Disaster Management
Disaster Management refers to the conservation of lives and property during natural or man-made disasters. Disaster management plans are multi-layered and are planned to address issues such as floods, hurricanes, fires, mass failure of utilities, rapid spread of disease and droughts. India is especially vulnerable to natural disasters because of its unique geo-climatic condition, having recurrent floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, and landslides.
To impart training in the area of disaster management, colleges and universities in India provide courses in Disaster Management. These courses are offered at different levels, including degree, diploma and certificate. Many eminent colleges and universities across India offer research programmes in Disaster Management.
One of the emerging courses in this field is MBA degree in Disaster Management. While Disaster Management helps cope with a disaster, it also requires strategising, implementing plans and strategies before any impending disaster. These strategies help in preventing or minimizing losses caused due to these disasters. So, MBA in Disaster Management trains professionals in spotting impending failures or calamities and effectively handling such situations with their organisational skills.
There are plenty of career opportunities for disaster management professionals in the government sector with emergency services, relief groups, law enforcement departments and local authorities. Apart from this, there are many opportunities with private agencies and non-profit organisations which cater disaster management services.
International agencies such as the United Nations also appoint disaster management professionals. These professionals are appointed in different capacities such as trainees, assistants, experts, researchers, analysts, engineers, medical health experts, environmental experts, rehabilitation workers, etc.
MBA in Disaster Management graduates get hired in fire departments, law enforcement, insurance companies, petroleum and chemical industry, and mining industry. Moreover, many organisations have their own disaster management units and need professionals to handle responsibilities.
Courses
There are multiple levels of courses available in the field of Disaster Management and some important postgraduate programs offered are given below:
- MA Disaster Management: Duration is 2 years
- MBA in Disaster Management: Duration is 2 years
- MPhil Disaster Management: Duration is 2 years
- MSc Disaster Management: Duration is 2 years
- MTech Disaster Management: Duration is 2 years
- PhD Disaster Management: Duration is 2 or 3 years
- Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management: Duration is 1 year
According to the course, subjects will vary. Some subjects include such as Introduction and Dimensions of Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters, Management and Organisational Behaviour, Geoinformatics in Disaster Management, Operation Management, Geoinformatics in Disaster Management, Disaster Preparedness and Decision making, Natural and Manmade Disaster Studies, Informatics for Disaster Management, Disaster Management Policy, Quantitative Techniques for Disaster Management, Psycho-social Ramifications & Resource Mobilizations, Risk Assessment,Preventive Laws in Disaster Management, Quantitative Techniques for Disaster Management, Crisis Management,Research Methods in Disaster Management, Communication Systems, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, Public Health in Disasters, Banking, Finance and Insurance in Disaster Management, Disaster Mitigation etc
Required Skills and Aptitude
The skills and aptitudes required for a career in Disaster Management field include the following:
- Communication and Cooperation
- Critical Thinking and Decision Making
- Flexibility,
- Interpersonal skills.
- Organisation and delegation.
- Supervision & Management
- Time Management and Organization
Eligibility Criteria
Followings are the eligibility criteria for different Disaster management courses:
MA in Disaster Management: Candidates need to have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Apart from this, many colleges conduct their entrance exams and interviews for admission to disaster management courses.
MBA in Disaster Management: The candidate must possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks. The admission is based on scores on entrance exams.
MPhil in Disaster Management: Candidates need to have a Master’s degree in the relevant field from a recognised university.
MSc in Disaster Management: Candidates need to have a Bachelor’s degree in Geography/Geology/Environmental Science/Civil Engineering with 55 per cent marks.
MTech in Disaster Management: Candidates need to have an Engineering degree in Environmental Science/Civil / Chemical with 55 percent marks or PG in Chemistry/ Physics or relevant field with GATE score
PhD in Disaster Management: Candidates need to have a Master’s degree or MPhil in the relevant field with 55 percent from a recognised university.
Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management:The candidate must possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks.
Entrance Examination
MBA in Disaster Management Admissions in India are mainly conducted through top entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, KMAT and NMAT. Some colleges also consider the score of state level exams and private exams conducted by universities.
Delhi University Science Entrance Test , Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam , Panjab University Management Entrance Test , Banasthali University Aptitude Test , Andhra Pradesh Integrated Common Entrance Test are some of the exams that you can appear for to get admission in Disaster Management courses.
GATE score is mandatory for M Tech admissions.
Job Profiles
Some of the job profiles in the field of Disaster Management are as follows:
- Analyst
- Assistant
- Engineer
- Environmental Expert
- Expert
- Medical Health Expert
- Rehabilitation Worker
- Researcher
Top Recruiters
Career prospects and job opportunities in Disaster Management are ample. Government and private agencies, and non-profit organisations are always on a lookout for trained professionals in this field. Followings are some of the top recruiters for Disaster Management holders.
- Colleges & Universities
- Drought Management Departments
- Fire Departments
- Government Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- Law Enforcement Authorities
- Relief Agencies
- UNO and its agents, NGOs
Institutions
| Institution | City |
|---|---|
| Anna University | Chennai |
| Devi Ahilya Viswa Vidyalaya | Indore |
| Disaster Management Institute | Bhopal |
| Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre | Dehradun |
| Geological Survey of India | Kolkata |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University | New Delhi |
| IASE University | Rajasthan |
| Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment (IIEE) | New Delhi |
| Indian Institute of Management | Kolkata |
| Indian Institute of Management | Kozhikode |
| Indian Institute of Technology | Kanpur |
| Indian Institute of Technology | Roorkee |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University | New Delhi |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies | Mumbai |
| K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai |
| National Civil Defence College | Nagpur |
| National Institute of Disaster Management | New Delhi |
| Shanmuga Arts Science Tech And Research | Thanjavur |
| Tata Institute Of Social Science(TISS) | Mumbai |
| The Global Open University | Nagaland |
Questions & Answers
Q) What are the career prospects of disaster management?
A) The government sector offers many job roles in Disaster Management with relief groups, emergency services, law enforcement departments, and local authorities. Candidates can also find positions in private agencies and NGO’s that deal in disaster management services. Some international agencies like the United Nations also appoint disaster management professionals.
Q) Which are the Top colleges for disaster management in India?
A) Shailesh J Mehta School of Management (Mumbai) , Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (Mumbai) , Indian Institute of Management (Kozhikode) , K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research (Mumbai) , Indian Institute of Management (Kolkata).