Workshop for Institutionalization of Urban Disaster Mitigation in Urban Planning Curricula of Universities in AUDMP Target Countries

ADPC will organize a “Workshop for Institutionalization of Urban Disaster Mitigation in Urban Planning Curricula of Universities in AUDMP Target Countries” scheduled for 1-2 July 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. Academic staff of Planning School from 12 universities in AUDMP target countries is expected to attend the workshop.

The workshop is initiated by the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP), which is one of the programs implemented by ADPC. AUDMP aspires to integrate its training programs on disaster mitigation, developed by its component of Training and Resource Materials and Continuing Education (TRMCE), with appropriate undergraduate/postgraduate programs of selected universities within its sphere of activity. 

The main objectives of the proposed workshop are:

• To provide the young generation of urban planners a forum for academic discussion 
• To facilitate introduction of new concepts into the urban planning process through research and study
• To promote a participatory approach in finding solutions to current problems through academic study of these issues
• To provide a competent knowledge base and human resources for assistance and guidance to national and local government institutions concerned with spatial planning and urban development.
• To promote a sustainable urban development through disaster impact reduction and integration of concepts of risk based mitigation planning in disaster prone cities.

The first initiative will be to integrate Urban Disaster Mitigation subjects in Urban Planning Curricula of selected universities. The Urban Disaster Mitigation course has been conducted twice in the regional level by ADPC, one in October 1997 and the other in May 1999. Subsequently, a number of National Partner Training Institutions (NPTIs) in target countries have developed national courses based on the UDM curriculum for practitioners and officials attached to local government institutions.

The workshop will focus on land use planning, which is recognized as one of the main streams of natural disaster mitigation. However, unlike in developed countries, all its perspectives are not yet studied by the academia in developing countries of Asia. The reason may well be the inadequate involvement of key players of Urban Planning to integrate risk-based mitigation tools into the process of Urban Planning in order to reduce the impact of natural disasters. 

Special significance may be place on the following issues:

Formulation of appropriate land management strategies to mitigate natural disaster impact, participatory policy planning and implementation, assessing cost-effective alternatives for the prevention of environmental degradation and knowledge dissemination processes etc. should become focal points for study. 

At present, very few academic programs offer these areas of study within the region. Yet, providing students of land use planning with theoretical support on these issues to enrich their study may bring about changes in attitude and practice when they emerge as fully pledged professional land use planners.