Course syllabus

Katastrofriskhantering och klimatanpassning i praktiken
Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation in Practice

VBRN55, 15 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2017/18
Decided by: PLED BI/RH
Date of Decision: 2017-04-03

General Information

Main field: Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation.
Elective for: MKAT2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

• to provide students with understanding, skills and approaches to work in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, as well as experience of putting these abilities into practice
• to provide a basis for students with an interest in research in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation to perform field studies.

 

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of what disaster risk management and climate change adaptation may include in practice, and how this relates to the theoretical front in selected parts of the topic.
• demonstrate thorough knowledge in research methodology to collect scientific data on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in the field.

 

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• demonstrate ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, and to analyse, assess and manage complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information.

 

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• demonstrate ability to critically reflect on relevant scientific, societal and ethical aspects of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in practice.
• demonstrate ability to reflect critically on the own need for further knowledge and skills in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation in practice and science.

 

Contents

The course is designed as an internship at an organisation that works in disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation. It is designed for 8 weeks of internship in a workplace and two weeks of reflection and completion of a final report (which may also be done at the workplace). During the course, the student will perform the duties at the host organisation specified in the project plan, as well as a few pre-defined research tasks. The student should also regularly update the supervisor at Lund University about progression in relation to the project plan. The course is assessed through a reflective final report and submission of approved research tasks.

Examination details

Grading scale: UG - (U,G) - (Fail, Pass)
Assessment: Written reflective report and submission of defined research tasks. The report shall contain a critical reflection on what disaster risk management and climate change adaptation may entail in practice and how this relates to theory, based on the student’s own experience and the limited information that the student has access to during the internship. The report shall also contain a critical reflection on the societal and ethical aspects of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, as well as of the student’s own need for further knowledge and skills to contribute to a safer and more sustainable world. The submission of the research tasks shall contain the collected raw data and processed data, according to given instructions. It shall also contain a critical reflection on the design and implementation of the research tasks, on the scientific aspects of risk management and climate change adaptation, as well as on the student's own scientific competence.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Admission

Admission requirements:

• 180 ECTS with a minimum of 40 ECTS in courses with direct relevance for disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation

The number of participants is limited to: No

Contact and other information

Course coordinator: Per Becker, per.becker@risk.lth.se
Further information: The course is a project course based on an internship with an organisation within disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation. It includes 400 hours, out of which at least 320 hours must be based at the workplace. Before the course begins, two supervisors are appointed, one at Lund University and one at the host organisation, who must approve a project plan outlining the frames for the internship. The student is responsible for all practical arrangements for the internship and may propose a host organisation. Lund University intends to actively work to arrange internships placements at relevant organisations, which will be filled through an internal application process and assessment of suitability. Several organisations have declared interest in hosting interns. However, we will not be able to provide or guarantee an internship to all students. We have a network but e.g. with most UN organisation there is a formal application process. With our network we may influence this process. Students are encouraged to find their own internship position after consultation with the program management.