Factors influencing disaster risk and resilience education in Asian HEIs
International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment
ISSN: 1759-5908
Article publication date: 18 November 2020
Issue publication date: 27 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Educational initiatives can provide the crucial foundation for capacity-building of stakeholders in the field of disaster risk management and disaster resilience. The purpose of this paper is to scope current initiatives to deliver disaster risk and resilience education (DRRE) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Asia and explore factors that serve as barriers or as opportunities for promoting DRRE.
Design/methodology/approach
This study implemented mixed methods – scoping of existing programs of Asian universities, an online survey and a small-group workshop of Asian HEI representatives – and explored both the development and implementation phases of degree programs and coursework and other educational initiatives. Primarily involved were country partners of the Erasmus + CABARET network (CApacity-Building in Asia for Resilience EducaTion).
Findings
Results reflect that most of the existing formal degree programs are at the graduate level though a wide range of courses and research opportunities exist for both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Findings underscore the importance of institutional support from university leaders as a key factor for overcoming barriers, given the resources and logistics needed by DRRE as an interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral endeavor. Universities who participated in the small-group workshop gave mixed feedback on the level of adequacy of the potential drivers for DRRE, which indicates the need to level off capacities and expertise in the region.
Originality/value
This study provides a baseline assessment of DRRE currently lacking for the region, with recommendations for how to further build capacities of Asian HEIs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Capacity Building in Asia for Resilience EducaTion (CABARET) project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
The authors are grateful for the inputs of respondents in the online survey and comments/suggestions of colleagues in the CABARET network. Specifically, they would like to thank Justyna Urbanczyk for setting up the draft survey for internal piloting and comments; and Chamal Perera, Kinkini Hemachandra and Ignacio Aguirre Ayerbe for comments on survey design and revision; and the other members of the Education Sandpit group for the brainstorming of ideas.
The authors also the acknowledge the support of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, and the assistance of the Ateneo Statistics Circle in data processing.
Citation
Gotangco, C.K., Jardeleza, J.M., Lopez, C., Labaria, E.C., Wickert, J. and Shadiya, F. (2021), "Factors influencing disaster risk and resilience education in Asian HEIs", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. 12 No. 4, pp. 400-412. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-05-2020-0040
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited