Emergency Management and Resilience MSc

Coventry University

Despite the recent popularity and frequent use of the community resilience concept in emergency and disaster management research and policy programmes, there is a confusing range of theoretical interpretations and an equally broad range of operational interpretations. This module aims to provide you with a high-level conceptual understanding of resilience and its relationship with preparedness and recovery activities done by and on behalf of communities. Through analysis of UK and international case studies, you will evaluate determinants of resilience and the role of professionals and communities in preparedness, recovery and resilience. Methods for engagement with community groups and the role of public service providers/NGOs will be critically assessed. Issues pertaining to sustainable approaches and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of resilience interventions will be emphasized.

The aim of this module is to provide you with a critical understanding of the concepts, issues, processes and structures relevant to the development of effective strategies for preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters. You will engage with approaches to construct, implement, test and evaluate a range of emergency and disaster preparedness arrangements across a broad scope of natural, social and technological hazards. The module will focus on the composition and structure of emergency and disaster plans, policies and practices. This includes consideration and evaluation of the various organisational, institutional and legal frameworks that influence emergency preparedness, and consideration of wider social and technological factors that can affect emergency and disaster planning at the local, sub-national, national and international levels.

This module aims to equip you with the skills needed to analyse issues arising from the undertaking of activities to fulfil duties and responsibilities in relation to emergency management; and to enable you to acquire and apply knowledge and skills in order to prepare integrated arrangements for dealing with emergencies in the UK and other More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs). Theories and concepts relevant to emergency management, including the role of the state and public policy, will be analysed in order to allow you to critically assess and evaluate emergency management policy and practice. An analysis of the concept of Integrated Emergency Management and its implications for the duties of the Civil Contingencies Act will be a particular area of focus. The module will facilitate your understanding of issues relevant to emergency management and will equip you with the knowledge to assess and evaluate emergency management practice in the UK and other MEDCs, in order that you may understand factors relevant to the effectiveness of emergency arrangements.

This module aims to develop an in-depth understanding of a range of risk interpretations, and explore non-technical skills, minimisation techniques and leadership models that can be applied during incidents and crises. It will use models, theories and simulations to critically evaluate the challenges for leadership and decision making within the constraints of some command and control practices. Incidents are recognised as vital opportunities for learning lessons but there are usually challenges to facilitating and leading the implementation of change; you will investigate ways in which these barriers and challenges can be overcome.

The module aims to assist and prepare you in the transition to postgraduate education by developing your academic skills, in order to improve and enhance your personal effectiveness as a learner. The module will look at areas such as critical reading, academic writing and referencing skills. Throughout the module, you are encouraged to reflect on your learning in order to deepen your understanding and effectiveness as a quality independent learner. The module will set out clearly what we expect of students at postgraduate level and equip you with the resources to be able to meet expectations in this environment. This academic skill set is transferable and will be valuable not only in the immediate context, but also for continuing professional development.