OVERVIEW: HIGHER UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA AND MASTERS DEGREE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Transcription

1 OVERVIEW: HIGHER UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA AND MASTERS DEGREE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT 1. Introduction The African continent is faced with various environmental, economic ad social challenges. Efforts to overcome these challenges are often hampered by the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters. In order to effectively prevent, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to the impact of a disaster, a multidisciplinary approach is needed. Such an approach is only possible if people are empowered with the appropriate skills and knowledge. With these skills, the occurrence and impacts of disasters can be reduced by implementing effective initiatives focused on disaster risk reduction as well as disaster response and relief. DiMTEC offers post-graduate students the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge in an intra- and multi disciplinary program to understand and manage disasters an its consequences. 2. Who should enroll? This course is suitable for people with the necessary background and who are serious about disaster risk reduction in either the public or private sector, including: Disaster Managers Security & rescue personnel Risk Managers NGO s Agriculture Officials Traffic personnel Health Officials Town Planners Trauma Officials Communication Officials Environmentalists IT Managers Information Managers Police Officers Military Officials Sociologists Psychologists Anthropologists Paramedics 112/107 Centre personnel Humanitarian workers Emergency Preparedness& Response officers/managers

2 3. Objectives of DiMTEC DiMTEC aims to foster a culture of disaster risk reduction at all levels within departments, agencies, organizations and communities in Africa. The following specific objectives are emphasized: To provide a virtual disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre for Africa To develop an education and training programme for all disaster risk management practitioners e.g. o Formal education (Masters degree and Higher University Diploma in Disaster Management), o Informal training and education programme (short courses), o Appropriate awareness programme (development of a school curriculum). To establish a multi-disciplinary research team to conduct disaster risk management research in Africa in order to: o Be able to understand general management theory and practice as well as developing specific management capabilities and directly apply to hazard or disasters, o Grasp the nature of vital linkages between disasters and disaster risk management, the development process and its implementation, o Be capable of explaining and addressing the underlying causes and processes that create and maintain disaster vulnerability and the relationship between social, environmental, economic, physical, political and cultural factors which determine impact of and responses to disasters, o Possess knowledge of the application of specific structural and non-structural measures to improve the safety of communities at risk from natural and human made hazard, o Understand the nature, range and likely effectiveness of responses needed in the face of potential or actual crises, o Possess detailed specialist knowledge in different and relevant areas, o To develop appropriate user friendly decision support management tools (computer models) to assist all disaster risk management research and community service programmes.

3 4. Objectives of the Master s Degree and Higher University Diploma The main aim of the course is to provide a holistic academic approach to anyone interested in the field of Disaster Risk Management, enabling them to manage all kinds of disaster risks with the emphasis on Disaster Risk Management in terms of relevant legislation, policy, directives and effective coordination of relief and recovery programmes. 5. Entry Requirements The minimum requirement to register for this course is a qualification on NQF Level 6. (General three-year university degrees and universities of technology national diplomas are on this level) Applicants who do not meet this minimum requirement, but who are in possession of any relevant degree plus appropriate practical experience and/or preparatory studies can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If successful, such an applicant can be allowed to register for the Masters Degree of Higher University Diploma. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process to recognize the skills and knowledge a person might have as a result of learning through work experience, life experience, short courses, formal and informal study. The RPL is NOT conducted by DiMTEC, but by an outside department. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RPL, PLEASE CONTACT: Tel: +27 (0) /1/2 or Kuhnet.rd@ufs.ac.za Tel: +27 (0) Fax: +27 (0) Please Note: The ROL process can take up to 6 months. 6. Intake and commencement of course The first contact sessions for new students take place during February of each year.

4 7. Application Procedure The following procedure should be followed when applying for the course: Step 1: Application Complete and send the DiMTEC application form to the DiMTEC office along with a copy of your cv and copies of your certified certificates. DiMTEC application documents: Completed DiMTEC application form Curriculum Vitae Certified copies of certificates UFS APPLICATION FORM PROOF OF PAYMENT 4 ID PHOTOS CERTIFIED COPY OF ID Completed documents should be sent to: Step 1 Application forms must reach the DiMTEC office before 31 September of the preceding year. Step 2: Selection Selection will take place during October. A letter of acceptance will be sent to all successful candidates, along with course details.

