About MoDDD

This course introduces the links between development, design and disasters and explores how the design of the built environment can lead to effective post-disaster recovery and disaster risk reduction. You will investigate approaches to design as a development intervention that involves decision-making to both protect investments from the impacts of disasters as well as to prevent disasters from exacerbating the existing risks to communities and assets. You will examine how disasters can impact on development initiatives and investments and how ’mal-development’ can increase disaster risk.  You will analyse different roles through exploring case studies of post disaster recovery and development as well as undertake simulation exercises of ’real world ’responses to such complex situations in multi-disciplinary teams.

In this course you will explore concepts and strategies for building and achieving resilience to disasters and climate change in cities for the safety of present and future urban populations.  In particular, you will investigate the link between urban poverty and disaster vulnerability and how addressing that link is the foundation of building urban resilience.

You will engage with practical case studies to investigate how cities achieve goals for building urban resilience and face the challenges in complex urban systems and multi-hazard environments. You will analyse existing tools that aim to support urban resilience, and assess the premises and approaches used. You will also examine key international urban resilience strategic frameworks including those of UN-Habitat, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCRN) and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

This course explores the response and recovery of shelter and settlements after disaster, as well as design strategies that promote sustainability in the context of natural disasters, climate change impacts and conflict. Diverse approaches to designing shelter and planning settlements in disaster-prone or disaster-affected places are investigated at different stages after a disaster and/or crisis, including emergency, transitional and permanent shelter. You will learn how shelter provision by leading humanitarian agencies such as the IFRC and World Vision is provided. Of key focus is the IFRC-led ‘Shelter Cluster System’, established to make post-disaster operations more effective and timely by coordinating the actions of governments and a range of agencies.

You will study how various types of shelter solutions are applied in natural disasters, crises and development situations. You will learn how to effectively plan and coordinate shelter needs assessments, develop strategies and implement plans with international organizations, national authorities, the displaced and the affected population.

In this course you will develop a pre/post disaster or development strategy for a real world scenario project.  You will develop a research project either in a group or individually on appropriate research methodology and investigate it during this course. Through your research project you will explore the links between development, design and disasters, and how the design of the built environment can lead to effective post-disaster recovery and disaster risk reduction. Feedback on your research project will be provided by industry practitioners in leading disaster and international development agencies within the sector.

In this capstone course you will consolidate and apply the knowledge and skills you have developed through the completion of your group or individual-based project commenced in Industry Project (Research). Feedback on your project will be provided by industry practitioners in leading disaster and international development agencies within the sector. Through the implementation of your research project you will determine, evaluate and present your findings. You will also review your contribution to knowledge and practice in the disaster and development field.

This course is concerned with the links between climate change and disasters, and their implications for design of the built environment. You will build knowledge in anthropogenic versus natural climate change to understand how the intensity and frequency of disasters, and their impacts, have and are increasing over time. Acknowledging the global consequences, the focus is on the Asia-Pacific region, particularly Vietnam, which is severely at risk from climate change impacts. You will explore and reflect on key ideas in the field ranging from scientific literature such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports to narratives of community-based organisations and built environment professionals working in this field. You will examine the key strategies that aim to address climate change related disaster impacts, including climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and the differences and points of convergence between these strategies. The course will deal with the implications of climate change and disasters for the built environment from a comprehensive set of social, cultural, physical, environmental and economic aspects, as well as the various elements linked to the built environment such as buildings, infrastructure, transport and land-use. Approximately half of the course is field-based and includes either: – a field visit to Vietnam, where you will gain knowledge from the actual situation ‘on the ground’ and from local experts and organisations. A series of guided learning experiences are structured around the field visit; or – a structured field investigation of climate change adaptation in an area familiar to you.

In this course you will critically engage with the design of disaster resilient landscapes and their role in anticipating, adapting and responding to emergent scenarios of crisis, particularly those related to global warming.  You will explore the notions of resilience and ecological urbanism as well as dynamic landscape systems and analyse their roles in the formation of resilient human settlements and non-human territories. Your learning will be supported through a combination of case studies and design research projects.

