercises – Inquiry or skills based with emphasis on analytical skills and problem solving
• Videos – Guided with a set of questions or an exercise that follows
• Seminars – Self-directed by students and guided and mentored by tutors
• Presentations – of group assignments and feedback by a panel of tutors
• Paper – To develop academic writing skills and assessed by course leader and external examiner
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 36
  • Preparation
  • 116
  • Exercises
  • 40
  • Exam
  • 16
  • Total
  • 208
Written
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester

Examiners give collective written feedback on the exam via Digital Exam.

Credit
7.5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 48-Hours
Type of assessment details
An essay examination of 2 questions. Answer to each essay question/task should cover a minimum of two pages and maximum of three pages (1 page= approximately 2400 keystrokes/characters with spaces). Students will use real case examples from the Case Assignment to answer the questions. The aim of the exam is test the students’ ability to bring theory and practice closer.
Exam registration requirements

Registration in the exam upon course registration.

Aid
All aids allowed

The use chatbots and/or  similar tools is not allowed in and for exams.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

See the MDMa Exam Schedule

Re-exam

The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam. See dates in the  MDMa Exam Schedule

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:


Knowledge
• Have a command of the key concepts, theories, models and principles relevant to disaster management and risk reduction.
• Demonstrate a critical and practical understanding of the factors affecting and leading to vulnerability not only on a local level but those emanating from structural global processes.

 
Skills:
• Research into the issues of risk and vulnerability in a specific country or for a specific event/hazard. 
• Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policies and practices in the field that could potentially lead to increased vulnerability of the population.
 
Competencies:
• Identify and formulate a relevant and current research question and develop a vulnerability profile for a case study assignment. 
• Read and critique literature.