Development of master curricula for natural disasters risk management in Western Balkan countries Erasmus Project

Project Title

Development of master curricula for natural disasters risk management in Western Balkan countries

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

The severity of natural disasters significantly affects the environment causing extensive damage. The Western Balkan (WB) countries are exposed to a variety of natural hazards including floods, droughts, forest fires, earthquakes, and landslides. The general situation in WB countries is inadequate professional qualification and technological disciplines for education of human resources, the lack of specialized personnel, insufficient training of professional staff, the lack or low level of local government bodies’ preparedness, and underdeveloped culture of prevention among citizens. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly strengthen the personnel competencies, followed by technical innovations and equipment, infrastructure, information and technological systems. The main objective of this project is to educate experts for Natural Disasters Risk Management (NDRM) in WB partner countries (Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina) through development and implementation of new master curricula in the field of NDRM and development of educational trainings for the public sector and citizens. Besides the day-by-day visible outcomes (reports, analyses, study visits, trainings, plans, etc.), more prominent outputs showing to what extent the project objectives are met will be:- Developed/modernized master curricula in WB partner HEIs in accordance with the highest EU standards and national legislation, followed by accreditation;- Contemporary equipped laboratories for studies in the field of NDRM;- Enrollment of students to the new master curricula offering mobility options for them and teaching staff;-Developed and conducted educational trainings for citizens and public sector in the field of NDRM.Since the background for the foreseen activities is in accordance with EU standards and best practices it is expected that all partner universities will educate experts with adequate knowledge and competences, which will be able to employ in relevant institutions for NDRM.Project consortium consists of five HEIs from programme countries and seven HEIs from WB partner countries. Institutions from EU countries are: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU, Austria), Middlesex University (MUHEC, UK), Obuda University (OE, Hungary), Technical University of Crete (TUC, Greece) and University of Messina (UNIME, Italy). These institutions were purposively selected for their great experience in the field of NDRM and contemporary teaching and learning methods applied in the education. They will present to WB HEIs their master curricula and provide training for staff and students. Partner country institutions come from Western Balkan region: three HEIs from Serbia (University of Nis – UNI as a coordinator institution, University of Defence – UNID, University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies – KPU), two from Bosnia and Herzegovina (University of Sarajevo – UNSA, University of Banja Luka – UBL) and two from Kosovo (University of Pristina settled in Kosovska Mitrovica – UPKM, Technical College of Applied Sciences Urosevac with temporary seat in Leposavic – TCASU). They will accredit new master curricula and implement educational trainings for citizens and public sector in the field of NDRM.The project is aligned with the Regional Priorities for Joint & Structural Projects (Erasmus+ KA2 – Capacity Building in Higher Education) for the Region 1 (Western Balkan) and is related to the “Learning and teaching tools, methodologies and pedagogical approaches including learning outcomes and ICT-based practices (inter alia, flexible learning paths, blended courses, virtual and real mobility, practical placements etc.)“ and area „Environmental protection“.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 1245746 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERZITET U NISU & Country: RS

Project Partners

• KRIMINALISTICKO-POLICIJSKI UNIVERZITET
• UNIVERSITY OF MITROVICA
• VISOKA TEHNICKA SKOLA STRUKOVNIH STUDIJA IZ UROSEVCA SA PRIVREMENIM SEDISTEM U LEPOSAVICU
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MESSINA
• OBUDAI EGYETEM
• UNIVERZITET ODBRANE U BEOGRADU
• MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION