Second PhD Block Course in South Africa Concluded
For the second time the UNU-EHS PhD block course was conducted at the Disaster Risk Management Training and Education Centre in Africa (DiMTEC) at the
University
of the Free State (UFS)
in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
"From
Vulnerability to Resilience in Disaster Risk Management"
took place from 26 May to 2 June 2010.
Seventeen
DiMTEC Master students from seven different African countries participated in
the ten days long intensive course. The course highlighted the complexity of
vulnerability in the field of disaster risk management.
The
three modules (plenary lectures by UNU-EHS and UFS experts, work
session/discussion between experts and students, and a guided and graphic
facilitated brainstorming session) were based on
the UNU-EHS key research themes
-
Environmental, physical,
social and economical dimensions of vulnerability
-
Conceptual frameworks of
vulnerability
-
Methods and models to
assess vulnerability
These topics were linked to case
studies analysing the regional situation, covering droughts, groundwater, the importance
of early warning and the role of the local stakeholders.
The block course programme included two outdoor activities in the field of vulnerability: first, the students were shown the state of the Caledon, Modder and Riet Rivers from 1999 – 2008 with the aim to present the results of one of the most comprehensive bio-monitoring programme for rivers in South Africa. Secondly, the students visited the Transnet Dump Site to see an example of the negative impact of a large dumping site on the environment, surface and groundwater.
As last agenda item of the block course the students gave
their final presentations on vulnerability to floods, droughts, fire and
diseases.
Upon the completion of the course,
Prof. (JD) Jonathan Jansen
,
Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, honoured the course granting participants with the certificate of completion.
For more impressions of the block course please visit the UNU-EHS
Flickr
account.
Downloads
Block Course Programme
Report of the Visit to the Transnet Dump Site
Presentation: The Process of Vulnerability Assessment
Presentation: Vulnerability Assessment of Floods
Presentation: Vulnerability Assessment on Drought
Presentation: Vulnerability to Disease
