Disaster Education for Integrating SFDRR and SDG in Asia (2020-2021)

Project objective
This project will co-develop model multidisciplinary post-graduate course curricula on disaster risk management and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development education capacity assessments among the Higher Education Institute (HEI) network. The project will identify and map the DRR interventions in the Asian region contributing to sustainable development. One of the major outcomes of the project will be building academic alliances for promoting the sustainability paradigm in postgraduate education and research for disaster resilience through a DRR curriculum workshop, webinar and international conference.

Background
The global DRR community has always put education as one of the top priorities as articulated from the Yokohoma strategy and continued so on. As a result of that momentum, it was reported in the 2013 Global Assessment report that 72% of the reporting countries had integrated disaster education within their national education curriculum. One of the biggest challenges in Disaster Education is the attitude towards higher education as well as lack of disaster prevention courses in the formal educational curriculum. The other challenges are lack of professional training for the educator with a fast-changing multidisciplinary technical domain for effective linkages between the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The unique amalgamation of disaster education and sustainable development in the Asian region is a vital need to develop the cross-cutting education system, particularly in a vulnerable region. The project will provide a unique cross-learning platform by conducting a webinar with the experts from project partner countries including the other members of the Higher Education Institute on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development (HEI-DRSD) developed through the ProSPER.Net project ‘Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development Education Network in Asia‘ led by the Asian Institute of Technology (2018-2019). The present project focuses more on the co-development of Model Multidisciplinary Post-Graduate Course Curriculum on Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development, which is suitable for the Asian region in terms of achieving the various SDGs through Disaster Education. The project will also develop a Faculty / Student exchange scheme to provide an impetus for resource and knowledge sharing, information exchange and creates an atmosphere of intellectual camaraderie among members that could lead to joint research and other academic activities in the long run.

Project Policy Brief

Education System Resilience for Cascading Risk Towards Sustainable Pathway
by Indrajit Pal^a*, Rajib Shaw^b, Ganesh Dungana^a, Sangam Shrestha^c, Tomonori Ichinose^d, Takashi Oda^d, Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron^e and Yonariza^f

^a Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, THAILAND
^b Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, JAPAN
^c Water Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, THAILAND
^d Center for Disaster Education & Future Design, Miyagi University of Education, JAPAN
^e Universitas Gadjah Mada, INDONESIA
^f Andalas University, INDONESIA

Executive Summary

Education system is the backbone to develop the societal resilience as well as cornerstone to achieve sustainable development goals. Resilient education system tends to ensure the continuity and safety of the education during the disasters and associated cascading impacts as well as capacity to bounce back better. A proper plan to mitigate and manage hazards and resilient infrastructures in academic institutions protects many lives during crises and maintains resilience in the education system. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) have strongly projected the need for a resilience education system to ensure coherence in all development phenomena. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for 2030 also promotes the integration of sustainable development and the SDGs into education and learning, as well as ensuring the integration of education and learning into all activities that promote sustainable development and the SDGs. Education is one of the essential components which might be impacted by the cascading disasters at individual level and disrupt societal functioning. Henceforth, resilience in the education system is essential to maintain the continuous flow of delivering education, enhancing skills, contributing to economic prosperity, and refocusing efforts on a new path of growth that is more sustainable and can be achieved to their full potential.

This policy brief discusses the challenges on disaster education during multiple hazards, disruptive technologies and higher education diplomacy in the region and presents key recommendations to ensure resilient education institutions that will utterly contribute to the resilience education system. The education resilience and higher education institution consortium initiated under the ProSPER.Net supported joint project “Disaster Education for Integrating SFDRR And SDG In Asia” advocates the multidisciplinary disaster risk assessment and management approaches through the 2nd International Symposium on “Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development” hosted by the Asian Institute of Technology.

Read the full project policy brief here.

Course Curriculum

Model Multidisciplinary Post-Graduate Course: Disaster Risk Management & Sustainable Development
by Asian Institute of Technology, Keio University, Miyagi University of Education, Andalas University, and Universitas Gadjah Mada

The designed post-graduate courses provide a comprehensive foundation for individuals to understand Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development. Most importantly, these model courses support producing a qualified human resource for government agencies, intergovernmental organisations, national and international non-governmental organisations, private sectors, and academic institutions for effective program planning and management in disaster resilience and sustainability. Download it here

Report

Completion Report of the Certified Course “Introductory Course on Multidisciplinary Approach for Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Sustainability”

Asian Institute of Technology in coordination Keio University, Miyagi University of Education, Andalas University, and Universitas Gadjah Mada under ProSPER.Net consortium conducted a certificate course on “Multidisciplinary Approach for Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Sustainability” for members of Higher Education Institute on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development – HEI Network. The main objective of the training was to enhance the capacity and understanding of the young and early career researcher about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). Download it here

Case Studies

Disaster Risk Research, Science and Innovation for Sustainability – Asian Case Studies
Editors: Indrajit Pal, Sangam Shrestha, Rajib Shaw, Dyah R. Hizbaron, Tomonori Ichinose, Yon Yonariza, Takashi Oda. Associate Editor: Ganesh Dhungana

This book – a compilation of the findings of twenty carefully selected case studies across nine countries in the Asian region – constitutes an admirable effort to advance our understanding about how to improve the efficacy of the measures to reduce disaster-risks. Notwithstanding the diversity of the country settings, the variety of climate-induced risks, and the ambit of risk reduction strategies and practices across the countries, the common message in these case studies points to the centrality of community engagement and recourse to local knowledge, technologies, and wisdom for achieving practicable and enduring redress of disaster risks. Download it here

Symposium Reports

2nd International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development 

The Second International Symposium on Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development was organised virtually by Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, in coordination with Keio University, Japan; Miyagi University of Education, Japan; Andalas University, Indonesia; and Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia under ProSPER.net consortium from 24-25 June, 2021. The symposium successfully contributed to building academic alliances for promoting sustainability paradigm as aimed in the ProSPER.Net supported project ‘Disaster Education for Integrating SFDRR and SDG in Asia.’ Read the executive report and final report.