5 COURIER ADDRESS: Annelene Schröder: Course co-ordinator DiMTEC Room First Floor Agricultural Building University of the Free State Nelson Mandela Road BLOEMFONTEIN 9310 SOUTH AFRICA POSTAL ADDRESS: Annelene Schröder: Course coordinator DiMTEC Internal Box 66 PO Box 339 University of the Free State BLOEMFONTEIN 9300 SOUTH AFRICA 8. Means of instruction, evaluation and examination Students will have three formal contact sessions at the University of the Free State. Each contact session is three to five days. The first contact session (compulsory) will be in February. The second contact session is prior to the June examination and the last contact session is before the November examination. During these sessions students will receive their study material for each semester and they will also have sessions with their lecturers during which the course contents and assignment expectations will be discussed. First year students will enter with a Higher University Diploma which consists of eight compulsory subjects. Students with a minimum of 55% for all their subjects may enter for the Masters Degree in their second year. The second year consists of two electives and a research project in the form of a dissertation. The subjects are structured in modules and require assignments to be completed and submitted by students at predetermined dates. Assignments are evaluated by lecturers and discussed with students during the contact sessions. Assignments form part of a continuous evaluation process.

6 9. Course structure More than 20 lecturers from 5 faculties are involved in presenting course modules. First Academic Year (Higher University Diploma) First Semester Dim601 Research Methodology Dim602 Hazards and Disaster Management Dim603 Strategic Disaster management Dim604 Disaster management Principles and Practices Second Semester Dim605 Disaster Risk Management Dim606 Information Technology in Disaster management Dim607 Public Health Dim608 management of Disasters Second Academic Year (masters Degree) Dim791 Research & Dissertation Electives: Choose any two subjects (Year Subjects) Dim701 Trauma Management Dim702 Political Strategic Planning Dim703 Information Management Dim704 Ethnic & cultural conduct Dim705 Management of Media Relations Dim706 Environmental Risk and Impact Assessment Dim707 Disaster vulnerability Assessment 10. Subject Descriptions First Year (Higher University Diploma)

7 Dim601 Research Methodology Development of knowledge and skills of students to conduct qualitative and quantitative research. Planning, design and management of practical research. Understanding participatory action research (PAR). Construct and present a project proposal form mini dissertation. Dim602 Hazard and Disaster management Understand disaster hazards and how they pose disaster threats. Categories and characteristics of disaster threats. Learning about environmental and other hazards. Identification, description and management of all potential hazards that may occur in the area of responsibility. Dim603 - Strategic Disaster Management Understanding the application of the principles and procedures of strategic management in the domain of Disaster Management. Strategic management principles, methods and tools. Develop strategic thinking in the field of disaster management. Improving the quality of humanitarian environmental assessment, planning, organizing. Leadership and monitoring and evaluation of all role-players in Disaster Management. Dim604 Disaster management Principles and Practices Consider most important factors that need attention for the implementation of Disaster management, Legislation, key factors, principles and ethics, consideration for effective planning, controlling, co-ordination, monitoring and implementing Disaster Management. Dim605 Disaster Risk Management Execution of a qualitative and quantitative risk and vulnerability assessment. Integrated risk and resources assessment. Hazard mapping. Determining of potential disaster losses. Establishing levels of acceptable risk. Utilizing GIS as a means to manage risk and vulnerability assessment. Dim606 - Information Technology in Disaster Management Understanding the link between decision-making and information. Understanding and classifying information systems that can have an impact on the dynamic disaster environment. Demonstrate the process of the development of a Management Information System. Understand the concept of simulation decision-making for Disaster management. Demonstrate how different information technologies can be used in Disaster management.

