A pioneering disaster management course from the University of Salford is to help train professionals to prepare for global events such as earthquakes and floods - and help rebuild damaged areas once they have occurred.
The postgraduate Disaster Mitigation and Reconstruction course will address the growing demand for countries such as Sri Lanka and India to plan for natural and man-made disasters by reducing risk and improving infrastructures, as well as managing post-disaster issues like reconstruction and insurance.
It is aimed at professionals already working in government relief agencies, private sector companies, civil and military services, and insurance - and already has the backing of the construction industry in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Course leader, Dr Richard Haigh said: "With recent events such as the Boxing Day tsunami, the New Orleans floods and the earthquake in Pakistan, there is a real need for practical study in this area.
"Salford is the UK's leading university for the built environment and we have gained input from many international aid agencies which have real-life experience of planning for disasters and rebuilding communities after they have happened."
From January 2009, the School of the Built Environment's course will be delivered full-time on campus and by part-time distance learning via an interactive 'virtual learning environment' that enables students across the world to take part in regular online lectures.
Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga added: "We hope our teaching will help make a positive difference to the lives of those who live in parts of the world that are at risk of being affected by disasters, or have already been ravaged by them."
Ends
Notes to Editors
To find out more about studying Disaster Mitigation and Reconstruction at the University of Salford email Dr Richard Haigh at r.p.haigh@salford.ac.uk or Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga at r.d.g.amaratunga@salford.ac.uk
For more information on the University of Salford's School of the Built Environment go to www.sobe.salford.ac.uk
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