by Anna Maria Kaczmarek

Alike other modules comprising the MSc in Global Health course, the Disaster and Crisis Management module was carefully designed in terms of the concepts coverage, mix of reading materials and teaching methods. Not only did it develop my knowledge of the theory and practice of disaster and crisis management, but also inspired me towards further researching of the contextual factors that play a crucial role in disasters occurrence and response. Thank to the module not only did I learn about the theory of the varying disaster typology and history of the approaches to disasters and disaster management, but also developed further a skill of critical analysis of both past and current approaches adopted in the disaster management field. Choosing Somalian famine 2010-12 as a disaster scenario for two of the modules assignments proved highly effective not only due to the complexity of the scenario, multiplicity of the underlying factors related to this and other Somalian famines as well as associated difficulty in analysing theory according to this disaster scenario, but also due to the universality of the lessons learnt from humanitarian response to similar contexts increasingly emerging in the world. Above all, the module generally enables to build further on the knowledge acquired from the previous modules around the geo-political context within which disasters take place and acquire further information about the contextual factors understanding of which is so crucial to developing the best practice in disaster management, particularly so in terms of mitigation efforts.

The module also enabled a number of wider skills development. Here, myself and fellow students were able to learn also about scientific blog writing, critical analysis of past and currently emerging disaster scenarios as well as about practical disaster communication product development. Furthermore, the module utilized a new teaching and skill development tactic: critical analysis and grading of academic assignments between students which greatly enabled to fully understand the grading process and the perspective of the grading academician. Above all, this effectively encouraged and developed my skills in critically appraising own assignment, thus enabled a journey towards academic self-improvement and excellence.

In addition, central to this module, just as to the entire course, was interaction with fellow students via discussion forums which always proves useful in practical knowledge development and viewpoint exchange.

Alike other modules, this module greatly completes and comprehends my pre-existing knowledge and experience of Public Health and fills the great academic/knowledge gap between the two thematic courses taught across Europe. I’m greatly looking forward to building further on the recently acquired knowledge and experience during the subsequent modules comprising the MSc in Global Health course. Here, I once again experience a smooth and very well thought through transition between the courses modules which prove the University’s excellence in designing the academic curriculum. I’m sure that the upcoming module in Management and Leadership in Health and Humanitarianism will continue to interest and inspire me.

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