Flyer Disruptive Events, International Disaster, Resilience and Migration, Minor Programme Fall 2023

(INTER)NATIONAL DISASTER, RESILIENCE AND MIGRATION

From natural disasters to climate change, migration, and terrorist attacks, the world around us is constantly changing from unpredictable events outside of our control. Disasters not only have far-reaching consequences for the built environment, economies, nature and government institutions, but also for individual security. Climate change exacerbates the number and severity of disastrous events happening around the world and each year more people migrate either within countries or to other parts of the world in order to adapt. The urgency of these situations has led to increased pressure on political institutions, polarization, and critical debates within the European Union.

This half-year, multidisciplinary minor will equip you with the professional skills to work in highly volatile contexts and the knowledge to design strategies for resilient societies and environments. This minor invites you to analyze complex challenges and provide sustainable solutions for (inter)national development. You have the opportunity to develop into a leader in disaster risk and resilience within your own professional background, learning through experiments, simulations, projects, field trips, lectures, and literature.

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OBJECTIVES

Upon the successful completion of this minor, students should be able to:

• design and manage integrated resilience strategies using multidisciplinary methods and perspectives

• identify the innate connection between social and technical aspects of disaster management and use this to develop comprehensive solutions to complex issues

• utilize personal resilience strategies in professional contexts when working with vulnerable people and in fragile situations

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

This minor programme is divided into two modules with a variety of courses for a total 30 ECTS. Over the course of the two modules, you will gain a deeper understanding of events that have a disruptive impact on society and how to respond to them as a resilient professional.

The first module, Disaster Risk Reduction, provides you with a comprehensive background in disaster resilience. You will dive into complex issues, learning how to respond to natural disasters both in a developing and Western contexts. Learning methods during this module focus on the use of innovative tools and design to test and evaluate solutions in real-life cases.

During the second module, you will dive more deeply into one of the main issues that has caused disruption in Europe and around the globe in recent years: migration. Courses are focused on governance and policy; radicalization and terrorism; and ethics. At the heart of this module are two field trips abroad. You will conduct hands-on, participative research in migrant camps and gain a first-hand understanding of what life is like for those who have fled their homes for a better life in Europe. Previous trips have included Athens and Lesbos, Greece; Calais, France; Palermo, Italy; and Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

See our magazines: Magazine Covid edition (2021), Magazine field trip Bosnia (2020), Magazine field trip Palermo (2018), Magazine field trip Lesbos (2017)

REASONS TO STUDY THIS MINOR PROGRAMME: International programme

This minor programme is fully in English and will prepare you to carry out a thesis project with an international focus.

Th minor's academic staff are specialists in their areas and have both strong field experience and theoretical knowledge on the topics they teach.

Experience-based learning

This minor emphasizes the link between theory and practice. For that reason, you'll take what you learn in the classroom and put it into practice with real-life case studies. We partner with a number of humanitarian organisations, governmental agencies, and private companies who want your input and expertise.

Addressing the global most urgent problems

The number of people affected by disasters increases every year. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Resilience, the United Nations, and other international organisations are calling for practical solutions for the complex problems around disaster resilience. From humanizing migration policy analysis to building a resilient modern society, you'll possess the tools to confront some of the most pressing issues of today.

Career opportunities

The Disruptive Events minor is supported by some of the most prestigious humanitarian agencies in the Netherlands and has a strong network with Dutch municipalities, government agencies, policymakers, and aid institutions. Throughout the program you have the chance to collaborate with them and explore future partnerships. Whether for your bachelor's thesis project, an internship, or after your studies, the connections you make during this minor can serve as the first step toward your future career. The minor is an excellent introduction to work in a humanitarian, political, governmental, or aid organizations.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Academic accreditation

Minor Degree in Disruptive Events

Organizing centre

Avans University of Applied Sciences, School for the Sustainable Built Environment

Location: Tilburg

Schedule and timetable

• Level: 3rd year bachelor

• From August - February (30 ECTS)

• 1 Semester of courses (6 months), from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Exchange students

You can participate in an exchange programme at Avans University of Applied Sciences if your home institution has an agreement with Avans. Under this agreement you can apply to study with us. As an exchange student, you continue to pay tuition fees to your home institution; this means you do not have to pay tuition fees to Avans. Please read the details on the 'Applying as an exchange student' page or contact your home institution’s exchange coordinator for details.

