Why I chose the Disaster and Emergency Management course
Friday 31 January 2025
4 min read
1) Why did you choose Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons) at Coventry University?
I chose disaster and emergency management (DEM) to study, as my favourite areas of geography were natural hazard-induced disasters, how they had affected people and how different cultures perceive and experience them. I had also looked at other disasters and emergencies mostly within nuclear incidents and terrorism, as these had been an interest of mine for some time and I wanted to learn how to plan, respond and manage these incidents.
2) What do you enjoy the most about your course?
I enjoy learning the different approaches to management and response. This includes the alternative ways to prevent or mitigate disasters and emergencies and how to implement plans effectively. It has also opened up my definitions of what a disaster or emergency is and all the different potential careers it leads to. Most of all, I enjoy the potential for improving people’s wellbeing and quality of life.
3) Has your time on the course developed you as a person?
I would say it has made me more outgoing than before and a lot more confident in various aspects that I would have normally avoided, prior to starting the course.
4) Would you recommend the course to friends? If so, why?
While uncommon, disaster and emergency management is a rather broad field of study. It can involve almost any industry or area, from simple business continuity and preventing issues in a company, to managing the plans and responses to a pandemic or disease outbreak or making plans for floods. I would recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in any form of rescue, response to or management of incidents.
5) What do you think of the facilities at Coventry University?
The facilities at Coventry University are very good. While there are differences in some of the ages of the buildings, each has rooms dedicated to specific things from map rooms to game design PC labs, geology lab equipment rooms and generic lecture halls. There are also incredibly helpful staff, as well as the success coaches and wellbeing team that provide support for students- they can be a huge help with coursework, dissertations or even finding placements.
6) What has been your most memorable moment during your time at Coventry University?
My most memorable moment was in the first year of the course. We went on a field trip to Wales to do some search and rescue training and exercises. On the final day of the trip, I volunteered to go down a large ravine to rescue a dummy body from the bottom, whilst using several types of equipment and rescue techniques.
7) What advice would you give to someone considering studying the Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons)?
The ability to identify risk is essential. You need to pay attention to even the smallest things in exercises, as they might be relevant later in the exercise or course. Keep open-minded on different solutions to problems, as one way to do something may not always work or be relevant, even if the problem is the same. Learn how to skim through research papers- learn how to analyse key parts of them and find comparative articles that are relevant. Also, a decent pair of waterproof boots will be a very good investment!
8) Describe the Disaster Emergency Management BSc (Hons) in three words?
Extensive. Important. Broad.
9) Have you been involved in any of Coventry University’s enrichment activities?
I am part of the International Disaster Concern Society, which is primarily made up of disaster and emergency management students. Occasionally, we get other courses joining us but for the most part, it’s DEM. This is quite useful to most of us, as sometimes at get-togethers we discuss some coursework or different perspectives on emergencies and disasters. This can be useful for finding out different ways of thinking and approaches to situations that you might not have considered beforehand. Also, as a student ambassador, I feel like my input can be a deciding factor for many prospective students, as a lecturer won’t have the same lecture or coursework experience that a student has.
10) Do you think your course has prepared you for the world of work? If so, how?
This course provides the tools and knowledge to go into many different industries, no matter how niche or common; from the intricacies of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, to explosions, flooding and even future disasters that are not known yet.
11) Why did you want to become a disaster manager? What career plans do you have?
Personally, I feel like a disaster manager has a vital role in a functioning society, and is important to the wellbeing of people, businesses, services, infrastructure and environments. In future, I would like to go on to do a master’s degree and hopefully get a doctorate in CBRN management or something similar. I would like to manage CBRN disasters as they are my main interest within the DEM field or mass fatality incidents and emergencies.
William Moore
Second year Disaster and Emergency Management BSc (Hons) student