Disaster management courses are offered at the short term certificate,
undergraduate, postgraduate degree and diploma levels. Basic educational
qualification, i.e Higher Secondary Certificate Examination (10+2) is
needed to pursue a career in disaster management. But for masters or MBA,
the student should be a graduate in any field (even from a professional
field such as engineering or medicine graduate), who has a minimum average
of 50 percent marks from any recognized institute or university. Jamsetji
Tata Centre for Disaster Management offers masters course in disaster
management to prepare aspirants for this profession.
Disaster management courses aim at enhancing knowledge, capacities and
skills, and perspective on disasters. The course covers different areas
of disaster management which include management of the situation of emergency,
response to the needs of the people and the area, evacuation process,
distribution of food and medical care for the injured people. Some of
the topics of the course are approaches and planning for the disaster,
conflict and its analysis, data management and analysis, disaster risk
reduction strategies, legislative structures for controlling disasters,
development planning; Geographical Information System (GIS- a computer
based information system which is used to digitally represent and analyze
the geographic features present on the earth surface and the events that
take place on it) its design and application etc. Basic Economics, disaster
financing, and logistic management are other topics that are included
in the study area along with psychological care and public health planning.
The Government of India has included disaster management as a subject
to study for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students.
Personal skill:
Disaster management professionals should be mentally and physically fit
to be able to handle all types of circumstances at any time. Timely action
is very much needed for this profession, there fore one who aspires to
be in this profession should be alert and should be able to implement
apt plans immediately for any situation. Disaster management professionals
are not only responsible for other's well being but also for self's life
and health. They should be ready to take huge responsibilities. Good communication
skill is essential for this career, as they have to communicate easily
and effectively. Good organizing capability and team spirit are other
skills that one should possesses to perform well in this industry.
