TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Education and training initiatives for crisis management in the European Union: a web-based analysis of available programs
JO  - Prehospital and disaster medicine
A1  - Ingrassia, Pier Luigi
A1  - Foletti, Marco
A1  - Djalali, Ahmadreza
A1  - Scarone, Piercarlo
A1  - Ragazzoni, Luca
A1  - Corte, Francesco Della
A1  - Kaptan, Kubilay
A1  - Lupescu, Olivera
A1  - Arculeo, Chris
A1  - von Arnim, Gotz
A1  - Friedl, Tom
A1  - Ashkenazi, Michael
A1  - Heselmann, Deike
A1  - Hreckovski, Boris
A1  - Khorrram-Manesh, Amir
A1  - Komadina, Radko
A1  - Lechner, Kostanze
A1  - Patru, Cristina
A1  - Burkle, Frederick M.
A1  - Fisher, Philipp
SP  - 115
EP  - 126
VL  - 29
IS  - 2
N2  - Introduction Education and training are key elements of disaster management. Despite national and international educational programs in disaster management, there is no standardized curriculum available to guide the European Union (EU) member states. European- based Disaster Training Curriculum (DITAC), a multiple university-based project financially supported by the EU, is charged with developing a holistic and highly-structured curriculum and courses for responders and crisis managers at a strategic and tactical level. The purpose of this study is to qualitatively assess the prevailing preferences and characteristics of disaster management educational and training initiatives (ETIs) at a postgraduate level that currently exist in the EU countries. <br><br>METHODS: An Internet-based qualitative search was conducted in 2012 to identify and analyze the current training programs in disaster management. The course characteristics were evaluated for curriculum, teaching methods, modality of delivery, target groups, and funding. <br><br>RESULTS: The literature search identified 140 ETIs, the majority (78%) located in United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Master level degrees were the primary certificates granted to graduates. Face-to-face education was the most common teaching method (84%). Approximately 80% of the training initiatives offered multi- and cross-disciplinary disaster management content. A competency-based approach to curriculum content was present in 61% of the programs. Emergency responders at the tactical level were the main target group. Almost all programs were self-funded. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Although ETIs currently exist, they are not broadly available in all 27 EU countries. Also, the curricula do not cover all key elements of disaster management in a standardized and competency-based structure. This study has identified the need to develop a standardized competency-based educational and training program for all European countries that will ensure the practice and policies that meet both the standards of care and the broader expectations for professionalization of the disaster and crisis workforce. Ingrassia PL , Foletti M , Djalali A , Scarone P , Ragazzoni L , Della Corte F , Kaptan K , Lupescu O , Arculeo C , von Arnim G , Friedl T , Ashkenazi M , Heselmann D , Hreckovski B , Khorrram-Manesh A , Komadina R , Lechner K , Patru C , Burkle FM Jr. , Fisher P. Education and training initiatives for crisis management in the European Union: a web-based analysis of available programs. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(2):1-12.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1049-023X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X14000235
ID  - ref1
ER  -