Postgraduation Integrated Emergency Management: Safety & Security

The Postgraduate Course in Integrated Emergency Management: Safety & Security has been developed with the aim of equipping professionals involved in emergency management ¿ specifically within civil protection agencies, the fire service, law enforcement agencies, local authorities and organisations responsible for essential services ¿ to work in an integrated manner across preparedness, response, coordination and recovery in complex crises. With a total of 100 hours, comprising 86 hours of distance learning and 14 hours of classroom-based learning, the course combines a conceptual and methodological framework with a strong practical component. The training covers core topics such as the functioning of operational coordination centres, inter-institutional coordination, operational safety, information management, crisis communication and decision-making using decision-support tools, namely operational information systems, scenario analysis models, risk matrices, situational dashboards and structured decision-making methodologies in contexts of uncertainty, integrating the perspectives of safety (management of unintentional risks) and security (intentional threats and disturbances to public order and safety) within a civil and functional framework.

A bachelor¿s degree or equivalent qualification. In exceptional cases, candidates without a bachelor¿s degree may be considered if they have relevant and proven professional experience in the fields of civil protection, security, emergency response, risk management or related areas, subject to an assessment of their CV.

The Postgraduate Course in Integrated Emergency Management: Safety & Security equips graduates to perform technical, coordination and leadership roles in the context of preparedness, response and recovery to emergencies and complex crises, within multi-risk and multi-agency environments. Upon completion of the course, graduates will be able to take up roles within civil protection structures, specifically in municipal, regional or national services, as part of teams responsible for planning, operational coordination and the management of operational coordination centres. The course also prepares students for technical and middle management roles in fire services, security forces and other organisations with responsibilities in emergency management and public safety. In the public and private sectors, graduates may work as emergency managers, senior technicians or consultants in the areas of security, continuity of essential services, emergency planning and organisational resilience, including critical enterprises, essential infrastructure, concessionary entities and organisations with internal emergency plans. The training also equips participants with the skills to carry out duties in crisis management, emergency communications and information management units, as well as to design, plan and evaluate exercises and drills, compile lessons learnt and ensure the continuous improvement of response systems. In addition, they will be able to collaborate on projects involving risk analysis, decision support, inter-institutional coordination and the development of policies and emergency plans, integrating safety and security perspectives into a civil, functional approach focused on the protection of people, property and the environment.

Continuous assessment, based on active participation in classroom activities, individual and/or group assignments, the resolution of practical case studies, and performance in the integrated face-to-face simulation exercise. The course will comprise 86 hours of distance learning and 14 hours of face-to-face teaching. The face-to-face component is compulsory and focuses on an integrated simulation exercise, aimed at consolidating learning and the effective transfer of knowledge to real-life operational intervention contexts.