8 Dim607 Public Health Understanding concepts related to Public Health with regard to biological, community health and psycho-social and certain mental health implications of disasters. Biological warfare, Veterinary risk, Epidemiology, Community Assessment, Infection Control and Preventative Disease. Handling and management of health risks during disasters and/or conflict. Psycho-social aspects of HIV/AIDS and mental health burnout. Dim608 Management of Disaster Understanding the critical common factors in responding to disasters. Demonstrate the management principles of at least four natural and for human-made disasters. Assessing of hazards and risk. Vulnerability analysis. Determining the potential impacts of disasters. Social, economic and environmental impact. Formulation of hazard and risk reduction strategies. Formulation of prevention and mitigation strategies. Second Year (Masters Degree) Dim701 Trauma Management The management of crisis intervention and trauma management to support victims of traumatic incidents. Posttraumatic-stress and burnout resulting from long-term exposure to traumatic incidents and the emotional distress of victims of trauma. Action strategies for crisis workers. Coping strategies and management principles of natural disasters, human made disasters, family and sexual violence and injury, chronic and life-threatening illness. Dim702 Political Strategic Planning The main aim of this module is the development of sophisticated techniques within the context of political environmental analysis with specific emphasis on forecasting. Specific attention will be given to scenario development as a technique for predicting the future. Dim703 Information Management (GIS) This module pays attention to information needed within the organizational context. The importance of information to the manager, how he/she applies it, how the information is retrieved and from what type of source are only a few of the issues with will be discussed. Applications of

9 information in the industry, information systems and their management, as well as the integrity thereof will be explored. This modules focuses extensively on the use of Geographic Information systems in Disaster Management. Dim704 - Ethnic and Cultural Conduct The nature and development of human settlement. The nature of settlement in Africa. Indigenous settlement patterns. Formal and informal urbanization. Anthropology of poverty. Ethnography of urbanization. The ethnic and cultural influences on human settlements in multicultural urban environments. Problems created by the present tendencies in urban settlement from an anthropological perspective. Dim705 management of Media Relations Understanding the influence of old-fashioned charity approach and the rights-based approach h to the provision of humanitarian assistance has on public participation. Role of communities in all phases of Disaster Management if a public participation programme is planned and cocoordinated effectively. Risk communication. Releasing information to the community. Dim706 Environmental Risk and Impact Assessment Environmental damage assessment: damage risk assessments on human lives, farm and range lands, water and aquatic lives and air, vegetation and stratosphere. Post damage assessments. Pre- and post damage remedies. Social dimensions of environmental degradation; drought risk and impacts on food production and supply, disease epidemics, political conflicts, refugees and pollutant emissions. Economic impacts of disasters, economic risk assessment, valuing of disaster damage (cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment) and forecasting of disaster risks. Biological and biophysical aspects of environmental degradation, pests and diseases attack, micro-organisms as polluting agents of food and drinks, micro-organism s roles in biodegradation. Policy dimensions to environmental disasters. Dim707 Disaster Vulnerability Assessment Quantitative method to determine vulnerability and risks. Case studies to determine the vulnerability of communities and communities at risk. Actuary probability theory. Determining the probable disaster loss. Using vulnerability and risk assessment to formulate prevention and mitigation strategies. 11. Course Fees

10 Costs for the course are estimated at about R per year. This amount does not include accommodation, meals and transport to contact sessions. A detailed description of the costs for the study fees, will be sent in November. 12. DiMTEC Short Courses DiMTEC also offers a number of short courses, including: The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. Introduction to Disaster Risk Management Geographic Information Systems for Disaster management Project Management for Disaster managers Courses being developed, to be offered soon: Information and Communication Management in Disaster management Trauma Management in Disaster Situations Public Health management in Disaster Situations Building Community Resilience Environmental Impact Assessment for Disaster Management For more information with regard to Short courses, kindly contact Ms. Alice Ncube at ncubea@ufs.ac.za 13. Contact details Disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre for Africa University of the Free State PO Box 339

11 Internal Box 66 BLOEMFONTEIN 9300 South Africa Tel: +27 (0) Fax: +27 (0) Centre Enquiries: Director: Andries Jordaan Secretary: Annelene Schröder

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