In this course you will profile the emerging movement of’ humanitarian architecture’ and the significant role that designers can play in the aftermath of disaster.  Comparable in intent with the fields of humanitarian law and medicine, the emerging field of humanitarian architecture connotes using design skills to assist vulnerable communities, particularly after the crises of social conflict, war and natural disaster.  You will investigate the different contributions that built environment professionals can make after disaster by examining case studies of ’humanitarian architects’ who have been involved in post disaster recovery and development. Case studies will typically be located in vulnerable, marginal and impoverished communities that are confronted with increasingly frequent and intense disasters, where correspondingly sensitive design approaches are required.

This course is focused on the theory and practice surrounding responses to disasters and humanitarian emergencies, which are capturing world attention at an increasing rate. It is important to understand that crises such as these do not happen in a political or social vacuum, and the course addresses issues of context before, during and after crises, and how these affect possible and actual actions. This is supplemented by a focus on the diverse actors in such contexts, their differing approaches, and the extent to which they collaborate. The course draws on key publications in this area and input from professionals actively engaged in this work, to broaden your understanding of the core issues.

This is an external course offered by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Additional costs are involved not included in RMIT tuition fees.

This course addresses the core competencies and evidence base required to manage Emergency and Disaster Management programs. It will provide an overview of compliance frameworks for Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region. International agreements and cooperation are also covered in this course, with a focus on regional agreements and case studies.

You will gain an understanding of the management principles and tools necessary to design and implement Emergency and Disaster Management programs.

This course will focus on post disaster project management. Post-disaster project management is a fast-growing, specialised field which requires high level and sophisticated project management skills and capabilities specific to natural disasters. The objectives of this course are to: introduce you to the specialised field of post disaster management; develop the skills and knowledge required to project manage in a post disaster context, including reconstruction; and apply the tools and techniques specific to post disaster project management.

Peace remains a basic hope for millions of people around the globe as they seek to escape protracted violence, social upheaval and war. Over the last two decades there has been a fundamental change in how peace is approached by the international community, and yet violent conflict remains a daily reality for many people and communities while attempts at creating a sustained peace vary significantly in terms of success.

By doing this course you will develop your knowledge of contemporary approaches to peace-building and reconciliation. Drawing upon theoretical debates and case-studies from around the world, this course evaluates different techniques used to rebuild communities in conflict and post-conflict settings. The course is designed to equip you with knowledge of basic terms, approaches and key debates, while also being taught from a critical perspective that addresses underlying questions of power. Peace and peace-building has become a central dimension in the work of government and state agencies, civil society actors and community-based organisations and cuts its way across diplomacy, humanitarian work, development and security. The course will give emphasis to the professional practice of people working as part of peace related programs, the ethical dimensions and challenges of such work, with first-hand field experiences will be drawn into the learning wherever possible. Some of the key arguments include that:

• Peace-building is not politically neutral and needs to be understood in relation to power.

• Peace is multi-dimensional and multi-faceted.

• The dominant framing of contemporary peace-building tends to be ideologically grounded and can, at times, undermine other opportunities for peace or even give rise to the possibility of new forms of violence.

This is an external online course offered by Oxford Brookes University, UK. Additional costs are involved not included in RMIT tuition fees.

The course is consistent with the widely and internationally accepted concept that sustainable development, rehabilitation and emergencies projects need to be embedded in local cultures. You will learn about what local culture means and how to be truly culture-sensitive? You will understand that cultural sensitivity requires knowledge, skills and competences, but also a positive attitude towards others.

This course will allow you to understand and deal with core issues related to culture, communication, and culture-sensitivity and also to explore issues related to cultural dimensions such as gender, displacement, identity, space and time. Those issues are even more crucial when working in turbulent and violent environments and you will seek answers to questions such as: Is violence creating a new culture, modifying perceptions, values, and attitudes? How should we take into account those changes in our programmes?

You will learn how to mainstream culture and culture sensitivity through all the project cycle, particularly during a feasibility study when assessing community needs and planning participation; during the implementation of a project; and in the end phase when evaluating results and measuring impacts. You will explore the key tools of communication and trust-building for culturally sensitive approaches within teams in conflict areas or with the local population.