MSc Humanitarian Logistics & Emergency Management

The international community and the EU in particular, have been calling for improvement in the process of delivering aid aiming at enhancing the ability of aid organisations to react efficiently and effectively to the increased occurrence of disasters. The significance of disasters is increasing due to variables such as population growth, climate change, urbanisation and global connectivity. The impact of natural disasters such as the Tsunami on the Far East and Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans is still being felt in those regions. Human initiated disasters such as the Twin Towers collapse and the Madrid and London bombings have had an enormous impact on security systems and world travel. Biologically based disasters such as SARS and bird flu similarly have had worldwide impact.

The organizations providing the first phase of disaster response need the capacity and capabilities to deliver goods and services quickly to those impacted by an event. This is often under difficult circumstances in foreign locations and across cultures. The organisations involved in delivering the aid also need to be responsive in order to quickly provide resources required for the basic necessities of survival in the critical period immediately after an event in order to reduce further loss of life. This programme is a multi-disciplinary programme that provides high quality academic education and professional competencies for personnel working in or intending to work in the area of humanitarian relief to deal with the matters outlined. The programme will provide humanitarian professionals with the competences to work effectively and efficiently in challenging environments.

The programme aims to contribute to the development needs of future managers and employees in public, private sector organizations and nongovernmental organisations. Providing graduates with disciplinary expertise with an additional set of management and business tools will significantly enhance their employment potential.

Aims and Objectives:

The course contributes to the development needs of those involved in the field of humanitarian relief, international co-operation and emergency management. The course material takes a broad,
cross-sectoral and international approach to humanitarian emergency relief. The programme prepares students for roles ranging from project management, humanitarian logistics, research, management, emergency management, communications, business continuity to monitoring, performance management and evaluation. Accordingly this course prepares graduates for a wide range of senior management roles in all types of humanitarian organisations.

The breadth and depth of the programme, plus its in-company research dimension renders the graduate attractive to an array of future employers.

Programme Structure:

The course is 100% assessed through continuous assessment in the form of group and individual written assignments in each module followed and a minor applied research dissertation in the third semester. There are no end-of term of module examinations.

Content Delivered by DCU (30 Credits)

• DCUMT562 Emergency Management 1: Fundamentals
• DCUMT572 Emergency Management 3: Best Practice & Current Issues
• DCUMT565 Hazard Analysis & Risk Assessment
• DCUMT566 Planning & Preparedness
• DCUMT570 Business Continuity Management

Content Delivered by NUI Maynooth (30 Credits)

• NUIMMB620 Humanitarian Logistics and Project Planning
• NUIMMB621 Decision Making, Risk and Strategic SCM
• NUIMMB622 Cooperation, Coordination and Partnerships in Humanitarian Logistics

Shared Delivery by DCU & NUI Maynooth (30 Credits)

• NUIMMB609/DCUMT579 Dissertation

Why DCU:

3U Partnership is a new force in Irish higher education that combines the complementary strengths of Dublin City University, NUI Maynooth and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The 3U Partnership preserves the separate identities and missions of the institutions, while enhancing our ability to deliver on those missions by working together. The partnership provides a framework that assists us in forging new solutions across disciplines including medicine, science, engineering, business, arts, humanities and social sciences.

Career Prospects:

The programme is designed to meet the requirements of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Irish Aid) and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for practitioners in the management of humanitarian disasters and major emergencies. It is aimed at practitioners in public, private and voluntary sectors who are engaged in Humanitarian Logistics & Emergency Management.

Entry Requirements:

The general criteria for entry to National University of Ireland Maynooth and Dublin City University post graduate programmes is that applicants hold an honours (level 8) primary degree to a minimum of 2:2 grade or equivalent professional qualification. A small number of students who do not meet the normal criteria may be considered for a place on the programme on the basis of their work experience and other relevant educational achievements. Selection of applicants may include an interview.