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Disaster Risk Reduction: An Introduction

Discover how the idea of disaster management and risk reduction has evolved over time.

909 enrolled on this course

An aerial photograph of a flooded village in Kerala, India - villagers stand on a road cut off by water
  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
This course is part of the program Disaster Risk, Resilience, Adaptation and Sustainability, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in MSc Disaster Management and Resilience. Find out more.

How do you define a disaster? Find out on this course

On this short course, you will develop an understanding of what a disaster is and how its risks can be minimised. You will be introduced to disaster terminology, phases of the disaster management cycle and disaster risk reduction.

You will also have the opportunity to explore how the idea of disaster management and risk reduction has evolved, as well as how global changes have impacted the sector.

What topics will you cover?

  • The disaster management cycle
  • The historical evolution of disaster management
  • The benefits of reducing risks

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Develop an understanding of various disaster terminology
  • Explore disaster management and risk reduction and how each has developed
  • Assess how disaster risk management reduces disaster risks
  • Identify stakeholders and consider their participation in disaster risk reduction
  • Assess how disaster risk reduction policy can reduce the vulnerability of those affected by disasters

Who is the course for?

This course is for people looking to understand the disaster management cycle and the benefits of reducing disaster risks.

Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.

Who will you learn with?

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992
  • Location

    Coventry

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Advance your career with a degree

Since 2017 you have been able to take a degree on FutureLearn. This free course is a bit like a starter course for a degree — it should give you a flavour of the degree subject but can also be your first step towards a degree qualification.

If you enjoy this course you can apply to join the program it’s part of to start working towards a degree on FutureLearn.

Don’t worry, you can still take the course without doing a full degree!

Do the free course
Join and complete the program
Get academic credit for an online degree from Coventry University
This course is part of the program Disaster Risk, Resilience, Adaptation and Sustainability, which is one of the building blocks that leads to a degree in MSc Disaster Management and Resilience.

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