Core Course 1: Disaster Risk Management - From Theory to Practice
Course 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.
Master of Disaster Management - mandatory
MSc Global Health- elective
See course dates on MDMa website: https://www.mdma.ku.dk/courses-and-dates/
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.
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
See admission/course registration requirements at www.mdma.ku.dk/admission-and-application/
Examiners give collective written feedback on the exam via Digital Exam.
Apply online via https://www.mdma.ku.dk/
This course is open to external participants who fulfill the MDMa Admission criteria.
- ECTS
- 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 assessment
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.
Part time Master and Diploma courses
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 36
- Preparation
- 116
- Exercises
- 40
- Exam
- 16
- English
- 208
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SDMM15001U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Part Time Master
Full Degree MasterFull Degree Master choice
- Placement
- Autumn
- Price
-
Fees are published on the course page: https://www.mdma.ku.dk/courses-and-dates/risk/
The fees cover course registration, course materials, examination and completion certificate for single course participants. Fees may be subject to change.
- Schedulegroup
-
2-20 September 2024
- Capacity
- 12-40 participants
- Studyboard
- 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 Coordinator
- Anne Bach Nielsen (17-6673736a336766686d33736e6a71786a7345787a736933707a336970)
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