A unique course which aims to equip graduates on how best to responding to natural disasters and humanitarian crises will come to DCU next year.
The MSc in Humanitarian Logistics and Emergency Management combines two separate courses to become the first of its kind in the world. It intends to build on Ireland’s strength and reputation for helping emergency situations abroad.
Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, launched the course in the Business School last month. He said the masters programme is arriving as the world faces crises “more demanding and challenging than ever before”.
“The Philippines situation has demonstrated the importance of humanitarian logistics and the difficulties of delivering aid to those in need”, said joint Programme Director, Dr Graham Heaslip, at the launch. “These logistical challenges require specific knowledge and training for effective action in humanitarian and emergency operations.”
The one-year full-time course is one of the first to be launched by the ‘3U’ partnership of three universities in the greater Dublin area. DCU, NUI Maynooth (NUIM) and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) will collaborate and combine their individual strengths to deliver the course.
Lectures in areas including hazard analysis, emergency management and preparedness will be delivered at DCU, while topics such as decision-making and co-operation will be presented by NUIM.
Speaking about the new attempt at combating disaster, joint Programme Director, Dr Caroline McMullan, said: “The programme combines a rigorous academic approach with a practical edge, one that challenges students, providing them with a sound grasp of tools which may be used to further the best interests of their organisations.”
The Masters can also be taken as a part-time, two-year course.
Mark Hogan
Image Credit: Maxwell’s Dublin
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