The 3rd APRU Multi-Hazards Summer School was held at Tohoku University on 21-24 July 2015. More than 40 participants from 10 countries participated in the event to learn the lessons-learnt and experience from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and discuss the role of universities to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The 4th APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Summer School, organised by the APRU Multi-Hazards Program and hosted by the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) at Tohoku University was held in Sendai from 19 to 22 July 2016.

A 2-page publication showing the scholarly output, research impact and main topics on disaster science in the Asia-Pacific.

Developed by a group of individuals from the International Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) at Tohoku University, Keio University, the University of Tokyo, the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), and Church World Service (CWS) Japan in collaboration with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Multi-Hazards Program, this publication features 30 innovations for DRR including products and approaches.

The volume is a response from the world of academia to the Sendai Framework’s call for the promotion of scientific research and to support the application of science and technology in decision-making.

APRU-IRIDeS Multi-Hazards Program Campus Safety Workshop 2018: Building Disaster Resistant Universities: Is Your University Ready for the Next Natural Disaster?

April 3-5, 2018, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the key challenges, approaches and lessons of the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the context of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted to understand the key challenges being faced by the HEIs around the world during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 150 responses were collected from 65 universities, located in 29 countries.

Findings – The results show that 47% of respondents with defined universities believe their institutions lacked a permanent or dedicated emergency management office, and 41% said their HEIs lacked a general business continuity plan for an emergency. In universities with BCPs, 33%of the plans do not cover biological hazards and pandemic risk management, and 60% of the plans did not include conducting any advanced simulation exercises. More than 70% the responded said their instruction, information sharing and decisionmaking process were timely and open. The major challenges identified were a lack of adequate preparedness for pandemic and of pandemic-specific advanced simulation exercises. The next major challenges were the change in the mode of teaching to online lectures and working from home. Based on these challenges, a set of short- and long-term recommendations were proposed.

Originality/value – This was the first survey in academic institutions in post COVID-19 context. The findings will be useful for preparing for biological and other related hazards.

A 2-page summary of key points surrounding campus safety and disaster management plans.

The 5th APRU Multi-Hazards Summer School was held at Tohoku University on July 18-21, 2017. Nearly 40 participants from 10 countries participated in the event to learn the lessons learnt and experience from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the recovery efforts in the affected areas and discuss the contribution of academia in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR).