Course syllabus
Beredskap och planering
Preparedness and Planning
VBRN40, 7,5 credits, A (Second Cycle)
Valid for: 2018/19
Decided by: PLED BI/RH
Date of Decision: 2018-03-20
General Information
Main field: Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation.
Compulsory for: MKAT1
Elective for: BI3, RH4
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English
Aim
- prepare the students so that they are able to work to develop
an effective preparedness for disasters in various contexts.
- provide a foundation for students interested in research to be
used as a base for their research on risk reduction and
preparedness issues.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must
- demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the prerequisites
and challenges for effective disaster preparedness.
- demonstrate understanding of the complementary nature of
preparedness planning and contingency planning.
Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must
- demonstrate the ability to plan and evaluate an effective
preparedness to manage needs that arise from and the consequences
of future disasters, both as response and recovery.
- demonstrate the ability to present and discuss his or her
conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based
in speech and writing to different audiences in both national and
international contexts.
- demonstrate the ability to work constructively in a team and
communicate effectively with people from other disciplines.
Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must
- demonstrate the ability to reflect on societal and ethical
issues concerning preparedness and planning for disasters.
- demonstrate ability to reflect on the own needs for further
knowledge and for ongoing improvement of competence.
Contents
In order to facilitate students meeting the aim and objectives,
a variety of learning activities are used in the course.
Cases/scenario descriptions, where people who have been involved
in the management of real life disasters give an account of their
experiences and the complexity of issues managed during an after a
disaster. Lectures where important aspects of preparedness work are
introduced and discussed, e.g. people’s needs and behaviour in
disaster situations; risk, vulnerability, and needs assessments as
input to preparedness planning; preparedness and contingency
planning processes; early warning systems; simulation exercises;
and coordination systems/processes. Literature seminars designed to
make the students engage actively in the course literature and
debate different views on central aspects, e.g. preparedness ideals
vs reality constraints. Exercises to deepen understanding of and
skills in utilising major preparedness tools such as contingency
planning and simulation exercises. Project assignment where the
students (in groups) practice teamwork while addressing a topic
central to preparedness and planning. The students work on the
project throughout the course and at the end a seminar is held
where they present/discuss their projects with the rest of the
class.
Examination details
Grading scale: TH - (U,3,4,5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: Written individual course paper and approved group project. The group project shall be reported both orally and in writing.
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.
Parts
Code: 0114. Name: Preparedness and Planning.
Credits: 7,5. Grading scale: TH. Assessment: Individual Paper
Code: 0214. Name: Group Assignment.
Credits: 0. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Written report and oral presentation.
Admission
Admission requirements:
- Admitted to the Master's Programme in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation or to the Programme Risk Management and Safety Engineering or have a minimum of 150 hp from a five-year engineering programme or from the Fire Safety Engineering Programme at LTH.
The number of participants is limited to: 50
Selection: Guaranteed admission for students at the Master's Programme in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation. Selection rules for the remaining places: Priority is given to students firstly at the Programme Risk Management and Safety Engineering and secondly at the Fire Safety Engineering Programme at LTH. To distinguish between students from the same programme, number of achieved credits and results on the programme will be used.
The course overlaps following course/s: VBR225
Reading list
- Abrahamsson M. et al: Analytical input to emergency preparedness planning at the municipal level – a case study. 2007. In Proceedings of Disaster Recovery and Relief: Current and Future Approaches (TIEMS 2007), Trogir, Croatia.
- Alexander, D.: Towards the development of a standard in emergency planning. Emerald., 2005. Disaster Prevention and Management, vol. 14, no 2.
- Allen, K.M.: Community-based disaster preparedness and climate adaptation: local capacity-building in the Philippines. Wiley, 2006. Disasters, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 81-101.
- Choularton, R.: Contingency planning and humanitarian action: A review of practice. London: Overseas Development Institute., 2007. Humanitarian Practice Network Paper No. 59.
- Coppola, D. P.: Introduction to international disaster management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann (Elsevier)., 2007.
- Enander, A.: Human needs and behaviour in the event of emergencies and social crises. Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, Karlstad., 2010. In Fredholm, L. & Göransson A-L (Eds) Emergency Response Management in Today’s Complex Society.
- Basher, R.: Global early warning systems for natural hazards: systematic and people centred., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 364. Royal Society of London, 2006. Pp. 2167-2182.
- IFRC: Contingency planning guide. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, Switzerland., 2012.
- Meyer, R. J.: Why we under-prepare for hazards. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press., 2006. In R. J. Daniels, D. F. Kettl, & H. Kunreuther (Eds.), On risk and disaster: Lessons from hurricane katrina. (pp. 153-74).
- McConnell, A. & Drennan, L. : Mission Impossible? Planning and Preparing for Crisis. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK., 2006. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, vol. 14, no 2.
- Perry, R.W. & Lindell, M.K.: Preparedness for Emergency Response: Guidelines for the Emergency Planning. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK., 2003. Disasters, vol. 27, no 4.
- Wachtendorf, T. & Kendra, J. M.: Improvising Disaster in the City of Jazz: Organizational Response to Hurricane Katrina., Understanding Katrina – Perspectives from the Social Sciences. Social Science Research Council. Brooklyn, NY., 2006.
Contact and other information
Course coordinator: Marcus Abrahamsson, marcus.abrahamsson@risk.lth.se
Further information: Active participation in group work is mandatory. Each group member must be able to present and answer for the contents of the joint report. Members who do not meet the demands of active participation by the others, or disregard their obligations, can be replaced or failed by the examiner.