Civil Safety Summit at University of Leicester

International experts converge to discuss disaster and emergency planning

An international summit concerned with disaster and emergency planning and risk management has been held at the University of Leicester. It brought together professionals from different fields to share the latest thinking on civil safety and security.

The experts from around the world attended a meeting hosted by the University of Leicester Civil Safety and Security Unit, which is part of the University's Institute of Lifelong Learning.

Over 40 professionals met to examine the latest thinking in risk management and emergency planning. They came from countries such as Cyprus, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nigeria, UK and the Middle East. Among the issues discussed were the threats posed by terrorism, risks in contemporary societies, managing disasters, and humanitarian aid.

Those present included experts from UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Programme, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and private companies and public-sector bodies, such as the fire service, local authorities, emergency planning and civil defence, the NHS, and the army and Royal Air Force.

Professor John Benyon, from the Institute of Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester, said: 'We were delighted to welcome such eminent experts in risk assessment, and disaster and emergency planning, from such a variety of countries and backgrounds. We live in an age where risks seem to be multiplying and where we need greater knowledge of how to assess risk more effectively and take necessary and proportionate action. We are pleased that the University of Leicester is making a significant contribution nationally and internationally."

The event was organised as part of the MSc programmes in Emergency Planning Management and in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management. These courses are offered by the Civil Safety and Security Unit in the Institute of lifelong Learning and are increasingly popular in the UK and overseas.

The postgraduate degrees provide a wide-ranging interdisciplinary analysis of crises and disasters and the use of risk theory. The programmes include detailed case studies varying from air crashes to public health incidents.

The MSc degrees are taken over two years by distance learning which is flexible and enables busy professional people to tailor their studies to suit their work and personal commitments. The Civil Safety and Security Unit has good links with the Cabinet Office's Emergency Planning College.