School of Conservation Sciences

Presidential Approval for BU Seminar in Disaster Management

BUDMC holds its latest seminar

Bournemouth University’s (BU) Disaster Management Centre (BUDMC) welcomed the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to its latest international seminar.

President Rajapaksa was briefed by Richard Gordon, Director of the Centre, at the British High Commission in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo where the course was held. Gordon and his BU colleagues led senior managers from Sri Lanka’s disaster management centre, emergency services, military and government agencies through a series of scenarios and exercises to improve their understanding and response to natural and man made disasters and complex emergencies.

“The President wanted to see for himself the value of our programme and how our expertise is being applied in Sri Lanka,” said Gordon. “He left us very impressed by what we were able to demonstrate. We are grateful to the Sri Lankan government and the British High Commission for their hospitality and continued co-operation.”

The Centre, based in BU’s School of Conservation Sciences, provides world-class education and training in disaster management in order to help reduce risks, build resilience and ensure rapid and sustainable recovery when disasters strike.

“Our core activity is the design and delivery of tailor-made, multi-disciplinary short courses in disaster management,” said Gordon. “These courses are backed up by specialised modules and exercises which are designed to develop specific areas of planning and capability.”

In 2009, the Centre is scheduled to work in Croatia, Kuwait, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Mongolia, Turkey, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. The Centre will also host two UK-based short courses in Bournemouth – a two-week International Disaster Management Course from 20th April to 1st May and again from 5th to 16th October.

09/04/09