What will I learn on this module?
Through your journey on this module you will learn how integrated emergency management (IEM) can be applied to deliver resilience across communities, businesses, infrastructure, etc. You will learn to define and then apply key terms like ‘hazard’, ‘risk’, ‘emergency’ and ‘major incident’ within the context of anticipating and assessing the impacts from emergencies before then appraising mechanisms of preventing the emergency, or otherwise preparing to respond to it, and how we recover after an incident happens.
Included in your learning is an appraisal of international frameworks but the focus is primarily on seeing how these principles apply in practice. So you will learn about, for example, the United Nation’s The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (UNISDR, 2015) and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) manual for The Public Health Management of Chemical Incidents (WHO, 2009). Equally, you are encouraged to share your own country’s approaches, and your own experience, as additional examples of practice in this area. As an example of IEM you will appraise the UK’s civil contingencies structures and through real case studies from incident mangement, some where possible will be delivered by guest speakers, you will see how theoretical incident management is delivered into practice. Alongside civil contingencies structures you will evaluate how other regulatory frameworks support community resilience such as the application of the European Serveso Directive promotes resilience in anticipation of chemical incidents from defined high risk sites.
How will I learn on this module?
Your module is delivered by lecturer-led but student focussed lectures where you are encouraged to share your personal experiences to augment learning for yourself and other students. Your learning is further supported with seminars where you explore specific examples of emergencies or topics in more depth. You will be expected to complete guided independent research into this diverse area of study and practice. Your learning will be applied through a desktop exercise (group work) to understand group dynamics (critical in responding to an incident) and how real incidents can develop. For the second piece of assessment you are expected to critically reflect on an area of learning which is of particular interest to you – you choose your topic and context. We endeavour to include a field trip in the module to see a practical application of IEM.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
A dynamic reflective approach is used to demonstrate key concepts in integrated emergency management being led by staff but building on your own experiences. You will benefit from visiting lecturers delivering focussed sessions around previous incidents, their organisational experiences, or emergency management practice.
Your class materials will be supported by on-line resources available via the module eLP site linked to an interactive reading list with on-line access to a number of key pieces of grey literature, academic articles, etc. The reading list forms but the start of your personal journey into this subject as you develop your own interests.
Support and feedback is provided by tutors during seminars and the lectures as questions arise. Remember that there are never stupid questions and by sharing we learn from each other in an integrative non-challenging fashion. This is supported by an ‘open door’ policy whereby students can approach and gain support your learning on the module on a one-to-one basis.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO1: Evaluate the effectiveness of approaches to integrated emergency management
• MLO2: Employ structured risk based methodologies to define the potential impacts from emergencies.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO3: Identify and evaluate limitations in delivering resilience despite integrated management approaches being applied
• MLO4: Critically review the methods for resilience building through anticipation and planning based on local, national and/or international drivers.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO5: Evaluate how integrated emergency management is applied to all populations in an equitable manner in accordance with human rights.
How will I be assessed?
Your summative assessment is divided into two parts, one a practically focussed group work (30%) and the other an individual reflective piece of written work (70%).
Your group work is a time constrained desktop exercise where you will respond to an incident by completing tasks set for your group within an allotted timeframe. It equates to 30% of the module mark and reflects MLOs 1, 2 and 5.
Your individual piece of work is a 2,500 word reflection of IEM with the expectation that you will use case studies and examples to argue where a country, not necessarily the UK, stands in preventing hazards from occurring to their communities. The choice of location and type of incident for the reflection, and whether you reflect on one or more hazards, will be that of the student. It equates to 70% of the module mark and reflects MLOs 1, 3, 4 and 5.
Feedback will be provided individually to each student for the reflection and as a group for the group presentation. Throughout the lectures and seminars, you are encouraged to ask questions and gain feedback/feedforward advice on your learning and your assessment.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
Integrated Emergency Management is a method of risk appraisal and management that is used by organisations, states, etc. to evaluate the risk they are exposed to and provides a structured method to remove or reduce that risk to an acceptable level. Your journey will take you from the basics of ‘hazard’, ‘risk’ and ‘emergency’ to an understanding of international, national and local interventions to provide community or business resilience. Experiential learning underpins your journey on this module and so alongside staff and guest speakers, students are encouraged to share their experience and knowledge with others in the class. A strong theme of independent study runs through this module culminating in the opportunity to apply learning from the module to topics of personal interest through the self chosen assessment topics. This is a very practically focussed module.
Course info
Credits 20
Level of Study Postgraduate
Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
1 other options available
Department Geography and Environmental Sciences
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp
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