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Course unit details: Introduction to Disaster Management
Course unit fact file
Unit code
HCRI11032
Credit rating
20
Unit level
Level 1
Teaching period(s)
Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit?
Yes
Overview
This is a core unit that introduces students to key topics and concepts in disaster management.No prior knowledge is assumed. The causes of disasters are explored and different approaches to addressing them are critically analysed through clectures and seminars. Course content includes disaster vulnerability and resilience, as well as the disaster management cycle. Students will gain a clear understanding of the different types of disasters, disaster risks, and how and why vulnerability to hazards varies across space and time, in both low- and high-income contexts.
Pre/co-requisites
Year 1, semester 2 core on BSc International Disaster Management and Conflict Response
Aims
To introduce students to the key concepts that underpin disaster management and to foster critical perspective on these concepts
To understand why the disaster management is increasingly important
To explore the meanings and interpretations of disasters
To critically analyse the evolution of disaster management
To identify some of the current challenges to effectiveness disaster management
To develop an informed perspective on the causes of disasters and how they can be addressed
Syllabus
Teaching and learning methods
This course is taught by means of one 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour seminar per week. There is a direct link between workshops and seminars. Seminars will be more focused on primary evidence and workshops will tend to be more dedicated to the historiography. For workshops students should read on the broad issue and be prepared to engage in a small group discussion.
Knowledge and understanding
Through this course the students will:
Understand different interpretations of the meaning of the term ‘disaster’ and why this is contested
Explore similarities' and differences between disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction in terms of origins, goals, and techniques
Evaluate the effectiveness of the disaster management
Understand the causes of disasters in terms of hazards and vulnerability, as well approaches to resilience based on decreasing exposure to risk
Explore concepts of vulnerability and resilience in terms of components, assessment, and disaster management
Intellectual skills
Develop writing skills for academic and non-academic audience
Develop analytical skills
Develop ability to synthesise literature from a wide range of sources
Navigate complex debates dealing with current and historic events, issues and concepts;
Articulate and defend one’s own informed position
Practical skills
Understand how scholarship relates to practice
Analyze the efficiency of disaster management
Demonstrate analytical skills with peers and tutors through lectures and seminars ·
Demonstrate effective use of library resources drawing on relevant academic and grey literature, and seeking out information through the use of virtual sources to underpin learning and gathering information for written work.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Develop communication skills for diverse audiences
Develop, plan and undertake individual research project
Develop analytical skills both verbally and in writing
Develop confidence articulating ideas during group discussions
Employability skills
Project management
Research – ability to plan and implement an effective research project
Improving Learning – ability to improve one's own learning through planning, reflecting, and e adapting learning strategies
Initiative – act unprompted and assume responsibility
Creativity – ability to be innovative and apply lateral thinking in problem solving and decision making
Other
Information Retrieval – ability independently to gather, synthesise and organise material from diverse sources to critically evaluate its significance.
Time Management – ability to plan and complete research projects
Applying Subject Knowledge – use of discipline specific knowledge in everyday situations
Assessment methods
Assessment Task
Formative or Summative
Length
Weighting
Essay
Summative
2000 words
70%
Blog
Summative
1000 words
30%
Feedback methods
Feedback method
Formative or Summative
Written feedback on all blog and essay
Summative
Informal verbal feedback during seminars and one on one meetings
Formative
Recommended reading
Coppola, D. A. 2011. Introduction to International Disaster Management (2nd ed.). London: Butterworth-Heinemann. (eBook)
Cox Jr, L. A. 2008. Some Limitations of Risk = Threat x Vulnerability — Consequences• for Risk Analysis of Terrorist Attacks. Risk Analysis: An International Journal, 28, 1749-1761
Garrick, B. J. 2008. Quantifying and Controlling Catastrophic Risk. New York: Academic Press. (eBook)
O'Keefe, P., Westgate, K. & Wisner, B. 1976. Taking the naturalness out of natural disasters. Nature, 260, 566-567.
Quarantelli, E. L. 1998. What is a disaster?: perspectives on the question, London, Routledge.
Wamsler, C. (2014). Cities, disaster risk and adaptation. London, Routledge.
Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., Cannon, T. & Davis, I. 2004. At Risk: Natural Hazards, People's Vulnerability and Disasters. London, Routledge.