SDMM15002U Core Course 2: Preparedness and Response to Humanitarian Crises
Master of Disaster Management - compulsory
MSc in Global Health - elective
See homepage for MDMa course dates.
Disaster preparedness and response involve forecasting and taking precautionary measures prior to an imminent threat when advance warnings are possible. Preparedness planning improves the response to the effects of a disaster by organising the delivery of timely and effective rescue, relief and assistance. Preparedness involves the development and regular testing of warning systems (linked to forecasting systems) and plans for evacuation or other measures to be taken during a disaster alert period to minimise potential loss of life and physical damage. It also involves the education and training of officials and the population at risk, the training of intervention teams, and the establishment of policies, standards, organisational arrangements and operational plans to be applied following a disaster. Effective plans also consider securing resources, possibly including stockpiling supplies and earmarking funds.
This course is designed to introduce two aspect of disaster management – Preparedness and Response – and to increase students’ awareness of the nature and management of disasters, leading to better performance. The content has been written to cover principles, procedures, methods and terminology. However, terminology in this field is not standardised and different institutions may use the same terms in slightly different ways. This will also be covered as one of the problematic issues in this field.
The course includes a wide range of topics within Disaster Preparedness and Response such as: Conflicts and complex emergencies; International security; Management of disaster situations; Needs assessment and monitoring; Legal framework for refugees and IDPs; Information management and GIS; Communications in emergencies; Financing and donors; Personal safety in the field. These four weeks of Disaster Preparedness and Response also include a thorough introduction to the cluster-approach with extensive coverage of the most essential clusters (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Health; Emergency Shelter; Logistics; Food/Nutrition; Protection; Camp Coordination and Management; Education) as well as many international actors working within response (e.g. Save the Children, UNICEF, WHO, UNOSAT, UNOPS, UN-OCHA).
The main content areas are:
- Basic concepts related to disaster preparedness and response.
- Considerations in regional and local planning for disaster preparedness and response.
- International collaboration for preparedness and response with a focus on the Cluster System.
- Implementation of disaster preparedness and response plans and their limitations and pitfalls.
- Health, pandemics, WASH and nutrition preparedness plans and response.
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate an overall understanding of key aspects of disaster preparedness and response.
- Acquire an understanding of the complexity of the “assistance” deployment environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the range and role of stakeholders in preparedness and response.
- Be aware of the sectors (Health, WASH, Shelter, Nutrition, etc.) and related standards for response.
- Be familiar with coordination, information management and operations and logistics for disaster response.
- Be familiar with the concept and methodologies for conducting a needs assessment.
Skills:
- Research into the issues of pre-disaster preparedness planning and post-disaster response.
- Apply concepts, standards, principles, and methods of preparedness planning and response operations to case studies.
- Acquire the conceptual basis to appreciate the complexity of the response environment.
- Develop a better ability to engage with and relate to disaster professionals – across sectors and disciplines and work collaboratively in a field situation through understanding some of the operational procedures in preparedness and response within the Cluster System.
- Develop a Preparedness and Response Framework and Plan for a specific case study.
- Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of the existing international preparedness and response systems.
Competences:
- Apply tools used for teambuilding and stress management and demonstrate knowledge about intercultural and interdisciplinary communication.
- 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 group – teamwork and presentation.
- Engage in dialogue and discussions, and argue a case.
- Negotiation, including compromise, argument and trade offs.
- Read and critique literature.
Available in the Absalon course room
• Lectures - Imparting knowledge, concepts, theories and models
• Exercises – Inquiry or skills based with emphasis on analytical skills and problem solving
• Case Study Analysis – Review of previous practice and guided analysis of specific aspects of a case
• 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
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 36
- Preparation
- 116
- Exercises
- 40
- Exam
- 16
- Total
- 208
Examiners provide an overall joint written feedback to the class via Digital Exam.
Apply online via https://www.mdma.ku.dk/
This course is open to external participants who meet the MDMa Admission criteria.
- 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.
- Exam registration requirements
Exam registration 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
• Demonstrate an overall understanding of key aspects of
disaster preparedness and response.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the
“assistance” deployment environment.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the range and role of stakeholders
in preparedness and response.
Skills:
• Apply concepts, standards, principles, and methods of
preparedness planning and response operations to case
studies.
• Develop a Preparedness and Response Framework and Plan for a
specific case study.
• Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of the
existing international preparedness and response systems.
Competences:
• Identify and formulate a relevant and current research
question and develop a preparedness and response framework and plan
for a case study assignment.
• Read and critique literature.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SDMM15002U
- Credit
- 7.5 ECTS
- Level
- Part Time MasterFull Degree Master,Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 5 weeks
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- 30 September to 1 November 2024
No Classes: 14-20 October 2024 (Autumn Break) - Course capacity
- 12-40 participants
Study board
- Study Board for the Professionel Master´s Degree Programmes at The Faculty og Health and Medical Science
Contracting department
- Department of Public Health
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Emmanuel Raju (eraju@sund.ku.dk)