Other students

If your university is not a partner of Avans University of Applied Sciences, you can join us as a full-fee paying student. For more details, look at: https://www.avans.nl/ international/programs/study-at-avans/applying-groups/ applying-freemover-students

Or contact the Avans International Office on +31 88 - 525 80 01 or at internationaloffice@avans.nl.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

The Disruptive Events minor is multidisciplinary at its core; for that reason, we invite students from a variety of academic backgrounds to apply. It is useful, but not necessary, to have background knowledge of risk management, challenges to urbanization, engineering, planning, risk analysis, migration, or climate change. This program is particularly suitable for students with a background in architecture, urban planning, social sciences, civil engineering, communication, public administration, political science, environmental sciences, healthcare, and geography; however, the minor does not exclude students with other specializations. We believe that developing professional resilience and tackling climate change and migration issues are topics that can be applied to any field of study. Students from outside the Netherlands are strongly encouraged to participate, as their perspective is extremely important and of high added value for in-class discussions. The topics of the courses are explored from a global perspective, especially the countries from which our students come. This means that we will more closely examine not only the Dutch situation, but also any other countries of interest to students. Discussions are tailored to each group and thus, fitting for students from anywhere around the world.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

You can enroll in this minor if you have successfully completed at least two years of a bachelor program. Students should be able to follow classes and present their work in English. Students from all bachelor programs can enroll.

Students that do not study in the Netherlands are required to submit the following as a part of their application:

• An up-to-date copy of their CV

• An IELTS English exam with a minimum score of 6

Find out more about the admission procedure, reserving a place, and enrollment on avans.nl/international.

APPLY

Are you ready for this exciting opportunity? Apply now and start in August!

CONTACT

More information about this programme is available via: minoren.abi@avans.nl / +31 88 – 525 82 11

If you would like more information about studying at Avans, please contact our International Office: internationaloffice@avans.nl / +31 88 - 525 80 01

COLLABORATIONS

Collaborating practitioners

Collaborating academies This minor programme is a collaboration between 3 academies of Avans University of Applied Sciences; the Academy for the Sustainable Built Environment, Governance and Security and Life Sciences and Environmental Technology. The programme is hosted by the School of the Built Environment and Infrastructure.

Many partners from the field contribute to our programme with workshops, excursions, lectures. This will allow you to understand the complexity of disruptive events and what it means for you in the future. Some of our partners include: the Dutch Army, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Built to Impact, Migrant reception centres, Cordaid, TU Eindhoven and TU Delft.

AVANS UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

Classes are held at Avans University of Applied Sciences.

• The university has modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment for both theoretical and practical classes.

• Our education is top quality. For many years we have maintained a leading position in the national ranking systems among Universities of Applied Sciences.

• We offer personal attention and support inside and outside the classroom. We are dedicated to helping you reach your full potential.

• The Avans cities of Breda, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Roosendaal and Tilburg offer pleasant and safe environments for young adults.

STUDYING IN THE NETHERLANDS

Start the most challenging learning experience of your life in Netherlands. You will be amazed about the open minded way of thinking of the students and staff and direct interaction with professionals. The Netherlands is an intellectual and cultural role model where your knowledge can adapt to multiple professional opportunities. The Netherlands has one of the best train networks in the world connecting you very fast to other cities that you want to explore. Tilburg is located only 1.5 hour from Amsterdam and 1 hour from Rotterdam. Tilburg has a lively student life with cosy bars and a nice harbour and nice greenery.

STUDENT OPINIONS

“In Lesbos we were able to get a better idea of what life was like for the refugees. It was quite amazing to see how happy all the children were who lived in the camps. I was also surprised by how much the staff at the camp tried to give the refugees the feeling that could live normal lives.”

“Working in a refugee camp, well that was something i thought i never would do, but it happened and the experience was special. Being there and seeing the condition in the camp, although the camp was not bad, the conditions were far from ideal. I cannot imagine to live there for several years without knowing the future. The children there have had terrible experiences in live, yet they are playing their like nothing happened.”

“I like the relevant projects that we could pick from. It was great to work with Cordaid and I am amazed about the projects they do. I am also happy the partner organisation is eager to apply our recommendations directly. ”

“I have developed myself with a new perspective on a professional in a disruptive event. The guest lectures, the study trip to Palermo and the excursions were the most relevant for me.”

“The experts really opened my mind about practical and ethical issues in the field. I enjoyed the in depth discussions in class.”